Author Archives: admin

The Knots Prayer

Posted on May 29, 2011 by admin

A school friend of mine gave this prayer on a bookmark.  It is really a beautiful prayer and affirmation. The Knots Prayer Dear God, please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart and my life. Remove the … Continue reading →

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50 Tips for Counselors: A Compilation of Irvin Yalom’s Advice

Posted on May 29, 2011 by admin

Fifty Tips for Counselors: A Compilation of Irvin Yalom’s Advice Renee Baker, Ph.D. The following is a list of tips and tidbits I consolidated from Irvin Yalom’s book The Gift of Therapy – An Open Letter to a New Generation … Continue reading →

Posted in BLOG Entries, Counselors and Healers | Leave a comment

Bipolar Disorder in Adolescence: Diagnosis and Modern Treatment

Posted on February 26, 2011 by admin

Bipolar Disorder in Adolescence: Diagnosis and Modern Treatment Renee S. Baker, Feb 8, 2011 Introduction In the fall of 2007, just a few years ago, Carmen Moreno and her colleagues made national and even international news when they released a … Continue reading →

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Coming Out of the Darkness

Posted on February 13, 2011 by admin

A SAFE PLACE AT LAST | Alex Fitzgerald says school officials in Lewisville and Flower Mound did nothing to protect him from bullies. Now he attends iSchool in Lewisville, a private school where faculty and staff mean it when they … Continue reading →

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An Ode to Reece Manley (1/14/69 – 2/3/11)

Posted on February 13, 2011 by admin

I wrote this for my Professional Counseling Class in May of 2010.  He shared many intimate details of his life with me.  He passed away this month from the many complications he faced.  He was often in great pain, so … Continue reading →

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Cutting Away at Emotional Pain Handout (Nuestras Voces Conference 2010)

Posted on October 31, 2010 by admin

This is the handout I am providing for the November 2, 2010 Arte Sana Nuestras Voces / Our Voices National Conference on self-injury.  If you need a MS Word copy, let me know. Cutting Away at Emotional Pain Handout Renee … Continue reading →

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Maybe I Just Will

Posted on October 15, 2010 by admin

When I was studying to be an electrical engineer, our academic requirements laid out a path for us to take of study outside of core engineering.  They wanted us to have breadth as individuals, not just core depth.  But how … Continue reading →

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Stillness Newsletter Archive

Posted on October 5, 2010 by admin

I have written a number of newsletters over the 2008-2009 time period to capture a few thoughts I have had here and there regarding stillness.  Stillness is one of the most beautiful words to me.  It says everything about what … Continue reading →

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Thixotropic Man – Or, Our Ground Substance Hero? Say what?

Posted on October 5, 2010 by admin

Look, up in the sky, no I mean laying there firmly in bed, it’s Thixotropic Man.  Can we help him?  Yes, quick, give him a massage before it’s too late.  It’s working, he’s starting to move, he’s warming up.  There, … Continue reading →

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Youth First Texas – Pride Beneficiary

Posted on September 24, 2010 by admin

Story by Renee Baker in Dallas Voice Tavern Guild Pullout – Fall 2010 When Brian Jacobs marched in his first Pride Parade, he said he felt “like nothing else mattered but being who I am.”  He felt a “oneness” that … Continue reading →

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Erin Moore – Dallas Pride Grand Marshall

Posted on September 24, 2010 by admin

Story by Renee Baker – Dallas Voice Tavern Guild Pullout 2010 When Erin Moore got the message she was selected for Grand Marshal in the Pride Parade this fall, she said she was “flabbergasted and honored, but taken aback.”  Moore … Continue reading →

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Paul Lewis – Dallas Pride Grand Marshall

Posted on September 24, 2010 by admin

Article by Renee Baker in The Dallas Voice – Tavern Guild Pullout, Pride 2010 Paul Lewis likes to say he is old – one of the last of the “old folks” that started with the Pride Parade when Alan Ross … Continue reading →

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Self Injury and Youth – A Literature Review

Posted on September 18, 2010 by admin

A Literature Review of Youth that Self Injure by Renee Baker, August 2010 What Do We Know About Self Mutilation? Historically, self-mutilation was considered a form of suicidal behavior until suggested otherwise by Karl Menninger in his 1938 book, Man … Continue reading →

Posted in BLOG Entries, LGBT Youth, Self-Injury | 2 Comments

Lesbians play big role in Women’s Foundation

Posted on September 17, 2010 by admin

Story by Renee Baker, Dallas Voice, Sept 17, 2010 Dallas organization dedicated to supporting, empowering makes diversity a cornerstone principle Wendy Lopez likes to say, “When you help a woman, you help a community.” Lopez and her partner, Connie Moore, … Continue reading →

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Nate Phelps: Escaping the darkness

Posted on September 17, 2010 by admin

Story by Renee Baker, Dallas Voice Son of infamous anti-gay crusader Fred Phelps offers a glimpse of what life was like growing up on the inside of the Westboro Baptist cult Nate Phelps has a unique identity, but an identity … Continue reading →

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Being There

Posted on September 16, 2010 by admin

About twenty years ago, when I was doing some early research at UT Dallas, my advisor gave me some sage advice.  Not about school, but about relationships. He shared with me that we get so busy sometimes, wrapped up in … Continue reading →

Posted in BLOG Entries | 1 Comment

Margaret Mercer – A Herstorical Woman of Character

Posted on September 15, 2010 by admin

Every now and then I really enjoy finding age old writings from the past.  I was in the process of writing an article about the Dallas Women’s Foundation and was researching philanthropy, when I came across Margaret Mercer, born in … Continue reading →

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Dallas Stonewall March 2010

Posted on September 4, 2010 by admin

I had a distinct honor of saying a few words at the Pride rally downtown Dallas outside the City Courthouse.  I spoke on two issues of importance, but also on something beautiful that happened.  It is not often that we … Continue reading →

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Beyond Butch

Posted on September 3, 2010 by admin

A Dallas Voice BLOG Entry by Renee Baker, June 22, 2010 If there’s one thing I’ve discovered in life, it is that I don’t have to take many steps forward before I stick another foot in my mouth. This time, … Continue reading →

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Pride is flying high in the Texas Panhandle

Posted on September 3, 2010 by admin

A Story by Renee Baker, Dallas Voice, June 21, 2010. OUTstanding Amarillo getting set for its annual gay Pride month party; more than 1,000 expected to attend AMARILLO — Twenty-six years ago this month in Amarillo, a “heartsick” parent wrote … Continue reading →

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Surviving life on the streets

Posted on September 3, 2010 by admin

A Story by Renee Baker, Dallas Voice, Mar. 25, 2010 Trans youth Shawn Tripp wants to find a way to help other LGBT youth who are, as he was, homeless Shawn Tripp is a lucky man. He says so himself. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dallas Voice Publications, LGBT Youth, Transgender | 1 Comment

Controversy continues over APA and gender variance

Posted on September 3, 2010 by admin

A Story by Renee Baker, Dallas Voice, Mar 11, 2010 Latest version of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual still includes gender variance as a disorder,recommends ‘reparative’ therapy Mental illness can carry a heavy stigma. It can destroy families, end careers, cause … Continue reading →

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Survey: Trans people face much higher rate of job discrimination

Posted on September 3, 2010 by admin

A Story by Renee Baker, Dallas Voice, Feb 11, 2010. Problems even worse for trans people of color, study shows The National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force have jointly released preliminary results from … Continue reading →

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Trans woman seeks uterine transplant

Posted on September 3, 2010 by admin

A Story by Renee Baker, Dallas Voice, Jan 7, 2010 Sarah Luiz of The Colony, who’s no stranger to the media spotlight, aims to be world’s 1st trans mom THE COLONY — Each of us has a story or a … Continue reading →

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LGBT youth try to cut away emotional pain

Posted on September 3, 2010 by admin

A Story by Renee Baker, Dallas Voice, Dec. 10, 2009 When family, society reject them for being gay, youth often turn to cutting, using physical pain to cope with distress of coming out Giancarlo Mossi fell in love with a … Continue reading →

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Riding cross-country for not 1 cause, but 2

Posted on September 3, 2010 by admin

A Story by Renee Baker, Dallas Voice, Oct. 19, 2009 When Marshall Wayne Lee was at his lowest point and suicide seemed the only way out, Antigone the basset hound gave him something to live for. Now he’s giving back … Continue reading →

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Remembering the victims: TDOR services set in Dallas, Fort Worth to honor victims of violence

Posted on September 3, 2010 by admin

A Story by Renee Baker, Dallas Voice, Oct. 19, 2010 TDOR services set in Dallas, Fort Worth to honor victims of violence This week across the globe, more than 200 gatherings are taking place to remember those who were murdered … Continue reading →

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Activists to hold Transgender Day of Remembrance vigils, marches around the country

Posted on September 3, 2010 by admin

Ethan St. Pierre misses his aunt Deborah Forte everyday, but the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance remains a stark reminder of how Forte was brutally murdered in 1995 because of her gender identity and expression. “I was called in to … Continue reading →

Posted in EDGE Publications, Transgender | Leave a comment

Activists urge Dallas club to cancel Buju Banton concert

Posted on September 3, 2010 by admin

A Story by Renee Baker, Edge Publications, Oct. 14, 2009. The Resource Center Dallas and Equality March Texas are calling for immediate action to oppose an upcoming performance of reggae artist Buju Banton at the Palm Beach Club in Deep … Continue reading →

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Transgender lawyer announces candidacy for Oklahoma House

Posted on September 3, 2010 by admin

A Story by Renee Baker, Edge Publications, Sept 30, 2009 Transgender lawyer Brittany Novotny of Oklahoma City officially announced her candidacy on Sunday to represent House District 84. Novotny will face three-term incumbent Republican state Rep. Sally Kern, who achieved … Continue reading →

Posted in EDGE Publications, Transgender | Leave a comment