About Us
Ashley van Houten
Ashley van Houten is a Clinical Psychologist registered in NSW and Queensland with many years experience working in the private sector and public sector on a range of sensitive issues, including child protection, adolescent development and adjustment, sexuality and HIV/AIDS. He is currently working in private practice with the adult population.
Ashley’s research interests are in the area of identity development, sexuality and sexual identity and in gender identity development.
Ashley is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS) and a member of the APS Gay and Lesbian Special Interest Group. He is also a member of the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH).
Ashley’s interest in transsexualism has developed over a long time. It began with his involvement with Theresius House (now the Gender Centre) in Stanmore in Sydney in 1985. In 1990 Ashley did a video interview for a psychology subject with a very close friend who was a transsexual. The aim of the video was to bring the transsexual experience into the realm of prospective psychologists to sensitise them to the needs of transsexuals.
Ashley has had many friends who are transsexuals and he has seen many transsexuals in his private practice as a Clinical Psychologist. Drawing from all these interests and experiences Ashley felt it important to do further research into transsexualism at a PhD level as there is very little study done in this area at this level.
Based on the research findings of his PhD, Ashley hopes to develop specific guidelines for Australian and New Zealand clinicians sensitising them to the needs of transsexuals.
Ashley has presented two papers at the International conference of WPATH in Chicago, Illinois, USA in 2007 and has presented at the Health In-Difference Conference in Brisbane in May 2007. He has also reviewed two books on transsexualism for the APS and he has held discussions with the APS about developing ethical guidelines for psychologists working with transsexuals.
Ashley and his partner of 22 years are both members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender communities (LGBT). When asked at an Australian LGBT conference what could be done for transsexuals Ashley stated among a list of other things, that he did not want the “T” in LGBT to always come last and to stand for tokenism.
Supervisors
Dr Heather Green is a lecturer at Griffith University and plays a key role as the principal supervisor on this research project. Dr Green has previously worked as a Clinician in Sexual Health and her research interests include gender identity, sex hormones and sexual orientation.
Associate Professor Alf Lizzio is the Head of School in the School of Psychology, and senior lecturer at Griffith University. Assoc Prof. Lizzio is the secondary supervisor on this research project and brings a wide range of both academic and work skills and knowledge to this project.