Education

Click on the questions, and see the answers below:

About Sexual Orientation
What is sexual orientation? What causes it? Is it a choice? Can therapy change it? What about "conversion therapy"? And "reparative therapy"? How can a therapist help?
About Homosexuality in General
Is it a mental illness? Can homosexuals be good parents? Why do they tell others? why is it difficult for GLBT? How do I overcome prejudice? Why is education important? Do all gay men have AIDS? Where can I learn more?

What About So-Called "Conversion Therapies"?

Some therapists who undertake so-called conversion therapy report that they have been able to change their clients' sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. Close scrutiny of these reports however show several factors that cast doubt on their claims. For example, many of the claims come from organizations with an ideological perspective which condemns homosexuality. Furthermore, their claims are poorly documented. For example, treatment outcome is not followed and reported overtime as would be the standard to test the validity of any mental health intervention.

The American Psychological Association is concerned about such therapies and their potential harm to patients. In 1997, the Association's Council of Representatives passed a resolution reaffirming psychology's opposition to homophobia in treatment and spelling out a client's right to unbiased treatment and self-determination. Any person who enters into therapy to deal with issues of sexual orientation has a right to expect that such therapy would take place in a professionally neutral environment absent of any social bias. End of Page