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Reparative & other therapies for homosexuals

Calming distressed gays;
Converting gays into ex-gays.

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Quotation:

Dr. Robert Spitzer: "They have a choice whether to go into therapy, about whether they adopt a gay lifestyle, whether they tell their friends and their family. They don't have a choice as to whether their basic sexual orientation is gay or straight -- that they don't have a choice about." Dr. Spitzer's response to a question posed Scientific American Mind magazine in 2004-FEB: "Do gays have a choice?" 7 [Presumably to "adopt a gay lifestyle" means making the choice of being celibate or sexually active]

Mental health therapies directed at homosexuals:

The two main types of therapy or counseling directed at gays and lesbians -- and to a lesser degree, bisexuals:

	Gay Affirmative Therapy (GAT) directed at helping gays and lesbians become content with their sexual orientation; we will only discuss this briefly.
	Reparative therapy (a.k.a. Conversion Therapy) or Transformational Ministry programs directed at changing clients' sexual behavior. Almost all of the essays in this section discuss these two programs.

Topics on homosexual counseling and therapy in this section:

The two main types of therapy

Reparative therapy, and transformational ministries: Introduction: Part 1: Quotations, overview, terminology Part 2: History, health insurance aspects, is a change in sexual orientation possible? Part 3: Acceptance, Email inquiry, safety, effectiveness Studies of these therapies: Past, current, anecdotal.  Details of these studies Analysis of Dr. Robert Spitzer's 2001 study   Estimates of the success rate of reparative therapy and transformational ministries   Beliefs on reparative therapy expressed by  Professional associations. National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). Transformational Ministries (conservative Christian "ex-gay" ministries). P-Fox. Evangelical Christians and the rest of the public. "Ex-gay" newspaper & TV ads. Recent Developments Ted Haggard's problems reignite the reparative therapy debate American Association of Psychology's task force on reparative therapy   Books about changing or accepting one's sexual orientation Resolving differences in beliefs about homosexuality and reparative therapy, etc.

Related essays & menus on this web site:

	Homosexuality menu
	Statements by professional groups etc. about homosexuality.
	Religious beliefs of ex-gay and similar ministries about homosexuality

External link:

	Mark Benjamin, "My gay therapy session:" A reporter pretended to be gay and received an introductory session of reparative therapy by a Christian counselor. The cost to "either turn straight or get significant relief" would be $14,560. See: http://dir.salon.com/
	"Reparative or 'Conversion' Therapy," Public Health, Boulder County Colorado, at: http://www.co.boulder.co.us/

References:

1. "Christian Ex-gay ministry hosts Chicago conference," Charisma. Online at Maranatha Christian Journal, at: http://www.mcjonline.com/news/news3280.htm 
2. APA response copied from a reader's Email
3. Stuart Shepard, "Ex-gays protest APA," Focus on the Family, at: http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/A0011512.html
4. G.M. Herek, "Attempts to change sexual orientation," at: http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/facts_changing.html 
5. "Aversion Therapy - Letter to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, " Outrage!, at: http://www.outrage.cygnet.co.uk/quintat2.htm
6. Joe Kort, "So you'd like to learn about Gay Affirmative Therapy (GAT) at: http://www.amazon.com/ Kort has provided a list of 43 books on the topic.
7. David Roberts, "Previously unreleased Spitzer video gives candid results," Ex-gay Watch, 2007-APR-05, at: http://www.exgaywatch.com/

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Latest update: 2010-JAN-01
Author: B.A. Robinson

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