Mission Statement: The Alliance exists to encourage human flourishing by promoting a more complete truth, informed by Judeo-Christian values and natural law, about the science of sexual orientation and biological sex through education, advocacy, clinical training, and therapy.
Shirley Cox, D.S.W.
Past-President
Andy Visser, MHC
President
David H. Pickup, LMFT
President Elect
Dr. Cox has a DSW in Social Work and has spent many years in practice and 27 years as a social work educator at Weber State, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Brigham Young University. She has received numerous awards for her teaching and community practice including: the Liberal Arts Outstanding Faculty Award, the Morris Committee on Excellence in Teaching Award, the NASW Nevada Chapter Social Worker of the Year. Her individual and jointly authored publications appear in outlets such as: The Journal of International Social Work and the Journal of Social Work Education.
Andy Visser obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Dordt College (1973), a Masters in Counseling Psychology from the University of South Dakota (1979.) He holds licenses as a Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Iowa and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in South Dakota and is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP). Andy is National Board Certified Counselor (NBCC). He currently serves as the chair of the Alliance Ethics, Family and Faith division.
David H. Pickup, MFT holds a Masters Degree in Psychology and is a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. He currently is in private practice working with men with unwanted homosexuality and has offices in California and Texas. David is the co-chair of the Alliance Client Rights division and regularly speaks at regional, national, and international conferences on the practical application of Reintegrative Therapy.
Board of Directors
Michael Davidson, Ph.D.
Michael Gasparro, M.A.
Christopher H. Rosik, Ph.D.
Dr Mike Davidson completed undergraduate degrees from Canadian Nazarene College (BTh) and the University of South Africa (BA). His postgraduate work (B.Ed and PhD) was from Rhodes University. He worked in Teacher Education before contributing to Professional Development Units of both academics and doctoral students in three United Kingdom Universities (Nottingham, Surrey and Ulster). He is currently Director of Core Issues Trust, a UK Christian Charity offering therapeutic support for unwanted same-sex attractions.
Michael Gasparro is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#131154) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (#10913) in California. He is passionate about the intersection of faith and psychology. His clinical experience and practice emphasizes helping men who seek assistance in addressing their issues of same-sex attractions and obsessive compulsive disorder/scrupulosity in accordance with Catholic teaching. He utilizes this expertise, among his other clinical training and influences, such as the work of Dr. Conrad Baars and Dr. Anna Terruwe, in cultivating counseling methods to best help clients with these issues. Michael also regularly speaks in the media and presents at various professional and pastoral conferences on these matters.
Michael graduated with a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hope International University in 2017 and a Bachelor of Music Degree from Baylor University in 2009.
Dr. Rosik is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Oregon and earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from Fuller Graduate School of Psychology. He is currently a psychologist and director of research at Link Care Center in Fresno, California, as well as a clinical faculty member of Fresno Pacific University. He has published more than 45 articles in peer reviewed journals and has served as President of the Western Region of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies. He currently serves as the Editor of the Journal of Human Sexuality and the chair of the Alliance Research division.
Susan Halvorson, M.S.
Robert L. Vazzo, LMFT, LPCC
Keith Vennum, M.D.
Susan received her Master of Science: Special Learning Disabilities degree from Winona State University, Winona, MN. Recently retired, she taught in the public schools for 27 years. Susan has spent 30 years studying and educating teachers and the public on homosexuality and, more recently transgenderism, using scientific, research-based information within her teacher unions and state legislature. She strongly supports and advocates for a client’s right to choose. Susan also serves as the Alliance’s recording secretary.
Robert Vazzo received his master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California and was inducted into the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi in 2004. Mr. Vazzo completed his clinical internship at the Thomas Aquinas Psychological Clinic in Encino, California, where he worked with Dr. Joseph Nicolosi. Mr. Vazzo is currently a both a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Marriage & Family Therapist and is a member of the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT) and the California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (CAMFT). He currently serves as the Alliance Clinical division chair.
Dr. Vennum is a graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University (BA) and the University of Florida (MD) and obtained a Master’s degree in Professional Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University.
He is a retired Physician (practiced Psychiatry) and an active Mental Health Counselor in the State of Florida. Dr. Vennum is the former Chairman of the Board of Exchange Ministries helping those
experiencing unwanted same-sex attractions.
Michelle A. Cretella, MD
Peggy McFarland, LCPC, CACLC
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Andrew Rodriguez, MS,
LPC
Michelle A. Cretella, MD is a pediatrician, writer, researcher and speaker. She is the past executive director of the American College of Pediatricians and is the current co-chair of its Adolescent Sexuality Council. Dr. Cretella serves on the Medical Committee of the Alliance for Therapeutic Choice and Scientific Integrity. She is a pediatrician spokesperson for the Catholic Medical Association and Advocates Protecting Children; she is a long-standing member of the Association for American Physicians and Surgeons, and a consultant to the Rhode Island Family Institute.
Peggy is a clinical therapist who now teaches parenting and counseling skills to online students from all over the world. She also maintains a private Christian coaching practice. As a mother to a blended family of nine children, a grandmother, and a professional, she is well-attuned to the mental health and social challenges that families face today. She has become greatly distressed at the profession’s deviation from moral and scientific truth. She has witnessed the harm these trends have caused in families and in communities.
Andrew Rodriguez is the director of Integrity Christian Counseling in Pottstown, PA. He’s served in ministry for sexuality strugglers since 2006, starting at as an intern at an Exodus International member ministry. After experiencing persecution in graduate
school for his work with men with unwanted same-sex attraction, the Alliance awarded him the 2015 Nicolosi Student Excellence Award. He’s completed his certification in
both SAFE-T and Reintegrative Therapy. He is passionate about advocating for
therapeutic choice, serving on the board of Voice of the Voiceless since 2020 and educating the public through his social media platform, PsychoBible. Additionally, he is affiliated with Restored Hope Network, Transformation Ministry Alliance, Desert Stream
Ministries, and ReStory Ministries. He has been married to precious wife, Jessica,
since 2007.