An estimated 10 million addicts and alcoholics in the U.S. are homosexual or bisexual. In fact, the rate of substance addiction rises from one in ten in the general community to perhaps as many as one in three in the gay community. Accepting Ourselves, first published in 1989, was the first book to address the problems and needs of substance abusers in the homosexual community. Now, in this fully revised and expanded second edition which includes a workbook format, Accepting Ourselves and Others examines the issue of recovery as it affects the homosexual and bisexual communities of the nineties, as well as their friends, family, and therapists. The authors address the relationship between substance abuse and being a sexual minority both within and outside of traditional Twelve Step models. They also offer new research on the relationship of HIV and AIDS to substance abuse in the gay community, as well as the relationship to other issues such as anxiety, depression, sexual abuse and learning disabilities. A special section developed for therapists assists the professional in working with gay clients suffering from addictive/compulsive behavior by addressing the impact issues such as abstinence, relapse, homophobia, and the prevailing denial of the magnitude compulsive behaviors have on this community. The Kominars offer a road map to those in the gay community searching to understand themselves and their addictive/compulsive behavior, providing invaluable help in maintaining long-term recovery. This book is the first full, in-depth exploration of recovery for gay, lesbian, and bisexual people, and for counselors, therapists, clinicians, and clergy who work with them. Accepting Ourselves and Others is a dynamic, frank primer that gets right at the heart of issues that recovering gay, lesbian, and bisexual people face.
Dr. Kate Kominars is a consultant and licensed psychologist. For the past 15 years, she has worked with corporations, organizations, groups and individuals helping them to achieve their objectives through developing their human potential. Her expertise lies in conflict resolution, communication skills development, strategic planning, team analysis and development, and training. In addition to her clinical and consultation skills, Dr. Kominars is particularly well known for her ability to conduct substantive, exciting and challenging training programs. As an educator she specializes in effective brief interventions, understanding the limits, benefits and applications of psychological testing, and assessment interviewing. She is able to utilize her real world experiences and her academic and clinical training to create challenging learning opportunities for individuals and groups. She is a requested speaker in many areas, including issues of performance enhancement, motivation, goal setting, team building, and capitalizing on diversity As a consultant, she brings unique insights and creative solutions to her clients' problems. With superlative rapport building and communication skills, she develops productive and collaborative relationships. With warmth, energy and enthusiasm, she creates environments in which individuals are able to voice concerns, clarify needs, identify barriers to progress and develop strategies for problem resolution.
Over many years, Dr. Kominars has been actively involved with playwriting. His play about homophobia, "Sweet Mystery," has just been presented in a dramatic reading on April 24, 2001, at Venue 9 in San Francisco. It was also selected as a finalist in the Eureka New Plays competition in 1999. He is hoping it will be produced soon.
In February, 2001, Dr. Kominars began doing workshops for cancer survivors at UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco. Previously, he has lectured and given workshops all over the U.S. and abroad on alcohol and drug recovery issues and creativity. Beginning in June, 2001, and continuing throughout the year, "Write For Life" will be offered at Kaiser Permanente and at the Hormel Center of the San Francisco Public Library. The program invites participants to explore through journal writing the experience of what it means to live through each day recovering from cancer and other life-threatening crises (HIV, AIDS, etc.). Dr. Kominars has been writing journals for 45 years and is, since June, 2000, an "advertisement" for early detection of cancer.
He is available as a lecturer and workshop facilitator.
