Arlene (Ari) Istar Lev LCSW-R, CASAC, is a social worker, family therapist, educator, and writer whose work addresses the unique therapeutic needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. She is the founder of Choices Counseling and Consulting in Albany, New York, providing individual and family therapy for LGBTQ people. Arlene is on the adjunct faculties of S.U.N.Y. Albany, School of Social Welfare, Smith College School of Social Work, and Empire College. She has authored numerous journal articles and essays including authoring two books: The Complete Lesbian and Gay Parenting Guide (Penguin Press, 2004) and Transgender Emergence: Therapeutic Guidelines for Working with Gender-Variant People and their Families (Haworth Press, 2004), winner of the American Psychological Association (Division 44) Distinguished Book Award, 2006. Arlene’s expertise is in issues related to sexual and gender identity issues and the unique therapeutic needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. The focus of her work includes traditional psychotherapeutic modalities, within a feminist and family systems framework, as well as holistic and psychospiritual approaches. She has dedicated her professional practice to the sensitive and respectful treatment of people dealing with sexual related concerns, including issues related to sexual orientation, gender expression, sexual functioning and performance, and "coming-out." She is especially excited to work with parents and alternative families of all kinds. Arlene is the Founder of Rainbow Access Initiative, a training program on LGBT issues for therapists and medical professionals in the Capital Region and the Clinical Supervisor for Center Support: Counseling Services, a program of the Pride Center of the Capital Region. She serves on the editorial Boards of The Journal of GLBT Family Studies and The International Journal of Transgenderism.Specialties: LGBTQ Family TherapySexuality and Gender Identity