Kenneth Demsky PhD

Curriculum Vitae

April 2005 - present   Private practitioner. London, England
    Solo private practice working primarily with clients focused on gender and sexuality concerns, couples counselling, issues of grief and chronic illness, anger management and domestic violence, recovery from childhood abuse and neglect experiences.
June, 1993 - August 2004   Private practitioner. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
    Massachusetts License #6356
Full-time solo private practice working with older adolescent and adult clients presenting with a wide range of problems. Individual, couple and group modalities. Supervision of other clinicians.
June, 2002 - August 2004   EAP Systems, Woburn , Massachusetts, U.S.A.
    Short-term consultation with individuals presenting with a wide range of  mental health concerns who are referred by their employers.
August 2002 - August 2004   Psychological consultant. Zoo New England,
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
    Offered drop-in counselling to zoo staff and employees following traumatic events on-site—e.g., suicide of zookeeper, death of significant animal, etc.
July 1998 - June 1999   Clinical instructor in psychology. Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
    Psychological training of medical students in area of sexual orientation and gender.
September 1992 - June 1998   Psychologist. Fenway Community Health Center, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
    Intake and ongoing therapy of primarily homosexual, bisexual and transgendered population. Individual and couples counselling in addition to leading HIV+ men and sexually compulsive men's groups. Supervision and group therapy (on sexuality and recovery from trauma) at Triangle Program for treating male in-patients. Crisis team coverage and supervision of interns and post-doctoral fellows.
August 1990 - August 2000   Senior Lecturer II. Lesley College (now Lesley University), Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
    Teaching of two core courses in Master's program in counselling psychology and expressive therapies: “Theories of counselling and Psychotherapy” and “Psychopathology”. Both semester-long and intensive weekend formats at Cambridge, Cape Cod, Vermont and Denver Campuses. Created and moderated student Film series; member of committee for annual Continuing Education film series co- sponsored with Boston Institute for Psychotherapy.
April 1995 - October 1996   Instructor. Boston College, Chestnut Hill,
Massachusetts, U.S.A
    Counselling Certificate Program in Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. Lecture on special issues in the substance abuse treatment of HIV/AIDS population.
January - August 1992   Postdoctoral Fellow. Program in Human Sexuality, (now Center for Sexual Wellness) Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, U.S.A.
    Advanced clinical and research training position. Assessment and therapy in the area of sexuality and gender. Individual, couples and family counselling. Led small groups for [Sexuality Attitudes Reassessment] Seminars for general public.
November 1990 - December 1992   Psychologist. Austin Regional Clinic (now Austin Regional Mental Health Associates),
Austin, Texas, U.S.A.
    Trainee at public psychiatric hospital with rotations in medical psychology, neuropsychology, substance abuse and inpatient and outpatient psychotherapy.
September 1989 - August 1990   Counsellor. Child and Family Services, Austin, Texas, U.S.A.
    Evaluation and treatment in cognitive-behavioral program treating issues of domestic violence. Individual, couples and group psychotherapy. Member of team which revised men's and women's workbooks for programme. Presentations to battered women's shelter staff.
May 1985 - August 1989   Psychotherapist. Waterloo Counseling Center, Austin, Texas, U.S.A.
    Individual, couples and group psychotherapy with primarily homosexual, bisexual and transgendered population.
September 1986 - November 1987   Hospice counselor. Austin AIDS Project (now AIDS Services of Austin), Austin, Texas, U.S.A.
    Worked with Persons with AIDS and their significant others on issues of grief and loss.
March 1985 - May 1988   Group leader. National Corrective Training Institute, Austin, Texas, U.S.A.
    Led intensive workshops in cognitive-behavioral program addressing issues of anger management with self-and court-referred clients. Liaison with County Sheriff's office.
June 1982 – August 1984   Psychotherapist. Life Involvement Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
    Individual, couples and group therapy with general outpatient population in group private practice. Conducted personality testing and assessment. June 1982 – August 1984 Psychotherapist. Life Involvement Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Individual, couples and group therapy with general outpatient population in group private practice. Conducted personality testing and assessment.
Education    
May 1990   Ph.D. in counseling psychology
    University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas, U.S.A.
August 1983   M.A. in counseling psychology
    Lesley College (now Lesley University) Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
January 1982   Certificate - Omega Hospice Program
    Cambridge-Somerville Catholic Charities, Somerville, Massachusetts U.S.A. Ten-week training program followed by one year supervised field placement.
August 1976   M.A. in secondary education
    Suffolk University, Boston, Massachusetts.
June 1972   B.A. cum laude in literature
    Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Presentations

06 July 2015   "Psychotherapy with Transgender Clients"
    London Multidisciplinary Transgender Conference for Speech and Language Therapists. London, England.
12 February 2015   "The Klein-Demsky Matrix of Sexuality and Gender"
    MEDSIN [Medical Students International] at Guy's Hospital. London, England.
29 January 2015   "The Klein-Demsky Matrix of Sexuality and Gender"
    MEDSIN at University College of London.
London, England.
17 July 2011   "Internalised Transphobia"
    SPARKLE. Manchester, England.
22 May 2011   "Internalised Transphobia"
    Spectrum, London, England.
19 July 2010   "The Klein-Demsky Matrix of Sexuality and Gender"
    London Multidisciplinary Transgender Conference Day for Speech and Language Therapists. London, England.
09 March 2010   "Some Psychological Issues during Gender Transition"
    Spectrum, London, England.
11 September 2009   "The Klein-Demsky Matrix of Sexuality and Gender"
    Institute of Educational and Psychological Counselling of the Czech Republic. Prague, the Czech Republic.
15 March 2009   "The Klein-Demsky Matrix of Sexuality and Gender"
    First Annual Women of the Beaumont Society Conference. Cambridge, England.
05 December 2008   “An Update on Transgendered Youth”
    The American School in London. London, England.
29 September 2008   "Psychotherapy with Trans People"
    International Transgender Study Day. London, England.
05 June 2008   "Clinical Approaches to Pathological Anger and Violence at Different Developmental Levels"
    Systems in Transition. Banska Stiavnica, Slovakia.
25 January 2008   "Transgenderism and Couples Counselling"
    RELATE. Peterborough, England.
20 August 2007   "Transgender 101" [with Ben Thom]
    Second Annual LGBT Health Summit. Manchester, England.
23 Jun 2007   "The Transition Within"
    Sparkle. Manchester, England.
16 March 2007  
"Transgenderism:  Adolescents and Children"
    The American School. St John's Wood, London, England.
10 July 2006   "Clinical Issues in the Treatment of Transgendered Individuals"
    Third National Gender Dysphoria Study Day and Course for Speech and Language Therapists.  Charing Cross Hospital.  London, England.
21 March 2006   “Transgendered Youth”
    The American School in London. London, England.
21 January 2003   “The Second Opinion Letter for Sexual Reassignment Surgery Approval”
    First Event (Tiffany Club of New England). Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
11 November 2003   “State of the Art for Clinicians: Transgenderism”
    Fenway Community Health Center. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
2-16 March 2002   “Couple Challenges During [Sexual Re-Assignment] Transition”
    Fenway Community Health Center. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
19 January 2002   "The Second Letter for Sexual Reassignment Surgery Approval”.
    First Event (Tiffany Club of New England). Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
18 October 2001   “Gender Identity Understood through Extension of the Klein Bisexual Matrix”
    Northeastern University Counseling Center. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
10 May 2001   “Using the Egogram as Self-Diagnostic Tool in Psychotherapy” and “Basic Transgenderism”
    Acorus Battered Women's Shelter and Clinic. Prague, the Czech Republic.
25 April 2001   “Treatment of ‘Sexual Addiction”
    Modern Assistance Program. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
21 January 2001   “The Second Opinion Letter for Sexual Reassignment Surgery Approval”
    First Event (Tiffany Club of New England). Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
10 November 2000   “Domestic Violence: An American Perspective”
    Johnson & Johnson seminars for journalists. Brattislava, Slovakia.
3-5 November 2000   “Anger Management and Communication Skills”
    Group Psychotherapy Training. Prague, the Czech Republic.
18-19 March 2000   “Gender Identity Understood through Extension of the Klein Bisexual Matrix”
    Boston University Counseling Center. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
28 September 1999   “Gender Identity Understood through Extension of the Klein Bisexual Matrix”
    Northeastern University Counseling Center. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
26 February 1999   “Transgenderism and Transvestism”
    Fenway (Community Health Center) Forum Continuing Education series. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
24 January 1999   “The Second Opinion Letter for Sexual Reassignment Surgery Approval.”
    First Event (Tiffany Club of New England). Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
6 January 1999   “The Transgender Protocol”
    Interview on “Gender Talk” on WMBV 88.1/FM. Massachusetts Institute of Technology radio station. Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
22 September 1998   “Psychological and Physiological Sexual Variation”
    Fenway (Community Health Center) Forum Continuing Education series. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
10 May 1998   “Gender Identity Understood through Extension of the Klein Bisexual Matrix”
    Berklee College of Music Counselling Center. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
12 January 1998   “Introduction to Transgenderism”
    Fenway (Community Health Center) Forum Continuing Education series. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
12 April 1998   “Bisexuality and Transgenderism: Essentials for Mental Health Clinicians”
    Fenway (Community Health Center) Forum. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
23 January 1998   “Challenges of [Sexual Re-Assignment] Transition”
    First event. Waltham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
25 August 1997   “Domestic Violence is a Family Issue”
    Banska Brizica Child Guidance Clinic. Banska Brizica, Slovakia. Also at Brnow University Faculty of Philosophy. Brnow, the Czech Republic. 27 August 1997
21 March 1997   “The Four Hundred Blows: A Family Therapy Perspective”
    Boston Center for Psychotherapy at Lesley College. Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
10 November 1996   “What's in a Dream?”
    Provincetown Single Men's Weekend. Provincetown, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
31 October 1996   “Transgender Issues in Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment.”
    Valuing Family: Seventh Annual Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Conference. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
17 August 1996   “An American Approach to the Treatment of Domestic Violence”
    Police Department, Ministry of the Interior. Prague, the Czech Republic. Also, Brattislava Community Health Center. Brattislava, Slovakia. 19 August 1996.
20 April 1996   “Working with Difficult Clients”
    AIDS Caregivers Volunteer Training. Boston Living Center. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
21 November 1995   “A Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Excessive Anger in the Outpatient Population.”
    Fenway Forum. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
3 November 1995   “Dreams Speak, But What Do They Say?”
    Provincetown Single Men's Weekend. Provincetown, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
21 September 1995   “Working with Transgendered Clients”.
    Beth-Israel Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
21 June 1995   “Clinical Dimension of Migration, Immigration and Social Class as Applied to the HIV+ Population”
    Co-presented with Betsy Smith, Psy.D. American Family Therapy Academy. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
27-28 October 1994   “Introduction to Psychodiagnosis & DSM-IV”
    Vermont Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counsellors Association. Rutland, Vermont, U.S.A.
30 July 1994   “HIV Got You Pissed Off?: Anger Management for HIV+ People”
    Fenway Community Health Center. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
16 August 1990   “A Study of Three Psychosocial Variables in a Texan Sample of AIDS-Affected Homosexual/Bisexual Men”
    American Psychological Association. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
12 August 1989   “Social Support, Internalised Homophobia and Coping in Three Groups of Texan Men with HIV Infection”
    Texas Psychological Association. Houston, Texas, U.S.A.
6 November 1987   “Individual Therapy with Persons with AIDS”
    Texas Psychological Association. Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.
Publications and media

"Gender-Fluid Identities"
"Good Morning, Britain". ITV-1. 09 October 2017

Episode 7, "Changing Genders" on Taboo.
National Geographic Television.
First (US) airing on 30 September 2012.

Episode 11, "Old Enough?" on Taboo.
National Geographic Television.
First (US) airing on 16 October 2012.

"Internalised Transphobia" Chapter in Trans in the 21st Century: Concerning Gender Diversity
Beaumont Trust, London, England. 2011.

"A Desperate Approach to Gender Transition"
This Morning. ITV-1. 22 February 2010.

"Gender Transition as an Adolescent"
This Morning. ITV-1. 2 February 2010.

"Compulsive Gambling"
This Morning. ITV-1. 20 January 2010.

"The Klein-Demsky Matrix of Sexuality and Gender"
The Gendys Journal. Winter 2009 (48): pp. 26-28.

"Does the Internet Change Us?"
The Jeni Barnet Show, LBC Radio [97.3FM]. 21 October 2009.

"Life as a Transexual"
This Morning. ITV-1. 21 September 2009.

"Do Self-Help Books Help?"
The Late Show, BBC Radio [99.4FM]. 15 December 2008.

"Change in Our Lives"
The Late Show, BBC Radio [99.4FM]. 04 November 2008.

"Alcohol in Young People's Lives"
The Late Show, BBC Radio [94.9FM]. 29 September 2008.

"The Treatment of Pathological Anger and Violent Behaviour in Therapy"
SiT Conference. Banska Stiavnica, Slovakia. Issue 10. September, 2008.

"Nature vs Nurture"
The Late Show, BBC Radio [94.9FM]. 07 Agust 2008.

"The Effects of Parents' Affairs on their Children"
The Vanessa Feltz Show,  BBC Radio. 13 March 2008.

"Suicide and Depression"
The Late Show, BBC Radio [94.9FM]. 31 January 2008.

"Coping with Holiday Stress"
The Late Show, BBC Radio [94.9FM]. 26 December 2007.

"The American Approach to Gender Transition"
The Gendys Journal. Winter 2007 (40).

"The Case for Counselling”
The Gendys Journal. Autumn 2006.

“Managing One's Inner Scrooge”
The Gendys Journal. Winter 2005 (32): pp. 28-31.

Why Wait to Date?”
In CrossTalk. Autumn, 2005.

“The Journey of an American Gender Specialist”
The Gendys Journal. Summer 2005 (30): pp. 29-34.

Quoted in “The Boy Who Wasn't”
New York Times Sunday Magazine. 26 May 2002, p.34.

"Gay and Gray: The Older Homosexual Man", Second Edition [book review].
In Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol. XXX ( 2 ): pp. 275-279.

“Domestic Violence Means Both Husband and Wife Need Help”
Interview in The Free Word (Czech newspaper). 3 November 1996.

“Pedophile Murders Show a Sick Society”
Interview in The Free Word (Czech newspaper). 5 November 1996.

"A study of three psychosocial variables in a Texan sample of AIDS-affected homosexual/bisexual men"
The Texas Psychologist , 42 ( 6 ): pp. 20-21.

“Implied homophobia”
Letter to the editor. The Texas Psychologist , 39 (94): p. 6.

"AIDS facts for psychologists"
[with David M. Harvey, Ph.D. and Royce Scrivener, Ph.D.]. The Texas Psychologist, 39
(3): pp. 12-15.

Conferences and training programmes attended
28 September 2008   "Sex Hormone Treatment of the Teen Transsexual"
    Dr. Richard Green and GIRES. London, England.
29 September 2008   "International Transgender Study Day"
    Christella Antoni, SLT, Charing Cross Hospital. London, England.
15 November 2007   "How to Handle Dangerous Situations in the Consulting Room"
    Dr. Ian Bourne, IMPACT Training and Consultation.  Thaddeus Birchard and Asssociates. London, England.
20-21 August 2007   Second Annual LGBT Health Summit
    Manchester, England.
1-2 December 2006   Annual Conference of the British Psychological Association Lesbian and Gay Psychology Section
    London, England.
23 November 2006   "Addiction and the Divided Will" 
    Rev. Prof. Christopher C.H. Cook, Durham University. Thaddeus Birchard and Associates.  London, England.
10 October 2006   "Males vs. Females:  More than the Physical Differences"
    The Royal Society of Medicine, Endocrinology and Diabetes Section.
16 June 2006   "Intimate Affairs"
    Pink Therapy Conference, London, England.
31 October-4 November 2001   Annual Meeting of the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association
    Galveston, Texas, USA.
17-21 August 1999   Annual Meeting of the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association
    London, United Kingdom.
23 February 1999   “Erotic Transferences and Countertransferences”
    Led by Howard Katz, M.D.
26 January 1999   “AIDS-Related Traumatic Stress Response in Gay/Bisexual Men”
    Led by Jarvis T. Chen, M.P.H.
24 November and 22 December 1998   “Dialectical Behavioral Therapy”, Parts I & II
    Led by Alison McNeal, LICSW.
16 May 1998   “Strengthening Relationships: Helping Couples Find Their Way to Sexual Ecstasy”
    Led by Barry McCarthy, Ph.D., Aline P. Zoldbrod, Ph.D. and Claudia Bepko, LICSW.
28 April 1998   “Transgender Issues”
    Led by Diane Ellaborn, LICSW.
24 March 1998   “Keeping Effective Client Notes”
    Led by Marshall Forstein, M.D.
24 February 1998   “Treating Eating Disorders”
    Led by Mimi Rabinovitch, LICSW.
13 January 1998   “Psychological Aspects of Medical Non-Adherence”
    Led by Mimi Rabinovitch, LICSW.
19 November 1997   “The Therapeutic Agreement for the Therapy Group”
    Led by Suzanne Cohen, Ed.D.
26 September 1997   “In Pursuit of Happiness”
    Led by Stephen McDermott, M.D.
8-10 August 1997   “The Hero's Journey”
    Third Annual Female-to-Male Conference of the Americas.
3 June 1997   The Second New England Transgender Health Conference
    Led by Sterling Stowell, M.A.
20 May 1997   “Self-Care for Mental Health Providers”
    Led by Janet Yassen, LICSW.
25 October 1996   “Psychotherapy? Psychopharmacology? Which Treatment for Which Depression in the Older Adult?”
    Led by Andrew Satlin, M.D.
15 October 1996   “Psychological and Sociocultural Aspects of Body Image Distortions Among Gay Men”
    Led by Peter Kassel, Ph.D.
17 September 1996   “Antidepressant Medication Update”
    Led by Marshall Forstein, M.D.
18 June and 23 July 1996   “An Enrichment Skills Therapy Group Model”
    Led by Michael Brock, LICSW and Alan Just, LICSW.
3 May 1996   “Close Encounters of the Brief Kind: The Long-Term Therapists's Choices When There is Not Enough Time”
    Led by Martha Stark, M.D.
16 April 1996   “Psychotherapy and Money” Part II
    Led by Tracey Rogers, Ph.D.
2 February and 8 March 1996   “Sex, Psyche and the Cinema of the ‘60s”
    Led by Ronald Goldman, Ed.D. and Bet McArthur, LICSW.
16 January, 20 February and 19 March 1996   “Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Anxiety and Depression”
    Led by Robert Haas, LICSW.
14 November 1995   “Use of the Patient Assessment Tool in Treatment Planning”
    Led by Elizabeth Thomas, M.D.
20 June 1995   “The Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Safe Sex Practices with Gay Males”
    Led by W. Lenderking, Ph.D.
5 June 1995   “An Introduction to Alternative Therapies for the Traditional Clinician”
    Led by Loretta Butehorn, Ph.D.
16 May 1995   “Safe Sex: What are We Saying to Our Patients?”
    Led by Kenneth Mayer, M.D. and Stephen Boswell, M.D.
25 April 1995   “Psychotherapy and Money”  Part I
    Led by Marshall Forstein, M.D.
24 January, 8 and 21 March 1995   “Time-Effective Treatment”
    Led by Shelley Stahl, LICSW.
3 and 10 February and 3 and 10 March 1995   “Madness: Context and Cure”
    Led by William Acklery, M.D. and others.
22 November 1994   “'Duty to Warn' vs. ‘Duty to Protect'”
    Led by James Beck,M.D.
3 June 1994   “Treatment of Adults with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach”
    Led by Donald Meichenbaum, Ph.D.
28 January, 4 and 25 February 1994   “Psychodynamic Duos: Four Intimate Dyads on Film”
    Led by Stephen Bergman, M.D., Ph.D., Janet Surrey, Ph.D., Barry Dym Ph.D., Eleanor Roffman, Ph.D., Steven Krugman, Ph.D. and Tracy MacNaby, Ph.D.
15-16 October 1993   “Working With Difficult Couples”
    Led by Neil S. Jacobson, Ph.D.
11 December 1992   “Solution-Focussed Brief Therapy”
    Led by Jordan Oshlag, LICSW and Susan Tohn, LICSW.
12-13 June 1992   “Psychotherapy: Challenges, Mistakes and Failures”
   

Led by Lester Grinspoon, M.D.

3-5 May 1991   “West Coast Neuropsychological Conference: Multiple Approaches”
    Led by Nelson Butters, Ph.D.
22-24 May 1991   “The Interplay of Technique and Humanity”
    Led by Erving Polster, Ph.D.
Honours

Graduate Student Research Award of the Texas Psychological Association. May 1990.

Mark Freedman Memorial Awards of the Association of Lesbian and Gay Psychologists. May 1989.

Professional Memberships

Third East-West Conference on Child Sexual Abuse, Sexual Violence and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, September 2001, Prague, The Czech Republic. (Scientific Committee member)

American Psychological Association

Beaumont Trust (trustee, 2008-present)

Gender Identity and Research Society

Gender Trust (trustee, 2005-2008)

Gendys Network

World Professional Association for Trans Health (formerly the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association)

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisory Group, Department of Health Gender Trust (trustee) (2005-2007)

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To ask  for information or to arrange an appointment,
please call Kenneth Demsky, PhD
on 020 7435 6116
or send an e-mail to
enquiry@drkennethdemsky.co.uk