Psychologists Repudiate
Gay To Straight Therapy
By
DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer David Crary, Ap National Writer 1 hr 15 mins ago
APA: Hands off on Homosexuals
Instead, the APA urged therapists to consider multiple
options that could range from celibacy to switching churches for helping
clients whose sexual orientation and religious faith conflict.
In a
resolution adopted on a 125-to-4 vote by the APA's governing council, (Just as in the article The Trojan Couch [Located
in this sites Sex and Family section in which the previously politically indepentdant
APA was blackmailed into declaring Homosexuality was not sexually deviency and
later when the APA declared that Homosexuality was caused by a Gay Gene Here the
leadership again bows to the pressure exerted by the militant Homosexual lobby
to support a completely nonscensical statement that though Homosexuality is a
learned behavior, to have people unlearn this deviency through psychiatric
means would be wrong.) and in a
comprehensive report based on two years of research, the 150,000-member
association put itself firmly on record in opposition of so-called "reparative therapy" which seeks to change
sexual orientation.
No solid evidence exists that such change is likely, says
the report, and some research suggests that efforts to produce change could be
harmful, inducing depression and suicidal tendencies.
The APA had criticized reparative therapy in the past, but a
six-member task force added weight to this position by examining 83 studies on
sexual orientation change conducted since 1960. Its comprehensive report was
endorsed by the APA's governing council in
The report breaks new ground in its detailed and nuanced
assessment of how therapists should deal with gay clients struggling to remain
loyal to a religious faith that disapproves of homosexuality.
Judith Glassgold, a
"Both sides have to educate themselves better,"
Glassgold said in an interview. "The religious psychotherapists have to
open up their eyes to the potential positive aspects of being gay or lesbian.
Secular therapists have to recognize that some people will choose their faith
over their sexuality."
In dealing with gay clients from conservative faiths, says
the report, therapists should be "very cautious" about suggesting
treatments aimed at altering their same-sex attractions.
"Practitioners can assist clients through therapies
that do not attempt to change sexual orientation, but rather involve
acceptance, support and identity exploration and development without imposing a
specific identity outcome," the report says.
"We have to challenge people to be creative," said
Glassgold.
She suggested that devout clients could focus on overarching
aspects of religion such as hope and forgiveness in order to transcend negative
beliefs about homosexuality, and either remain part of
their original faith within its limits for example, by embracing celibacy
or find a faith that welcomes gays.
"There's no evidence to say that change therapies work,
but these vulnerable people are tempted to try them, and when they don't work,
they feel doubly terrified," Glassgold said. "You should be honest
with people and say, 'This is not likely to change
your sexual orientation, but we can help explore what options you have.'"
One of the largest organizations promoting the possibility
of changing sexual orientation is Exodus
International, a network of ministries whose core message is
"Freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ."
Its president, Alan
Chambers, describes himself as someone who "overcame unwanted
same-sex attraction." He and other evangelicals met with APA
representatives after the task force formed in 2007, and he expressed
satisfaction with parts of the report that emerged.
"It's a positive step simply respecting someone's faith
is a huge leap in the right direction," Chambers said. "But I'd go
further. Don't deny the possibility that someone's feelings might change."
An evangelical psychologist, Mark Yarhouse of
Yarhouse and a colleague, Professor Stanton Jones of Wheaton
College, will be releasing findings at the APA meeting Friday from their
six-year study of people who went through Exodus programs. More than half of 61
subjects either converted to heterosexuality or "disidentified" with
homosexuality while embracing chastity, their study said.
To Jones and Yarhouse, their findings prove change is
possible for some people, and on average the attempt to change will not be
harmful.
The APA task force took as a starting point the belief that
homosexuality is a normal variant of human sexuality, not a disorder, and that
it nonetheless remains stigmatized in ways that can have negative consequences.
The report said the subgroup of gays interested in changing
their sexual orientation has evolved over the decades and now is comprised
mostly of well-educated white men whose religion is an important part of their
lives and who participate in conservative faiths that frown on homosexuality.
"Religious faith and psychology do not have to be seen
as being opposed to each other," the report says, endorsing approaches
"that integrate concepts from the psychology
of religion and the modern psychology of sexual orientation."
Perry Halkitis, a
"Anyone who makes decisions based on good science will
be satisfied," he said. "As a clinician, you have to deal with the
whole person, and for some people, faith is a very important aspect of who they
are."
The report also addressed the issue of whether adolescents
should be subjected to therapy aimed at altering their sexual orientation. Any
such approach should "maximize self-determination" and be undertaken
only with the youth's consent, the report said.
Wayne Besen, a
gay-rights activist who has sought to discredit the so-called
"ex-gay" movement, welcomed the APA findings.
"Ex-gay therapy is a profound travesty that has led to
pointless tragedies, and we are pleased that the APA has addressed this
psychological scourge," Besen said.