Health

Therapists offer gay 'treatment'

by generaldecay | March 26, 2009 at 12:14 am

138 views | 12 Recommendations | 9 comments

Therapists are still offering treatments for homosexuality despite there being no evidence that such methods work, research suggests. A significant minority of mental health professionals had agreed to help at least one patient "reduce" their gay or lesbian feelings when asked to do so.

The shock I experience when I read pieces such as this never ceases. I am aghast, frankly, that we still live in a society here in the UK where it is still believed (by however many few) that homosexuality is something to cured.

One look at this site is enough to make me want to hibernate until 2020.

The website is new and under development. It is about use of treatments that aim to make homosexual people heterosexual.

Of course, mental health professionals have to try to give patients the treatment they want (as the article suggests) but it saddens me greatly that individuals who think they are gay seek treatment to reduce these 'feelings'. After all:

"[While it's] incumbent on a professional to assist a client who wants help, this should be done using evidence-based therapies - exploring their distress and helping them to adjust to their situation," said Professor Michael King of University College London. "We know now that efforts to change people's sexual orientation result in very little change and can cause immense harm.

Right. Whether you believe that homosexuality is some sort of affliction to be cured or not, the evidence shows that it cannot. (Erm, that would be be because it's NOT a disease.)

The Royal College of Psychiatrists says all homosexuals have "a right to protection from therapies that are potentially damaging, particularly those that purport to change sexual orientation". In the US, where there has been heated debate on the issue of "curing" homosexuality, The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has urged all "ethical practitioners to refrain from attempts to change individuals' sexual orientation".

We could learn from the APA.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

generaldecay

at 00:19 on March 26th, 2009

Here's how you can possibly help. I'll try to find the link later.

Researchers in the UK are launching a website to collect stories from around the world about such therapies.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 06:52 on March 26th, 2009

Thanks very much for this story, generaldecay! Thanks for the additional information, too. Have you been able to locate the link? I tried, but was not successful.

generaldecay

at 09:41 on March 26th, 2009

Rhonda, I thought of you as I posted it. I haven't found the link yet but I've just come online after work. I'm going to try this evening.

And thank you for recommending. :)

Rhonda J Mangus

at 13:22 on March 26th, 2009

You are very welcome, generaldecay! I'll check back for the link, and thank you again for posting this story.

generaldecay

at 12:59 on March 28th, 2009

Rhonda, just to let you know that I have emailed a few places to see if I can find out any more information about the forthcoming website. I'll get back to you. :)

Rhonda J Mangus

at 08:18 on March 29th, 2009

Thank you, generaldecay! I was thinking of contacting the source of this story myself, but I will wait to hear from you! Thanks again!

Rhonda J Mangus

at 08:22 on March 29th, 2009

I just 'found' it. How embarassing:)! Right in front of me -- treatmentshomosexuality.org.uk

generaldecay

at 10:34 on April 27th, 2009

Oh, I have some information to send you about this. Yes, I got an email back from another organisation. I'll forward it. :)

jazzyzazzy

at 13:55 on March 30th, 2009

??????????????????????????? Are they being treated by gay therapist or are they being bludgeoned and brainwashed because some wee guy in the office disny like gays or lesbians.I say sack the wee guy in the office.