Kevin Alderson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Calgary in 1978, followed by a Masters degree in clinical, school and community psychology in 1984. Before commencing doctoral studies, Dr Alderson married, had two children, and then experienced his own coming out in 1993. The intensity of his struggle to find himself and become authentic was both tumultuous and exhilarating. Motivated by his desire to further understand his experience and that of others, he began a PhD program in counselling psychology at the University of Alberta in 1995. While there, he worked with persons who are HIV-positive and with others experiencing sexual and gender identity issues.