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Gay Men's Counseling Collective seeks new members
The Gay Men's Counseling Collective
Membership Information
Background
The Gay Men's Counseling Collective (GMCC) has been in existence as an organization for nearly 30 years. Its two purposes are (1) to serve internally as a support group, and (2) to offer peer counseling to the greater Washington gay male community. Current membership consists of 6 volunteer peer counselors, with possible expansion to 10 members.
Serving internally as a support group, GMCC members participate in a process of personal growth through self-disclosure and through openness to receiving challenge and support from other members. This process is viewed as integral to membership and to work as peer counselors. It is a concrete demonstration of our own commitment to the type of personal development in which our clients engage and is a way to help ensure our own clarity about the primary tools in counseling - ourselves and our relationships. A commitment to this growth process is every bit as essential for membership as the commitment to providing counseling.
GMCC offers a variety of services to the community at large. These have included individual and couples counseling, coming out groups, personal growth groups, and facilitation for other groups serving the gay community. The Collective also provides a supportive environment for members to develop other counseling and personal development opportunities. Counselors can expect to receive supervision in working with clients from the other group members, and are encouraged to seek that supervision whenever needed or desired.
Time Commitment
There is a substantial time commitment for members. Weekly meetings are held Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m., and members are expected to attend - except for unusual circumstances - whenever in town. In addition, each volunteer counselor sees clients - typically in the counselor's home or office - for an average of 1-2 hours per week. Phone duty requires members to be available for returning phone inquiries to the Collective during a 3-hour evening period 2-3 times per month. Members are also expected to attend 3 yearly retreats: two weekend retreats, one held in the Fall and the other in the Spring; and a one-day retreat held on a weekend in January or February.
Qualifications
There are no formal qualifications for membership in GMCC. While some current members have had formal training in mental health services or allied fields, others have not. Crucial, however, are the abilities to communicate well, to listen empathetically, to establish helping relationships, and to participate in the Collective's group process. A commitment to personal growth and development is necessary, and having had therapy/counseling oneself or having participated in other programs with similar goals is viewed as helpful.
Application Process
Applications for membership are currently being received until December 1, 2002. Interviews will be conducted through the end of December. Selection decisions will be made by mid January. New members should expect to start attending weekly meetings at the beginning of February 2003 and to attend the Winter Retreat on a yet-to-be designated Saturday in February.
If you are interested in membership, please call Sal Romano at (703) 560-4517 (home phone) for further information or to schedule an interview.
(Revised 10/29/02)