Gay rights, patient rights: The implications of sexual orientation conversion therapy.

Abstract

Therapies designed to change sexual orientation have come under increasing scrutiny from the profession and the public. The proposition that sexual orientation can be changed therapeutically is widely questioned, and there is concern that such therapies reinforce social devaluation of homosexuality and bisexuality. At the same time, conservative religious individuals wish to seek treatment appropriate to them, which may include attempting to change or control sexual orientation. The ethical questions and clinical and social implications of this complex issue are discussed. Guidance to practitioners interested in this issue is offered, including references to policies of the American Psychological Association. DOUGLAS C. HALDEMAN received his PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Washington in 1984. He is in independent practice in Seattle and is a member of the clinical faculty of the Psychology Department at the University of Washington. He has written and lectured extensively on the competent and ethical treatment of lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients in psychotherapy. CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THIS ARTICLE should be addressed to Douglas C.

Disenfranchised Grief Among Lesbian and Gay Bereaved Individuals

“…For example, culturally relevant religious or spiritual practices may be further complicated by the fact that many traditional religious organizations continue to systematically exclude and malign LG individuals, and the psychological impact that anti-LG religious doctrine and beliefs can have on LG individuals can be quite distressing and emotionally harmful (Haldeman, 2002;Schuck & Liddle, 2001). Whenever working with LG clients that may experience multiple layers of minority status or marginalization, it is critical for counselors and therapists to remain sensitive to the multiple forms of internalized stigma and oppression that may be experienced by LG individuals (e.g., internalized racism, internalized sexism) (Walker & Prince, 2010).…”

Clinical issues in working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients.

“…These sources of conflict included scriptural passages, denominational teachings, and congregational prejudice. Haldeman (2002) has argued that the psychological impact that anti-LGB religious doctrine can have on LGB persons can be particularly devastating and offers a discussion of the ethical concerns that we as therapists ought to consider when working with religious LGB clients.…”

When do circumstances excuse? Moral prejudices and beliefs about the true self drive preferences for agency-minimizing explanations

“…For example, cohort effects may have improved attitudes towards homosexuality (Andersen & Fetner, 2008;Treas, 2002) and this may have caused same-sex attraction to appear more essence-disclosing ('innate'). Thus, a tendency to represent the true self as virtuous may also help to explain the continued attraction of psychotherapies aimed at 'reorienting' nonheterosexuals (Dean Byrd, Nicolosi, & Potts, 2008;Haldeman, 2002).…”