Winter Symposium 2025
All Submissions
All Submissions for Winter Symposium 2025
Details of Submitted Papers for Winter Symposium 2025
Name: Hoda Doss Gerges
Paper Title: Hope and Healing of the Unwanted Same Sex Attraction
Abstract:
This paper explores the Orthodox Christian approach to supporting individuals experiencing unwanted same-sex attraction (SSA), urging the Church and Christian counsellors to embrace compassion, understanding, and a non-judgemental stance. It is important that rather than alienation or condemnation, those who experience SSA deserve empathy, spiritual guidance, and inclusion within the Church community. Grounded in the Orthodox belief in universal holiness, the paper contends that all Christians, regardless of personal struggles, are called to live a life rooted in Christ. Through a commitment to prayer, sacramental life, and communal support, individuals facing unwanted SSA can align their lives with Orthodox teachings. This holistic approach highlights the trans-formative power of faith and the Church’s role as an “ark” of salvation, welcoming all who seek closeness with God. The paper also underscores the critical role of counsellors and therapists in embodying the “Presence” of God, as only through divine assistance can they effectively address the needs of those they serve. Ultimately, this paper calls on the Orthodox Christian community to blend doctrinal fidelity with compassionate care, encouraging a response that reflects love, humility, and the hope for spiritual growth in every believer. Pastoral counsellors need to be compassionate with a very high degree of discernment and patience. Whatever qualifications a counsellor has, one will still be inefficient apart from God, facing alone all the needs of others and oneself. This shows the importance that Christian counsellors need to use spiritual interventions in parallel with psycho therapeutic interventions.
Key words: Unwanted Same Sex Attraction Hope and Healing – Christ the Greatest Physician – Christian Counsellor – Insecure Attachment – Spiritual Interventions
Affiliation with AHOS: I have accomplished Pastoral care and Counselling Masters in 2022
Note: Need revision for any further remarks
Paper Download: Download
Submitter information
Bio:
Name: Hoda Adly Doss Gerges
Hoda was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt. She has an MD in Clinical Pathologist. She has a master in Pastrol care and Counselling at the Antiochian House of Studies (AHOS) in 2022. She has accomplished her diploma of ISSACS (International Substance Abuse & Addiction Centre of Studies) to help overcome many addictive behaviours in 2016 and also a diploma of counselling from Maadi Orthodox Counselling Institute in 2006. She is a Christian counsellor and supervisor. She is a board member of Christian Orthodox Counsellor Association (COCA) and a board member of Maadi Orthodox Counselling Institute.
She is a facilitator and trainer for junior counsellor in Maadi Orthodox Counselling Institute. She is the author, lecturer and facilitator of the courses of wives of priests in the Orthodox Counselling Institute and other women courses. She is a lecturer in the Maadi Orthodox Counselling institute and other institutes in Upper Egypt and Alexandria.
She helped in the establishment and facilitation of single mothers group 2010 – 2014. She participated in the establishment of the first Orthodox Sports Ministry for Youth in 2006 – 2010. She also participated in Sunday school ministry for many She has attended the Association of Christian Counsellors UK Conference in Feb. 2019 , a course for the supervision of Counsellors held by COCA in 2018 , a course of The Unwanted Sexual Attraction Counselling Training School held by Al Hayat Org. in 2018, also has attended conferences held by ACCTS (Arab Center for consulting and training services) (Arab Woman Today) in Jordan 2015 – 2019 , Equip Leadership Organisation conference and training courses in 2014 & 2015, and also the workshop of Group therapy held in Cairo by Uberleben , bzfo, Behandlungszentrum fur Folteropfer Berlin in 2014.
Also an author of three books:
– Reconciliation with life
– Exercise book for the reconciliation with life
– The third book is the translation of my Master’s Thesis and its name is:
Hope and Healing of Same Sex Attraction.
Hoda is 58 years widowed with two married children and four granddaughters. They currently reside in Cairo, Egypt.
Certificates and Courses Attended:
Certificates
– MD Clinical Pathology.
– Master of Pastrol Care and Counselling at the Antiochian House of Studies (AHOS) in September 2022.
– Diploma of ISSACS (International Substance Abuse & Addiction Centre of Studies) to help overcome many addictive behaviours in 2016.
– Counselling diploma from Maadi Orthodox Counselling Institute 2004 – 2006.
– A member in the Administrative Board of the Orthodox Counselling Institute in Maadi.
– A member of the administrative Board of the Christian Orthodox Counsellors Association (counsellor and supervisor).
– Lecturer in the Maadi Orthodox Counselling Institute and other counselling institutes in Alex and upper Egypt.
– Facilitator and trainer for junior counsellors in Maadi Orthodox Counselling Institute.
– Author, lecturer and facilitator of courses of wives of priests and women since 2015 in Maadi Orthodox Counselling Institute.
– Helped in the establishment and facilitation of single mothers group from 2010 – 2014.
– Participated in the establishment of the first Orthodox Sports Ministry for Youth in 2006 – 2010.
– Participated in Sunday school ministry for many years
Different courses and conferences attended:
– Association of Christian Counselors UK Conference (courses for inner child, psychotherapy and creative counseling) in Feb.2019.
– A course for the supervision of Counselors held by COCA in 2018, 2022 and 2023
– A course of The Unwanted Sexual Attraction Counseling Training School held by Al Hayat Org. in 2018.
– Conferences held by ACCTS (Arab Center for consulting and training services) (Arab Woman Today for equipping women) Jordan from 2015 – 2019.
– Workshop for DBT with MASSAR Dubai in 2024.
– Workshop of Internal Family System with MASSAR Egypt in 2024.
– Other different courses about homosexuality, group therapy, ACT, DBT and leadership.
Email: drhdoss@yahoo.com | User ID: Hoda Doss Gerges