Choices Counseling and Consulting has been serving the Capital District since 1986, under the directorship of Arlene Istar Lev, LCSW, CASAC. Specializing in issues related to sexual and gender identity, trauma recovery, addictions, and parenting in alternative families. Our offices are wheelchair accessible. Choices can be reached 321 Washington Ave., Albany NY 12206, 518.463.9152. info@choicesconsulting.com (www.choicesconsulting.com)

Arlene Istar Lev LCSW, 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 (www.choicesconsulting.com) in Albany, New York, providing family therapy for LGBT people. She is also on the adjunct faculties of S.U.N.Y. Albany, School of Social Welfare, and Vermont College of the Union Institute and University. She is the author of 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).

She has also authored many articles that have been published in professional journals and textbooks. Her creative writing has been published in numerous anthologies including Homefronts edited by Jess Wells, The Persistent Desire, edited by Joan Nestle, Early Embraces, I, edited by Lindsey Elders, The Next Step, edited by Jean Swallow, and Naming the Violence, edited by Kerry Lobel. She has been a frequent contributor to And Baby, Proud Parenting/Alternative Family Magazine, and In the Family, the Lesbian Review of Books and many diverse social work and psychology magazines. Additionally, she maintains a “Dear Ari” advice column, which is currently published in Proud Parenting (www.proudparenting.com) and Transgender Tapestry. Her “In a Family Way” column on LGBT parenting issues is nationally syndicated. Ms. Lev is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association, the American Psychological Association and is also a Board Member of the Family Pride Coalition (www.familypride.org). She can be reached at info@choicesconsulting.com.

Be sure to tell Arlene Diversity Builder sent you and check out her column at www.proudparenting.com entitled Dear Ari!

When you call, tell Arlene that Diversity Builder referred you! Whether you are looking to find a gay friendly realtor, doctor, attorney, travel agent, mortgage broker, or pet sitter, just contact the Diversity Builder Research Team at info@diversitybuilder.com, to receive your free confidential referral, anywhere in the nation.