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Saturday, July 09, 2005

 

Ongoing conversation regarding reorientation therapy

I have learned that the Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) passed out a paper by Richard Carlson criticizing my views on reorientation counseling at the recent PTA convention. I wonder why the PTA thought such information had anything to do with school safety.

To pick up the conversation from the beginning, see "Sexual Reparative (Conversion) Therapy Revisited" followed by a response from me ("Sexual Reorientation Therapy Reconsidered"). Recently, he answered me back in print with an article on the website of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians. For the new article responding to Carlson's article handed out at the PTA convention, consult Drthrockmorton.com.

Happy reading.

Comments:
This comment sent to me from David Blakeslee:

Dr. Throckmorton makes many notable corrections to the misperceptions projected onto his work by those opposed to his work. The current political climate in so many areas seems so charged and accusatory, nearly "tribal" and "paranoid." It is destructive to science in general and to our clients in particular that we allow emotion to overwhelm scientific curiosity and scientific exploration. Scientists and clinicians (often two distinct groups) must be united in a search for truth through open-minded inquiry. We must have the humility to accept we have been misguided when the evidence shows it. The Spitzer study debunks a couple of popular myths about same sex attraction and reorientation therapy: it turns out it can be quite effective; it turns out it improves mental health. Throckmorton is right to point out that the study is powerful because experimenter bias appears controlled for through Spitzer's authorship. Carlson's concerns are quite legitimate about reorientation therapy harming clients and provides data to support his claim. But this issue of therapy harming clients is not limited to reorientation therapy, but to all therapy. A more valuable inquiry by Carlson would be how does therapy in general harm our clients? After that has been determined one could easily apply those results to therapist who do reorientation therapy to clients and see what all groups of therapists have in common when they harm their clients, regardless of the presenting problem. I think Carlson does not do this because of his fierce protection of his clients and of his world view. The former is understandable, the latter interferes with his obligation as a scientist. It exposes what is a vulnerability for all of us as therapists and scientists in the study of human behavior: that when an area of study is closely associated with our own areas of pain and suffering, we are more likely to shape the information in ways that confirm our beliefs and opinions. At that point we cease to become scientists, and become advocates...a legitimate activity for any of us, but only when we are not disguised as scientists.
 
I have a son who us pretty convinced that he wants to "come out". He is 20 and has been attracted to men for some time. He has changed in a way that is astonishing. He is failing at just about everything he starts, and lies around not doing much of anything. He smokes pot and drinks and lives at home after failing out of a prestigious college where he had a sizable academic scholarship.
When my son told us about his attraction to men, we really didn't know where we stood on the issue, but were devastated by his news. After doing a good deal of research on the subject, my husband and I have come to the conclusion that our son will be greatly harmed if he chooses to engage in homosexual activity.
I don't understand why this life is promoted by anyone. It is a shame that our society is promoting such a harmful and destructive practice. I hope that the readers here will read the article written by Michael Glatze, former gay activist, which can be accessed by googling his name! Thanks, Mary
 
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