Biographies

Tanya Bennion

Tanya has helped dozens of spouses and girlfriends of SSA individuals for 5 years and for the past two years she has presented workshops at the Evergreen International Conferences. She has also participated in intimacy panels and counceling session for those with SSA and their families. Tanya began helping other women and men after the loss of her first husband, at which time she started a widow/widower's group in Washington, DC. She continues to help with a widow's group here in Utah, and just launched a resource website for widows and widowers at http://www.kawadesign.com/goodgrief/. Tanya does web development and graphic design for the design firm she founded, Kawa Design Studios. She served in the Japan Fukuoka mission and currently serves in the Relief Society Presidency in her local ward. She has a BA in liberal studies from American University in Washington, DC.

Lizette Boice

Lizette currently resides in El Paso, Texas with her husband and two children. She has been married for 6½ years and has only known about her husband's same-sex attraction struggle for the past 2½ years. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor's degree in Marriage, Family, and Human Development. Since then, she has had many opportunities to help others in that aspect. She is currently the El Paso coordinator for BAN (Beyond Affairs Network), and has started her own website (www.oasisinthedesert.net) as a resource for Christian women married to SSA men. She is also currently a ward missionary in her ward.

Wife of Author Steven Cramer

She currently resides in Salt Lake City with her husband. Together, she and her husband have written nine published books including "The Worth of a Soul," "Putting on the Armor of God," and "In the Arms of His Love." She is the mother of 9 children, currently has 35 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. She spent one year working with LDS Social Services in Phoenix, Arizona helping unwed mothers, and another year in Layton, Utah teaching and counseling abused women under the auspices of the Stake Relief Society. She is currently serving as the Relief Society President in her ward.

Megan Dahlgren

Megan lives in Salt Lake and has been married to her husband for two years. Megan found out about her husband's SSA before they were married and they have been working together on overcoming those attractions since that time. She has participated on intimacy panels, facilitated by Dan Gray, with her husband several times and served on the planning committee for the 2007 Evergreen International Conference. She is an avid reader and enjoys playing games, cross-stitching, running, the outdoors, watching movies, spending time with family and friends, and most of all, going out to eat with her husband, as they get to spend time together and she doesn't have to cook! Megan graduated from BYU with a degree in Elementary Education. She enjoys teaching kindergarten and the adventures of the first year of a full-day kindergarten experience. This summer she has been invited to present with the CORE Academy giving seminars around the state to other kindergarten teachers.

Dan Gray, LCSW

Dan Gray is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in addictions counseling. He has a master's degree in social work and is a CSAT (Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist). He is also certified as an addictions counselor with the National Association of Forensic Counselors. He maintains a busy private practice, lecturing regularly and providing training and consultation to numerous civic, religious, and professional organizations throughout the country. In addition, he is the clinical director of the LifeSTAR Network program (see www.lifestarnetwork.org), which provides help for individuals and couples from around the country who are dealing with problems related to sexual addictions and compulsive behaviors. He recently co-authored the book, Discussing Pornography Problems with a Spouse: Confronting and Disclosing Secret Behaviors and the book Confronting Pornography. Dan is a former Evergreen Trustees and the founder of Wasatch Sports and Activities which provides experiential outdoor and therapeutic sports activities for individuals and groups. Married and the father of four, Dan also enjoys fly fishing, hiking, biking, and basically, anything outdoors.

David Matheson, MS, LPC

David Matheson is a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice in the Salt Lake City area. He is the clinical director of the Center for Gender Wholeness, co-creator of the Journey into Manhood weekend, and a director of People Can Change (www.peoplecanchange.com). One of his important works is the 350-page Evergreen Workbook for Men, a practical guide to the change process. He also authored Origins of Male Homosexuality, a lengthy review and discussion of research and theory regarding the development of same-sex orientation. He is a former member of Evergreen's Board of Trustees. You may reach David at dmatheson@genderwholeness.com.

Peggy Matheson

Peggy graduated from Brigham Young University with a BFA in Musical Theater 5 months after marrying her husband, David. Within a year, David told her that he was dealing with same-sex attraction. That was 22 years ago. A long, slow process of healing and learning began that day that has continued to the present. For years it was about trying to understand David. Then it turned to understanding her self. That process continued as Peggy moved with David and their three children from Utah to California, to New Jersey and back to Utah. It led Peggy to complete the Woman Within Training, the H.E.R. training, the Bridges Not Walls couples weekend and the Empowerment Circle training. She participated in an Empowerment Circle for 2 years, co- created an Abundance Weekend and completed The Journey Practitioner's Program. With the emotional freedom techniques she has learned, most particularly through Journey Work, Peggy feels she has found a truly powerful way to release the silent saboteurs that diminish our potential and keep us from giving and receiving love. The healing process that began 22 years ago has led Peggy to the belief that core to her life's work is her marriage.