The Alliance exists to encourage human flourishing by promoting a more complete truth, informed by Judeo-Christian values and natural law, about the science of sexual orientation and biological sex through education, advocacy, clinical training, and therapy.

The Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity Annual Institute will, for the first time, be scheduled in lock step with an educational workshop for spiritual mentors, pastors, friends and families of persons who struggle with same sex attraction issues or disliked birth sex. 

The Institute for Professional Development (CEU credit) will extend from 8:00 am Friday the 20th through 6:30 pm, then reconvene Saturday from 8:00 am until 3:00 pm with 2 additional (non CEU) sessions available through 6:30 pm. All conference participants will have the option of attending a 8:30-10:00 pm Friday showing of the documentary Dysconnected discussing the transgender tsunami which has swept the nation, with a panel discussion afterwards. Also, Saturday 7:30- 9:30 PM there will be a showing of the documentary Dead Name and discussion afterwards will be with Christian Post journalist Brandon Showalter who has done extensive reporting on this issue. This documentary exposes the horrific results of the transgender agenda.

Licensed social workers, mental health counselors, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, pastoral counselors, and psychologists, known as our Clinical Partners can earn up to 18 CEUs at the 2024 Institute through a variety of presentations focusing on clinical, medical, research and new and trending issues (break-out sessions not attended in person can be completed post Institute online.) You can also use these sessions toward becoming a preferred provider for the Alliance. The cost of these CEUs is included in the registration fees.

Our faith communities include pastors, spiritual mentors, teachers, friends and family, folks ATCSI refers to as ‘COMMUNITY PARTNERS,’ who register for Saturday’s program, are invited to join us for the Friday evening special with Branden Showalter as well as for the entire day on Saturday. Many COMMUNITY PARTNERS love and pray for persons who struggle with same sex attraction issues or disliked birth sex. Saturday afternoon and evening content will be focused on informing and equipping COMMUNITY PARTNERS to adopt a significant role in the lives of persons with unwanted birth sex and unwanted sexual attractions. The Alliance Ethical Summary states that “all persons must identify personal goals, compatible with freely chosen beliefs and values, and must be free to seek out support, comfort and healthcare to modify unwanted sexual attractions. We seek to support discreet, gentle, and pervasive healing voices in all cultural venues, social settings and spiritual communities.” 

Professional development CEU’s will be available for the Saturday morning workshops, however the content on Saturday morning will be appropriate for both Clinical & Community Partners. The Community Partners registration fee covers the full day and evening on Saturday. Professional development attendees are covered by their conference fees and are encouraged to stay for the Saturday PM sessions.

WHERE WILL THE INSTITUTE TAKE PLACE? Our host facility for the entire weekend is the Cambria Hotel Bloomington Mall of America Minneapolis Airport, 8001 Winstead Way, Bloomington, MN 55425

Free Airport Shuttle Service (reservation required) Free Shuttle to Mall of America (reservation required)  The Hotel is less than a mile from the Mal Of America. A 5 minute walk to a light rail station, and has an indoor heated pool. 

When you purchase a ticket to The Institute you will receive an email with an EARLY BIRD $129/night discount rate link for a 1 king-size bed or two queen-size beds.

In the next (June) newsletter we will share the complete Institute schedule. Besides the keynote speakers introduced below, at least 7 breakout presenters are on the 2024 Institute schedule. To whet your appetite, read about two outstanding Keynote speakers for the 2024 Institute:

Dr. Paul Sullins, Ph.D. is Research Professor of Sociology at the Catholic University of America and Senior Research Associate of the Ruth Institute. He has written four books and over 150 scientific journal articles, book chapters and research reports on issues of faith and culture, among which are "Absence of Harm following Failed Sexual Orientation Change Efforts”; “SOCE Reduces Suicide: Correcting a False Research Narrative”; Efficacy and Risk of Sexual Orientation Change Efforts" (with Rosik and Santero); and “The Case for Mom and Dad”; all available online at no charge via Pubmed or SSRN ( http://ssrn.com/author=2097328). Formerly Episcopalian, Dr. Sullins is a married Catholic priest. He and his wife Patricia have an inter-racial family of three children, two adopted.

Michael Robert Davidson, PhD is an educator, academic developer, training specialist, pastoral counsellor. His interests: developing and facilitating inter- and cross-cultural competency; debate in public space; media participation; film-maker and producer. Dr. Davidson Manages Core Issues Trust and Chairs the International Federation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice (IFTCC). He is also Co-Director of X-Out-Loud. Dr. Davidson is located in Great Britain, His organizational influence and his services benefit all of Europe and extend to other continents worldwide. 

Core Issues Trust Publications

O’Callaghan, D and Davidson, M. Out of Harm's Way: Working Ethically with Same-Sex Attracted Persons

IFTCC Submissions

Davidson, M., Haynes, L., James, S., and May, P. 2022 “An International Declaration on ‘Conversion Therapy’ and Therapeutic Choice?”

Davidson, M., Haynes, L., James, S., 2022. “Extract from the submission to the UK Government’s Consultation on Conversion Therapy”.

Davidson M. 2021. Response to Input to a Thematic Report: Gender, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: UN Independent Expert on SOGI (March 2021)

Davidson, M. 2021 Submission to the Scottish Government’s Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee consultation on PE1817: “End Conversion Therapy” August 12th 2021

The International Foundation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice (IFTCC.org), 

Peggy McFarland, Resident of Idaho joins the Alliance for Therapeutic choice and Scientific Integrity board of directors this year. Ms. McFarland has a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Capella University and a BS in Social Work from BYU-Provo. She is a Board Certified Advanced Christian Life Coach and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and the International Board of Christian Care. She is a retired Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a university instructor who teaches parenting and counseling skills to students from all over the world. 

As a mother to a blended family of five daughters, Peggy specializes in girls' and women’s issues. Peggy has a passion for helping girls build positive relationships with their bodies. She understands the “minefield” of cultural messages that harm girls today and the heartbreak faced by their families. In 2017, she wrote and published Healthy Transition for Girls, a curriculum to help girls, ages 8 to 14, to develop positive body image. She helps girls to recognize that being a girl is special and that their changing bodies have a beautiful purpose. Peggy is a legislative activist who worked to successfully pass legislation to protect parents' ability to choose ethical therapy options for their children and to protect the “sincerely held religious, moral, or ethical principles” of therapists. Through these efforts, Idaho is a “sanctuary state” where families have access to professionals, like Peggy, who do not support mandated, unethical approaches to gender and sexuality issues. Peggy feels that serving on the Alliance board is a privilege. It is the “heroes” of ATCSI that have helped her to develop a professional approach that aligns true science with her moral and religious beliefs. 

Peggy, we warmly welcome you and we are thankful for sharing your gifts and your willingness to serve. A great opportunity for our readers to meet Peggy will occur on September 20 and 21. Peggy will be presenting a breakout session titled ‘ENGAGING IN POLITICAL ACTIVISM’ at the 2024 ATCSI Institute!

Have you been helped by the Alliance? Let us know! We’d like to share your story in our next newsletter.

Andy Visser

President, The Alliance

Andy.Visser@TherapeuticChoice.com

Daren Mehl

Operations Manager, The Alliance

contactus@TherapeuticChoice.com