Psychologists Repudiate Gay-to-Straight Therapy

[John317]

By DAVID CRARY, AP National Writer – 16 mins ago

NEW YORK – The American Psychological Association declared Wednesday that mental health professionals should not tell gay clients they can become straight through therapy or other treatments.

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, 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 Toronto, where the association's annual meeting is being held this weekend.

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 Highland Park, N.J., psychologist who chaired the task force, said she hoped the document could help calm the polarized debate between religious conservatives who believe in the possibility of changing sexual orientation and the many mental health professionals who reject that option.

"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 Regent University, praised the APA report for urging a creative approach to gay clients' religious beliefs but — like Chambers — disagreed with its skepticism about changing sexual orientation.

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 New York University psychologist who chairs the APA committee dealing with gay and lesbian issues, praised the report for its balance.

"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.

[Dr. Shane]

Some people point to the low success of exit ministries as proof that gays can't change.

First, let's remember that Alcoholics Anonymous' success rate is estimated at 1 of every 35. That is because the mental obsession is so powerful it robs most people of their desire to change.

Second, celibacy is success. Some gays that leave the lifestyle will never be attracted to the opposite sex.

[Gail]

I'm interested in reading what comments John317 may have :)

[Parade Orange]

yes lets ask the gay guy!

[Amelia]

All things are possible through Jesus Christ.

[Parade Orange]

Amelia Darling!

U know i love hearing from u now and then!

I must say something about this.

When homosexuals come to church determined(or even not want to at all) to trust and Obey God on everything! To Let GOD take over! Let HIM have all of u!

They need on top of Bible, prayer, and worship! They need Male Christian fellowship! Every book and every newsletter(Exodus testimonies) and every interview and program always, ALWAYS! thank God for MALE FELLOWSHIP.

Support! Affirmation,TRUST,Lifted Up! and Accountability happens! To runs one skewedgay perceptions over straight counterparts. To belong to a World of Men!

u dont see that everyday

[Dr. Shane]

But some Adventist men are afraid of being friends with gay people. [tic] Isn't it contagious?

[John317]

OK, I'm very interested in this.

Are you sure? Do men express that with one another? What kinds of things do men say?

What are they afraid of?

[Parade Orange]

HI SHANE!

i go to a very conservative rural repububpublican farming redneck old church. I have known these people and their families for over 34 years (since i was 12) and they all know im gay( gossip does get around -esp gossip AS THIS!!!!!). And they are all very polite and sometimes very legalistic. All the Men of the church are nice enough i guess. None of them hasnt had any yearning or desire to drop the mask and befriend me.

and thats a RELEF!!! hoooooweeeee

I dont know if i actually would want to befriend any of them if truth be TOLD!

But God told a few days ago not to hide anymore and match the drapery.

[Dr. Shane]

Of course I was being factitious. I don't think it is a gay phenomenon. Many Christian men put on an image and are resistant to being "real" with other men. It has nothing to do with the other men being gay or not. It is a kind of shell many men live in. Many men do isolate.

As a director of a Men's Ministry group, I try to get men out of that shell. It is very hard. There is a real resistance to it.

I agree that gay men need the friendship of other men. Truth be told, straight men need that too. Unfortunately when men do talk at church, it is normally either superficial conversation or about doctrine or politics. Many men attend the same church together for years and never really know each other. Men need to spend time with each other. That could be done in ministry or in nonreligious activities like attending sporting events together, bowling, golf, hunting, fishing, etc.

[Parade Orange]

and showering together cause u get so mucky in sports. no thanks.

i was looking for male fellowship for decades but after awhile u get used to being isolated.

tHanku JESUS

[Dr. Shane]

My point is that the male isolation we find in our churches has nothing to do with anyone being gays. Men's ministries are needed in more churches even if they are just a small group of guys getting together.

[BobRyan]

All things are possible through Jesus Christ.

True. Ellen White has some interesting things to say about the soul having both hereditary and cultivated "propensity to sin" cut away from the soul in our "by faith putting to death the deeds of the flesh".

Whether you are talking about gossip, or porn, or homosexuals, or murder or bad language, or watching bad programming, bad music, bad books ...

There are no "sacred sins" as it turns out. God wants to cut them all away from the soul.

But there ARE "glue-on" sins. In the same way Caffeine is a glue-on for smoking. Most people cannot give up smoking while taking in large amounts of caffeine because caffeine acts as a "habbit-forming-glue".

in Christ,

Bob

[olger]

Smoking bad.

Caffeine bad.

Freedom good.

[olger]

The brain is very plastic - it can change - according to Dr. John Ratey.