As marriage equality spreads across the US, issues facing LGBTQ individuals and their families are at the forefront of parenting, family, and relationship conversations. The conflict within the Cheney family over gay marriage demonstrates some of the issues that arise as families navigate these complicated waters. Without healthy support and communication, families can face anxiety-educing conflict and anger, as well as damaging communication breakdowns and fraying family bonds.
Dr. Aaron Cooper, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University, is available to comment on these issues.
Dr. Cooper earned his doctorate from Loyola University of Chicago, following a three-year internship at the Loyola Guidance Clinic. Prior to that, he received a Master of Arts in Teaching from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) from Harvard University.
In 2008, Dr. Cooper co-authored I Just Want My Kids to be Happy: Why You Shouldn't Say It, Why You Shouldn't Think It, What you Should Embrace Instead, which received highest honors in the 2008 Mom's Choice Awards and was a finalist in the 2008 Indie Excellence Awards. His thoughts about youth and family issues have been cited in over 500 newspapers, magazines and websites from coast to coast. A member of the American Psychological Association, he speaks regularly to parents and educators throughout the Chicagoland area.
ABOUT THE FAMILY INSTITUTE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY - The Family Institute at Northwestern University (www.family-institute.org) is committed to strengthening and healing families from all walks of life through clinical service, education and research. An affiliate of Northwestern University, The Family Institute is a unique, innovative not-for-profit organization, governed by its own independent Board of Directors and responsible for its own funding. The Institute offers a wide range of high quality mental health counseling through our staff practice and our sliding-fee scale Bette D. Harris Family and Child Clinic, where we are committed to serving at-risk, under-resourced communities. The Family Institute also operates two nationally-renowned graduate programs in marriage and family therapy and counseling psychology in affiliation with Northwestern University, and conducts cutting edge research projects that lead to a better understanding and treatment of mental health issues.
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