Who is Dr. Doug?
Hello, I’m Dr. Doug,
For twenty-five years, I have been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (40003) and professor at Antioch University – Los Angeles. I have a PhD. in Clinical Psychology, and I’m currently sitting for Clinical Psychology licensure. As the founding director of the nation’s first LGBT Specialization in Clinical Psychology, I also launched Colors LGBTQ Youth Counseling Center. In 2005, I helped create an Institute of gay-centered learning, and in 1989, I co-founded Highways, a world-renown performance art space.
This rewarding career would have seemed impossible to my younger self, growing up as I did in the Bronx with my blue-collar, ethnic, Jewish parents—Penny and Lenny—and my brother, Daniel. My parents survived the Great Depression, and their parents survived the anti-Semitism of Eastern Europe. “Highlights” from my childhood include four hip surgeries before my Bar Mitzvah (I played tackle football to try to make my Marlon-Brando-wannabe father proud) and an exchange trip to Israel.
I received my B.A. in English at Columbia College in 1977 and got deep into doctoral studies in English at New York University in the early 80s, only to abandon my work to join the fight against AIDS. I witnessed this disease decimate the gay community and communities of color and found a passion for queer activism through my participation in ACT UP/NY and ACT UP/LA. During this period, I developed a strong voice as a community activist and authored two award-winning books while simultaneously working as a respected journalist for the LA Times and LA Weekly. Alongside other artists at Highways, I created “Queer Rites” and “Jew Meat” touring troupes.
I grew up in the Bronx with my brother and Penny and Lenny, blue-collar, ethnic, Jewish parents who survived the Great Depression and whose parents hailed from Eastern Europe. Highlights include hip surgery before my Bar Mitzvah (I played tackle football to try to make my Marlon Brando wannabe father proud) and an exchange trip to Israel.
I received my B.A. in English at Columbia College in 1977 and got deep into doctoral studies in English at New York University in the early 80s, only to join the fight against AIDS decimating gays and communities of color by participating in ACT UP/NY and ACT UP/LA. During that period, I developed a community-activist voice as an award-winning author of two mainstream books and an award-winning journalist for the LA Times and LA Weekly. I also helped to co-found Highways Performance Art Space in 1989 with my then-rebellious artist-wunderkind boyfriend, Tim Miller. [B&W picture of Tim and me]. With other artists, I created “Queer Rites” and “Jew Meat” touring troupes. [put a link to the video here or pictures]. I also was elected to be Co-Chair of the Board of the 18th Streets Arts Complex.
By the time I was 29, I realized that, for all the good we queer activists were doing in the “outer world” fighting the bullies, we had neglected to address the racist, sexist, homophobic bullies in our minds. I saw too much trauma in our ranks, including in myself.
So, I declared to myself that the most refined form of direct action would have to be through my own pursuit of healing. I found myself a therapist.
By working with a licensed professional with roots in the Gay Liberation Movement, I discovered I had confused the “warm care” I received in my Jewish home with “love.” There was a broken-off part of my being trapped in a dungeon of shame, hiding because he did not feel good about himself and was being admonished by another cruel voice.
I learned how to personify these voices. By grounding “Little Doug” with nurtured empathy and standing up to the “Internal Nazi,” I was able to strengthen my central personality. This technique of identifying the disowned peoples of the mind and organizing them into at least three subdivisions (e.g., baby, harsh parent, central personality) proved life-changing.
I could feel myself growing tangibly inside, and with the help of mentors, I also cultivated the idea that the fate of the world depends on each and every one of us addressing our blind spots, embracing our feelings, and learning a new paradigm of self-knowledge. By activating the god-like energies that reside within our silenced selves and hidden traumas, we can conceive of a new divine grace.
This idea is not new. It could be said to have emerged in the nineteenth century with Friedrich Nietzsche, that radical queer philosopher who suggested that beyond prayer, meditation, and “belief,” working hard on one’s personal issues with the fire of love could fashion it a diamond center.
My training in anti-racism, anti-sexism, and anti-transphobia has been skillfully honed through a variety of mentors of my own, such as Susan Stryker and Stephen Corbin, the late African American novelist. Both will be previewed in my Book Club blog and YouTube channel.
And, just to be clear—I will NOT be doing therapy of any kind on these platforms, as doing so is beyond my scope of practice. But I will invite you to read, journal, and initiate and/or deepen your own self-study practices, which, I hope will include your own personal therapy with your own personal therapist.
