Reparative therapy

About NARTH:

(The National Association for Research
and Therapy of Homosexuality)

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Notes:

Reparative therapy is also known as conversion therapy or reorientation therapy.

NARTH personnel neither wrote nor approved of this essay. It is part of the homosexuality section of the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance web site.

Overview:

In the past, researchers attempted to change sexual orientation through psychotherapy, aversion therapy, nausea producing drugs, prayer, castration, electric shock, brain surgery, breast amputations, etc. All failed. These methods were largely abandoned by the mid-1970's. However, Outrage!, a British support group for lesbians and gays, recently found it necessary to ask the Royal College of Psychiatrists to renounce aversion therapy and instruct its members to halt "the use of all therapies that attempt to cure homosexuality." ₁

Reparative Therapy emerged in the early 1980's as a new method of "curing" homosexuals. It was spearheaded by Elizabeth Moberly ₁₃ who based her theories on the findings of a few psychiatrists in the past whose conclusions had long been abandoned by almost all mental health professionals. Her belief is that homosexuality is caused by incompetence by the same-gender parent. Author Jeffry Ford wrote:

"Moberly determined...that the homosexual men in the studies were suffering from what she termed  'defensive detachment' and 'same sex ambivalence.' The theory presumes that the young boy, for any of a variety of reasons, did not bond with his father in a meaningful way." ₂

Her book, published in the 1980s, has been recently reprinted and is still in print. ₃ Her theory led to a treatment method in which a gay or lesbian develops a close but non-sexual relationship with a person of the same gender. This is expected to replace the close parental bond that was missing in childhood. According to her theory, heterosexual feelings would emerge during therapy, and homosexual feelings would fade over time. More details.

No peer-reviewed study has ever been published on reparative therapy. No longitudinal study has ever been conducted into its long-term effectiveness and hazards. Sufficient anecdotal evidence has surfaced to convince the large mental health professional societies, like the American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, etc. to condemn reparative therapy as ineffective, and warn of potentially dangerous side-effects. ₈ The one exception is the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) - the topic of this essay. They strongly advocate the use of reparative therapy, believing it to be very effective and safe.

About NARTH:

The association states that their members follow many different religions and ethical systems, ranging from  Roman "Catholic, Jewish, Mormon, Baha'i, Protestant, to secular humanist/atheist." The vast majority of its members are believed to be from the conservative wings of Christianity and Judaism.

Decca Aitkenhead of The Guardian, a UK newspaper, wrote:

"It is not an insignificant network. Narth's membership includes a former president of the American Mental Health Counsellors' Association and university clinical professors of psychiatry Charles Socarides, Dean Byrd and Benjamin Kaufman. Along with Drs Jeffrey Satinover, Richard Fitzgibbons and Irving Bieber, all have published or contributed to books about reparative therapy, and claim that at least a third of all clients can be completely cured of their homosexuality."

NARTH is becoming widely accepted among some Evangelical Christian ministries, because it is the only professional mental health organization that teaches that homosexual orientation is a disorder, that it is chosen, and that it can be changed through effort.

NARTH hold annual meetings at the same locations as the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA).  The NARTH Bulletin is published three times a year.

NARTH Personnel: 

Their Executive Director/Secretary Treasurer and co-founder is Joseph Nicolosi of the Thomas Aquinas Psychological Clinic in Encino CA. Nicolosi is a member of the Greek Orthodox Church. He coined the term "reparative therapy." Their late president and co-founder was Charles Socarides (1922-2005) , of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York NY. Both have written widely on reparative therapy. Their current president is Dr. Philip Sutton. He "... practices at two outpatient counseling centers, two elementary schools, and a Catholic seminary. He also leads a Courage group in South Bend, Indiana."

NARTH beliefs: 

NARTH, alone among professional mental health associations, promotes reparative therapy. The following items are derived from three sources:

	NARTH's Statement of Policy.
	A speech that Dr. Nicolosi gave to a OneByOne meeting on 2000-JUN-26. 6 This is a group of Presbyterian pastors and lay leaders that creates and supports local church-based ministries to help gays and lesbians who are in conflict with their sexuality.
	A speech given at the "Love Won Out" conference in Nashville, TN on 2004-APR-03. 14

Their beliefs:

Homosexuality is probably the most misunderstood "sexual disorder." Effective scientific study of homosexuality has been eroded by the gay/lesbian movement. Human sexuality researchers have been intimidated into silence by a conspiracy. "Social-activist groups...have portrayed sexual deviancy as an normal way of life." Homosexuality is a developmental disorder, not a sexual identity. The disorder is called "same-sex attraction disorder" or (SSAD). "There is no such thing as a homosexual person. We are all heterosexuals. Homosexuality is a description of a condition. It is not a description of the intrinsic nature of the person." "Everyone is heterosexual. Some of you may have a homosexual problem. But you are still a heterosexual. 'Homosexual' is simply a description of a psychological disorder, prompted by an inner sense of emptiness. This, by the way, is non-religious, non-political information. This is scientific information." Homosexuality "works against society's essential male-female design and family unit." Homosexuality is caused by incompetent parenting an/or child sexual abuse: "The development of the male homosexual is basically someone who did not develop that strong sense of masculine identity and he is trying to fulfill that sense of masculine deficit by connecting with a man. But the only way he knows how to do it is sexually. What feels right and natural is the sex drive that is being displaced onto a person of the same sex for emotional needs." Homosexuality is often caused by early sexual abuse. Homosexuality is preventable in childhood and treatable in adulthood. Most gays and lesbians can successfully convert to heterosexuality through reparative therapy.

Each of these beliefs totally contradict statements made by all other professional mental health associations.

Harassment felt by NARTH: 

In 1994-AUG, a committee of the American Psychological Association (APA) considered a professional ethics proposal. If adopted, they would condemn as unethical any attempt by a psychologist to change a person's sexual orientation. A psychologist who referred a patient to a person or group which attempts to change individuals' sexual orientation would also be considered as engaging in unethical behavior. A similar motion was considered by the American Psychiatric Association. Neither was approved.

NARTH believes in the effectiveness of reparative therapy. They view any such move as harassment of many of their members. They also see it as a restriction on gays' and lesbians' choice of treatment - a fundamental human rights concern.

NARTH believes that other forms of harassment exist:

	Some human sexuality researchers who promote sexual reorientation are not being funded.
	Postgraduate students are being discouraged from studying sexual reorientation.
	NARTH co-founder Benjamin Kaufman wrote that the APA and other professional organizations had "totally stifled the scientific inquiry" that could led to "a full and complete understanding of homosexuality."

Statement of policy: 

NARTH updated their Statement of Policy on 1999-FEB. Their new policy stresses that homosexual behavior is not normal. It is viewed as a "failure to function according to design."

They oppose homophobia, "social stigmatization and obstruction of the civil rights of homosexuals." However, they do not support that most fundamental of human rights, the right for a gay or lesbian to marry the person that they love and to whom they have made a commitment.

NARTH/APsaA conflict: 

The Human Rights Campaign reported in 1999 that NARTH President, Charles Socarides, had:

"...run into trouble with the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA), of which he is a member. According to a letter from Dr. Ralph Roughton of the APsaA, Socarides misrepresented the position of the APsaA in a published paper and a court affidavit. Socarides attempted to make it appear that the APsaA agrees with his positions on homosexuality. He did this by quoting an APsaA document written in 1968, which supported his views and which he called the 'official position' of the APsaA, while ignoring a 1990 revised statement that drastically contradicted his views. The Executive Committee of the APsaA instructed the organization's attorney to write a letter to Socarides asking him to cease this misrepresentation and threatening legal action if he continued. Additionally, the APsaA newsletter decided to stop printing advertisements for NARTH meetings because the organization does not adhere to APsaA's policy of non-discrimination 'and because their activities are demeaning to our members who are gay and lesbian,' according to Roughton." ₇

NARTH study:  

On 1997-MAY-17, NARTH announced the results of a two year study of 860 clients and their more than 200 psychologists and other therapists. The study is heavily biased, because the therapists appear to have supplied data only on their "success stories." Unfortunately, NARTH did not report the only data that truly matter: their success rate at converting all patients with a homosexual orientation to a heterosexual orientation. They did not differentiate between homosexuals and bisexuals among those entering therapy. Their report also did not differentiate between homosexuals, bisexuals and heterosexuals among those leaving therapy.

This study has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal. It probably could not be because the data appears to be entirely composed of subjective  opinions. More details.

No data is available on longer term, post-therapy results. Only a longitudinal study extending many years after the conclusion of therapy will show how effective and safe it is. As of the end of 2008, such a study has never been done.

NARTH offered to join with the American Psychological Association (APA) in conducting a detailed study of the effectiveness of reparative therapy. The APA refused to cooperate. A debate over reparative therapy and the changeability of sexual orientation was scheduled for the APA's year 2000 convention. However, it was cancelled at the last moment.

Effectiveness and safety of reparative therapy:

Dr. Nicolosi said that this form of therapy: "...can only be damaging if the agenda of the therapist supersedes that of the patient." He claims that of the patients at the Thomas Aquinas Psychological Clinic, of which he is founding director,

	One third experience "significant improvement -- they understand their homosexuality and have some sense of control." However, they may engage in same-sex sexual behavior.
	Another third are "cured;" they refrain from same-sex behavior and the strength and frequency of their same-sex desires is diminished, but not necessarily gone.
	The other third fail to change.

It would seem that he is admitting that reparative therapy has a nearly 100% failure rate in terms of converting persons with a homosexual orientation to a heterosexual orientation. All or almost all of his clinic's patients retain same-sex desires; that is, they remain either with a homosexual or bisexual orientation. However some -- presumably mostly made up of bisexuals -- do decide to abandon same-sex sexual behavior and confine their sexual activities to members of the opposite sex,

He commented: "We say to patients, 'Your true self is heterosexual'." He tells male patients: "Look at your body: It was designed to fit a woman, not a man." ₉

Race and NARTH:

About 2006-SEP-15, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) allegedly issued a letter to NARTH, objecting to an article by Gerald Schoenewolf -- a member of NARTH's Scientific Advisory Board. The article apparently appeared on the NARTH in website since mid-2005. It said, in part:

"With all due respect, there is another way, or other ways, to look at the race issue in America. It could be pointed out, for example, that Africa at the time of slavery was still primarily a jungle, as yet uncivilized or industrialized. Life there was savage, as savage as the jungle for most people, and that it was the Africans themselves who first enslaved their own people. They sold their own people to other countries, and those brought to Europe, South America, America, and other countries, were in many ways better off than they had been in Africa. But if one even begins to say these things one is quickly shouted down as though one were a complete madman."

The article allegedly drew a parallel between the civil rights movement and the enslavement, destruction of families, and gross abuse of African Americans:

"The irony is that the Civil Rights Movement has been vehement about pointing out the hysterical lynchings that took place in the Old South, but completely blind to its own hysterical tactics."

NARTH apparently removed the essay from their website, and changed their website's disclaimer to read:

Opinions express on this web site are the views and sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of NARTH. However, NARTH values diversity of opinions and freedom of speech, and encourages individual writers."

The NBJC issued a second letter on 2006-SEP-23 which said in part:

"It has been exactly one week since Dr. Schoenewolf's article has been uncovered and no action has yet been taken on behalf of NARTH to distance itself from this divisive rhetoric. In lieu of such inaction, NBJC can only conclude that NARTH is in concurrence with such sentiments. Taking the offending article down off your website in the dead of night is no substitute for honestly and earnestly addressing this festering issue."

"In the name of propriety, respect, common decency and professional integrity, NBJC strongly urges NARTH to issue a public apology on the front page of its website for publishing such an outrageous and offensive article. We also hope that you reevaluate your relationship with Dr. Schoenewolf whose peculiar views have no place in civilized discourse."

"As the leader of NARTH and a prominent speaker on Focus on the Family's Love Won Out symposium, the messages imparted by you and NARTH have an impact on real people. We hope that you consider our concerns and contact us so we can hear NARTH's explanation on how such abhorrent and racially insensitive content found its way onto the group's website." _10,11,12

Related essays on this web site:

About reparative therapy: Reparative therapy menu Statements by: Professional associations Religious groups Studies of its safety and effectiveness Media advertisements by ex-gay groups

About homosexuality: Homosexual menu Statements by professional groups" Beliefs of ex-gay ministries, etc

References used:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. "Aversion Therapy - Letter to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, " Outrage!, at: http://www.outrage.cygnet.co.uk/
2. Jeffry Ford, "What is Reparative Therapy?," at: http://jgford.homestead.com/ 
3. Elizabeth Moberly, "Homosexuality: A new Christian ethic," (originally published in the early 1980's; reprinted 1997). Read reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store 
4. The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) has a home page at: http://www.narth.com/
5. As of 2001-JAN, NARTH can be reached at: 16633 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1340, Encino, CA 91436-1801. Phone: (818) 789-4440. Fax: (805) 373-5084
6. "Homosexuality starts as a developmental disorder that can end with therapy," PCUSA NEWS, 2000-JUN-27; news release GA00064.
7. Kim Mills, "Mission impossible: Why reparative therapy and ex-gay ministries fail," Human Rights Campaign, at: http://www.hrc.org/
8. "APA Online: Public Interest: Just the facts about sexual orientation and youth: A primer for principals, educators and school personnel," See: http://www.apa.org/
9. Sandra G. Boodman, "Vowing to Set the World Straight: Proponents of Reparative Therapy Say They Can Help Gay Patients Become Heterosexual. Experts Call That a Prescription for Harm," Washington Post, 2005-AUG-16, at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
10. Mike Airhart, "National Black Justice Coalition Asks NARTH to Apologize," Exgay Watch, 2006-SEP-22, at:  http://www.exgaywatch.com/
11. "NBJC Demands Apology from NARTH," National Black Justice Coalition, 2006-SEP-06, at: http://www.nbjcoalition.org/
12. Mike Airhart, "NARTH Disavows Its Own Web Site; Black Coalition Publishes Its Protest," Exgay Watch, 2006-SEP-25, at: http://www.exgaywatch.com/
13. We have never been able to track down Elizabeth R. Moberly's academic qualifications. Some refer to her as a "therapist" or "theologian," or "psychologist" or "self-proclaimed psychologist." Some say that she has no mental health qualifications at all. On the back cover of her main book "Homosexuality: A new Christian ethic" where one would expect to see her academic background listed, she is merely described as "the originator of gender-affirmative therapy for homosexuals."  They refer to her having traveled extensively giving seminars and appearing on television programs. See: http://www.amazon.com/ For information on her book, see: Amazon.com online book store
14. Decca Aitkenhead, "Going straight," The Guardian newspaper, 2004-APR-03, at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/
15. "Dr. Phil Sutton Elected NARTH President-Elect," NARTH, 2009-JAN-07, at: http://www.narth.com/

Copyright © 1997 to 2009 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Latest update: 2009-JAN-20
Author: B.A. Robinson

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