Advisory Council

image_nav_button_1AdvocateWeb provides information and resources to people whose lives have been impacted by sexual and other forms of exploitation by supposedly “trusted helping professionals.” We provide this free public service primarily, but not exclusively, via the Internet. It is our intent to provide high quality information resources and up-to-date information on this topic.

In an effort to ensure this quality, AdvocateWeb has created an Advisory Council, representing the wisdom and perspectives of a broad range of professionals, advocates, and experts across the world. Advice and ideas from this Council will help provide for some focused input into the design of AdvocateWeb, and the Council will serve as a sounding board for concerns about major policy decisions. Membership on the Advisory Council is an endorsement of and commitment to the general purpose of the AdvocateWeb organization and website, but does not necessarily indicate agreement with every issue, statement, or article.

We are honored to have the following members on our Advisory Council and we sincerely thank each of them for their service in this capacity.

Advisory Council Members

  • Wendie H. Abramson LMSW
    Texas, USA
  • Carl F. Ameringer J.D., Ph.D.
    Wisconsin, USA
  • Theresa J. Anderson-Varney Ph.D
    Michigan, USA
  • Steven B. Bisbing Psy.D., J.D.
    Maryland, USA
  • Celia Brackenridge MA BEd MILAM
    England, UK
  • Cheryl Cooney M.S.Ed.
    USA
  • Estelle Disch Ph.D.
    Massachusetts, USA
  • Ellen Edgerton
    New York, USA
  • Rev. James S. Evinger M.Div.
    New York, USA
  • Kathryn Hall Ph.D.
    New Jersey, USA
  • Nancy Hopkins
    Maine, USA
  • Ann Hutchison
    Texas, USA
  • Margaret Kennedy
    England, UK
  • Sandra L Kirby Ph.D.
    Manitoba,Canada
  • Larry A. Kuusisto Ph.D. D.C.
    Minnesota, USA
  • Rev. Patricia Liberty
    Rhode Island, USA
  • Deborah Lott
    California, USA
  • Kay Maisey
    Western Australia
  • Dee Miller R.N. B.S.
    Iowa, USA
  • Catherine D. Nugent M.S.
    Maryland, USA
  • P. Susan Penfold M.B. B.S.
    British Columbia, Canada
  • S. Michael Plaut Ph.D.
    Maryland, USA
  • Carolyn Quadrio
    Australia
  • Angelica Redleaf D.C.
    Rhode Island, USA
  • Rev. Dr. Sarah Rieth
    North Carolina, USA
  • Patricia Salt Ph.D.
    Massachusetts, USA
  • Stanley J. Spero J.D.
    Massachusetts, USA
  • Gary Schoener
    Minnesota, USA
  • Werner Tschan M.D.
    Switzerland
  • Melba J. T. Vasquez Ph.D., ABPP
    Texas, USA
  • Karyn Walsh
    Queensland, Australia
  • Mary Ann Werner
    New York, USA
  • Dr. William H. Willimon
    North Carolina, U.S.A.
  • John D. Winer J.D.
    California, USA

For More Information on the Advisory Council please see below:


Wendie H. Abramson LMSW Texas, USA

Director of Disability Services ASAP (A Safety Awareness Program) at SafePlace, Austin, Texas; 2000 Editor of Stop the Violence, Break the Silence Training Guide and Resource Kit; Co-Editor of “Impact: Feature Issue on Violence Against Women with Developmental or Other Disabilities.”


Carl F. Ameringer J.D., Ph.D. Wisconsin, USA

Assistant Professor of Public Affairs, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh; Former Assistant Attorney General in charge of administrative prosecutions before Maryland’s health licensing boards and commissions; Author of State Medical Boards and the Politics of Public Protection (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999); Former member of Maryland’s task force on Health Professional-Client Sexual Exploitation; Co-author of “Advising patient-victims of sexual misconduct by mental health professionals” (Maryland Bar Journal).


Theresa J. Anderson-Varney Ph.D. Michigan, USA

Adjunct Professor, Cornerstone University and Baptist Seminary, Grand Rapids, MI; Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology; Chairperson, Michigan Coalition on Sexual Exploitation by Helping Professionals; National Register of Health Services Providers in Psychology; Board Certified Forensic Examiner; Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress; Fellow, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress; Certified Forensic Counselor; Currently working on legislation to criminalize sexual contact between professional counselors and clergy and their clients; Private practice.


Steven B. Bisbing Psy.D., J.D. Maryland, USA

Clinical & Forensic Psychologist; Associate faculty at American School of Professional Psychology in Arlington, VA; Private practice evaluating and treating children and adults, especially victims of abuse by an authority figure. One of three authors of “Sexual Abuse by Professionals: A Legal Guide (Lexis Law., pub.)”; Regularly consult and lecture nationally regarding damages in personal injury, employment, ADA, malpractice, workers comp., TBI/SCI, and toxic exposure matters; as well as conduct risk management programs for non-profit, health care, and commercial institutions regarding sexual harassment, staff-client relations, and ethics.


Celia Brackenridge MA BEd MILAM England, UK

Founder of Celia Brackenridge Ltd., a research and consultancy company on equity and welfare issues in sport and leisure. Former Professor of Sport and Leisure at the University of Gloucestershire; Former international athlete and captain of the England and Great Britain lacrosse teams, player, and coach; Former physical education teacher; Long-time advocate of women’s sport and equity issues; Experienced teacher, researcher and workshop facilitator on sport and leisure management and practice; Author of ‘Spoilsports; Understanding and Preventing Sexual Exploitation in Sport’ to be published by Routledge in 2001; Founder member and first chair of the UK Women’s Sports Foundation; Founder member of WomenSport International and convenor of its Task Force on Sexual Harassment in Sport; Has researched and written about sexual abuse and harassment in sport and related policy initiatives in Europe and North America.


Cheryl Cooney M.S.Ed. USA

Founder and Editor of CEASE (Clergy and Educator Abuse Survivors Empowered), Victim advocacy within the Seventh-day Adventist Church.


Estelle Disch Ph.D. Massachusetts, USA

Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Massachusetts, Boston; Co-Director, BASTA! Boston Associates to Stop Treatment Abuse; Ph.D. in Sociology; Conference Planning Committee and Keynote Speaker, October 1998, Fourth International Conference on Sexual Misconduct By Psychotherapists, Other Health Care Professionals & Clergy; Former member of Massachusetts Legislative Task Force on Sexual Abuse by Professionals.


Ellen Edgerton New York, USA

Founder, Silent Edge (an organization focusing on sexual exploitation and athlete advocacy in figure skating); BS, Television / Radio / Film, Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University


Kathryn Hall Ph.D. New Jersey, USA

Licensed clinical psychologist with a private practice in Princeton, NJ. The author of Reclaiming Your Sexual Self: How to Bring Desire Back Into Your Life, specializing in the treatment of sexual problems and relationship issues. Member in good standing of many professional organizations, most notably, the American Psychological Association, the International Academy of Sex Research, the Society for Sex Therapy and Research, the Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists, the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect and the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. Dr. Hall has a forensic practice and has conducted psychological evaluations of alleged victims and perpetrators of child sexual abuse, physician sexual misconduct and sexual assault. She has testified as an expert witness in Civil, Criminal and Administrative Law Court. Dr. Hall is a member of the Special Classification Review Board, a panel established by the Governor of New Jersey to oversee the treatment progress of incarcerated sex offenders. www.drkathrynhall.com


Rev. James S. Evinger M.Div. New York, USA

Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing and Medical Humanities, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY; 1996 Outstanding Scholarly Practitioner, co-shared, School of Nursing, University of Rochester; Master of Divinity, Board Certified, Association of Professional Chaplains.


Nancy Hopkins Maine, USA

Author of “The Congregational Response to Clergy Betrayals of Trust”; Co-editor of “Restoring the Soul of a Church : Healing Congregations Wounded by Clergy Sexual Misconduct”; Board Member, Interfaith Sexual Trauma Institute (ISTI); Member of special task force to develop guidelines for sexuality education, The Center for Sexuality and Religion; Independent consultant with congregations that have been impacted by clergy trust betrayals; Teacher, trainer, seminar/workshop presenter.


Ann Hutchison Texas, USA

Director of Victim Services, Austin Police Department (the nation’s second largest law enforcement Victim Services Unit).


Margaret Kennedy England, UK

Founder, CSSA – ‘Christian Survivors of Sexual Abuse’; Founder, MACSAS – ‘Minister & Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors’ (group); Author of book ‘The Courage to Tell’ published by the Council of Churches of Britain & Ireland (CTBI); Specialist in the abuse of disabled children; Independent Trainer & Consultant on Disability & Abuse (Social worker by background).


Sandra L. Kirby Ph.D. Manitoba, Canada

Associate Professor, Dept. of Sociology, University of Winnipeg; Chair, Dept. of Sociology, Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education; Advisory Board Member, WomenSport International; Author and Lecturer; Primary area of interest in sexual harassment in sport.


Larry A. Kuusisto Ph.D. D.C. Minnesota, USA

Vice President, Educational Resources Northwestern Health Sciences University, Minneapolis; Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Administration; Doctor of Chiropractic.


Rev. Patricia Liberty Rhode Island, USA

Minister, United Church of Christ; Executive Director of Associates in Education and Prevention in Pastoral Practice (AEPPP) in North Kingstown, RI; Consultant, public speaker, workshop leader.


Deborah Lott California, USA

Journalist; Author of “In Session:The Bond Between Women and their Therapists” (1999) — a book for clients and therapists about boundary and transference dilemmas in psychotherapy. Based on more than four years of research and a survey and interviews with about 300 women in therapy. Reporter for Psychiatric Times, a publication for psychiatrists. Also write for Psychology Today, Discover, Salon and other consumer and professional publications.


Kay Maisey Western Australia

Journalist; Wide local and international experience in journalism and public relations; Winner of two National journalism awards; Involved in the sexual assault of patients issue since 1994, and has undertaken a number of initiatives; Victim advocate; Instigated ANZ’s first national conference (Sydney, 1996); Founder of DoTELL, Doctor/Therapist/Clergy Sexual Exploitation Link Line; Nearing completion of Australia & New Zealand’s first book on the subject, for consumers, health and legal professionals.


Dee Miller R.N. B.S. Iowa, USA

Psychosocial Nurse; Professional Writer; Author of: “The Truth About Malarkey” and “How Little We Knew – Collusion and Confusion with Sexual Misconduct” (Book), “Church Secrets We Dare Not Keep”, and over thirty other publications.


Catherine D. Nugent M.S. Maryland, USA

Senior Public Health Advisor, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; Chair, Committee to Implement the Recommendations of the Maryland Sexual Exploitation Task Force (1997-1998); Vice-Chair, Maryland Task Force to Study Health Professional-Client Sexual Exploitation (1993-1996); Co-Founder/Organizer, Treatment Exploitation Recovery Network (1993-1996).


P. Susan (Sue) Penfold M.B.B.S. British Columbia, Canada

Professor, Division of Child Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia; Psychiatrist at British Columbia’s Children’s Hospital; M.B., B.S. (British Medical Degree); Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada in Psychiatry.


S. Michael Plaut Ph.D. Maryland, USA

Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, University of Maryland School of Medicine; Ph.D. in Psychology, Licensed in Maryland and North Carolina; Certified Sex Educator and Sex Therapist, American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists; Diplomate, The American College of Forensic Examiners, American Board of Psychological Specialties (forensic specialty: sexual abuse); Editor, Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, 1996-2001; President, Society for Sex Therapy and Research, 1999-2001.


Carolyn Quadrio New South Wales, Australia

Director of Mental Health Services, NSW Corrections Health Service; Associate Professor in Psychiatry, University of New South Wales; Psychiatrist; MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery); DPM (Diploma of Psychological Medicine); FRANZCP (board certified, Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists); PhD in Gender Studies; Published in the field of Family Therapy, Medicolegal Issues, Gender Psychology, Women’s Issues, Sexual Abuse in Psychotherapy. Special interests in gender issues in Psychiatry, abuse in Correctional Psychiatry, Personality Disorders and childhood sexual abuse.


Angelica Redleaf D.C. Rhode Island, USA

Chiropractic Physician; Past President, VP, and Secretary of the Chiropractic Society of Rhode Island; Author of “Behind Closed Doors – Gender, Sexuality & Touch in the Doctor/Patient Relationship”, Auburn House, 1978; Author of numerous articles; Consultant and lecturer on the subject of sexual boundaries. Private practice since 1978 in Providence, RI.


Rev. Dr. Sarah Rieth North Carolina, USA

Episcopal Priest; Pastoral Psychotherapist; Employed at the Methodist Counseling and Consultation Services, Charlotte, North Carolina and Davidson, North Carolina;. Provides pastoral therapy and supervision, as well as training and healing consultations for churches and organizations affected by sexual misconduct by professionals; Diplomate, American Association of Pastoral Counselors; Former Chair of the Ethics Committee of the Eastern Region of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors; Chair, Ethics Committee, Episcopal Diocese of Western New York; Former Vicar of Ephphatha Episcopal Church of the Deaf in Buffalo, New York.


Patricia Salt Ph.D. Massachusetts, USA

Assistant in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry (Psychology), The Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA; Co-Principal Investigator, Preventive Intervention Project, Human Studies Committee, Judge Baker Children’s Center, Boston, MA; Licensed Psychologist; Ph.D. (Psychology) Boston University; Women and Minorities Committee, Ethics Committee, Association Chair 1997- present, New Hampshire Psychological Association; Member, American Psychological Association; Private practice in NH.


Stanley J. Spero J.D. Massachusetts, USA

Principal, SJ Spero & Associates, 1980-present; .J.D., Boston College Law School; B.S. , Boston University.


Gary Schoener Minnesota, USA

Executive Director, Walk-In Counseling Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Licensed Psychologist, M.Eq.; Author of many articles, books, and publications; Expert Witness/Organizational Consultant, has consulted in more than 3000 cases of sexual misconduct by professionals. Former Member of the Task Force on Sexual Impropriety of the American Psychological Association and its Advisory Committee on the Impaired Psychologist.


Werner Tschan M.D. Switzerland

Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist; Member of AGAVA (Swiss Task Force against exploitation by a trusted helping professional, clergy or employer). Former member of the task force against sexual exploitation in psychotherapy, Basel Medical Association; Member of the (governmentally-ruled) Committee “Patient rights in Psychiatric University Hospital Basel”.


Melba J. T. Vasquez Ph.D., ABPP Texas, USA

Psychologist; Co-author of book, “Ethics in Psychotherapy & Counseling: A Practical Guide for Psychologists” (2nd edition, 1998, with Ken Pope) Published numerous journal articles and book chapters in the specialty areas of professional ethics, psychology of women, supervision and training, and ethnic minority psychology. Fellow of the American Psychological Association. Served on APA Ethics Committee. Former Chairperson, APA Board of Professional Affairs. Former Chairperson, APA Board for the Advancement of Psychology for the Public Interest. Past President of Division 35, Psychology of Women, a Division of the American Psychological Association, Serves on the APA Policy and Planning Board. Member of the Board of the Texas Psychological Association, and has served in various other capacities of TPA.


Karyn Walsh Queensland, Australia

Coordinator of Micah Inc., a social justice agency; Project worker for the Esther Trust, supporting people affected by abuse and exploitation in faith communities and/or institutions; Sexual exploitation victim advocate, also working on intervention and prevention, support, and training; Member of the Coalition Against Domestic Violence – a Queensland Network; Involved in many other outreach and support services.


Mary Ann Werner New York, USA

Educator; Founder of Survivors of Educator Sexual Abuse and Misconduct Emerge (SESAME, Inc.). BM Music Education, Seton Hill College, Greensburgh, PA; AA Independent Studies Columbia-Greene Com. College, Hudson, NY; Education and Human Service courses in a variety of Graduate School programs.


Dr. William H. Willimon S.T.D. North Carolina, USA

United Methodist minister; Widely regarded as one of the finest contemporary preachers; Dean of the Duke University Chapel; Author of 50 books and many other publications; Named one of the Twelve Most Effective Preachers in the English speaking world, Baylor University; Member of editorial boards for The Christian Century, The Christian Ministry, Pulpit Digest, Preaching, The Wittenburg Door, and Leadership; Lecturer at many colleges and universities throughout the world; The First Distinguished Alumnus of Yale Divinity School; Wofford College (B.A.), Yale Divinity School (M. Div.) and Emory University (S.T.D.)


John D. Winer J.D. California, USA

Attorney specializing in psychotherapist malpractice, healthcare provider abuse and sexual harassment cases on behalf of victims; litigated over 500 cases of sexual abuse or boundary violations against professionals; published over 40 articles; frequent lecturer to attorneys, health care providers, victim groups and risk managers on the subjects of professional abuse and sexual harassment; Past President of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association: Past Vice President of the Consumer Attorneys of California; Martindale Hubbell AV Rated; Multiple Awards of Merit and Outstanding Achievement Awards from the California Trial Lawyers Association and faculty member of The Hastings College of Trial Advocacy.

Comments are closed.