ABCT awards IHI founder Charles Silverstein, PhD with Lifetime Achievement Award for Social Justice
NEW YORK - On Saturday, November 19, 2022, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) honored IHI’s founder Dr. Charles Silverstein, PhD, as the inaugural recipient of the Charles Silverstein Lifetime Achievement Award in Social Justice as part of its 56th Annual Convention in New York City drawing over 3300 attendees. ABCT cited Silverstein’s significant contributions in combating pathologization of LGBTQ+-identified people as integral to its decision to establish the new award in his name and award him as its first recipient.
“We feel privileged to have the opportunity to honor him and his decades long contributions to our field,” remarked ABCT President Dr. Laura Seligman, PhD. “ABCT sincerely appreciates his tenacity in championing efforts to end conversion therapy and the harm it has caused.”
Earlier in the day, the convention also hosted a screening of the documentary, Conversion, and had a post-screening discussion with Silverstein and Dr. Gerald C. Davison and Conversion Director Greg Caruso.
"Dr. Silverstein is well-respected and admired in our organization," asserted ABCT Executive Director Mary Jane Eimer, CAE. "The convention was a 'golden moment' for many to see him, hear him, and acknowledge his many contributions to the LGBTQ+ community. We understand the courage it took to stand against the tide in the early 70’s. His legacy will be well remembered in our organization."
Silverstein, 87, was part of a group of psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals who, in 1973, persuaded the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality as a mental disorder from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the premier diagnostic manual for mental health professionals in the U.S.
Following this landmark advocacy, IHI opened its doors to its first clients later that same year and became the nation’s first provider of LGBTQ+-affirming psychotherapy.
In addition to Silverstein’s activism, he has also published seminal works of non-fiction about his lived experience as a gay man, including For the Ferryman, which was re-released by LGBTQ+ publisher ReQueered Tales Los Angeles in early June 2022.
“This is obviously the greatest honor I have received in my career,” remarked Silverstein, “and especially so coming from the premier behaviorist organization in the world.”
ABCT will continue to present the award ongoing to future recipients in recognition of outstanding work in social justice.