You are welcome to express your opinions here. But doing so does not in any way obligate me or anyone else to respond.

“Let me be clear. I do not believe that therapy is effective in changing sexual orientation….But I don’t believe that an out-right ban on therapy for persons who wish to change their orientation is appropriate. While I find the evidence of “change” to be unsubstantial, we do know that some individuals do achieve a change in life patterns which they find to be meaningful and rewarding. Some find tools to manage their sexual impulses, others find coping skills for aligning their faith with their attractions, and some few find a spouse that adequately fulfills their desires.”

I definitely agree with you that therapy should be available for persons who wish to change their orientation. But the therapist must be honest: there is no good evidence that this sort of change is possible or that the attempt to change is safe. The APA, for example, is very clear about this.

Once this is established, I have no problem with exploring the client’s dissatisfaction and finding ways to alleviate it. The client may decide, as a friend of mine did, “There’s nothing wrong with being gay, but MY way of being gay has been self-defeating.” If so, a change in life patterns or better impulse control may be a worthwhile goal.

Finding a compatible, same-sex spouse would be a great outcome. And “aligning their faith with their attractions” makes perfect sense to me. After all, a faith that runs counter to our basic biology needs some realigning, at a minimum. In my opinion, an unreasonable, harmful faith is neither true nor good.

Before any of this can be achieved, though, the rubbish that it’s wrong to be gay has to be cleared away. It interferes with finding fulfillment as a gay person. Clients who are trying to turn straight need to see their sexual orientation in a new way, as something that is at least potentially beneficial. For ultimately, they need to derive benefit from it. As Priya said, faulty thinking must be modified, not indulged.

For conversion therapists to accomplish this, they’d have to have a conversion of their own. They can’t just refrain from making antigay remarks and expect to help a gay client. In most cases – perhaps not all – they should be told not to see clients who want to change their orientation. Someone whose prejudice won’t get in the way should take those cases.

Of course, my definitions would be quite different than that of some. :)

I’m following this matter with interest, but so far I’m disheartened by the way Strudwick’s has dealt with disagreement.

Good point, but either we are all going to have to put up with people we think are nuts, or we are going to have to give up on believing there is a human right to freedom of religion. Personally, I’m ok with having to share the planet with loons, as long as they aren’t harming others.