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Texas Republicans endorse reparative therapy for gays
Medical groups denounce reparative therapy or conversion therapy, saying it can be psychologically harmful. But licensed therapists who practice it say it can help heal longstanding emotional problems.
By Brittney Martin
The Dallas Morning News
David Pickup, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Dallas, offers reparative-therapy counseling for gay people in his practice.
Mona Reeder / Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN, Texas — Counselors, therapists and pastors across Texas who believe people can change their sexual orientation through therapy have found themselves in the spotlight after state Republicans endorsed such therapies in their state platform.
Medical groups denounce the activity, known as reparative therapy or conversion therapy, saying it can be psychologically harmful. Even the chairman of the Texas GOP criticized the party’s new stance on the issue. But licensed therapists who practice it say it can help heal longstanding emotional problems.
Licensed marriage and family therapist David Pickup in Dallas said that homosexuality is an attachment issue “based on severe emotional wounds.” He believes unfulfilled needs become sexualized as children grow up.
“What reparative therapy does is, it uses psychodynamic processes to access those deeper wounds that are hidden underneath the homoerotic impulses,” Pickup said. “It resolves the male identity wounds and helps the guy get those needs met.”
The American Psychological Association said in a 2009 report that therapy based on acceptance and support of homosexuality could yield the same benefits.
“There’s no data to support that you can change someone’s sexual orientation,” said Colleen Logan, former president of the American Counseling Association. Reparative therapy “further exacerbates any kind of depression or anxiety that goes along with the stress of having a different orientation in a homo-prejudice society.”
Continue reading at:
http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2023949961_gaytherapyxml.html
Medical groups denounce reparative therapy or conversion therapy, saying it can be psychologically harmful. But licensed therapists who practice it say it can help heal longstanding emotional problems.
By Brittney Martin
The Dallas Morning News
David Pickup, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Dallas, offers reparative-therapy counseling for gay people in his practice.
Mona Reeder / Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN, Texas — Counselors, therapists and pastors across Texas who believe people can change their sexual orientation through therapy have found themselves in the spotlight after state Republicans endorsed such therapies in their state platform.
Medical groups denounce the activity, known as reparative therapy or conversion therapy, saying it can be psychologically harmful. Even the chairman of the Texas GOP criticized the party’s new stance on the issue. But licensed therapists who practice it say it can help heal longstanding emotional problems.
Licensed marriage and family therapist David Pickup in Dallas said that homosexuality is an attachment issue “based on severe emotional wounds.” He believes unfulfilled needs become sexualized as children grow up.
“What reparative therapy does is, it uses psychodynamic processes to access those deeper wounds that are hidden underneath the homoerotic impulses,” Pickup said. “It resolves the male identity wounds and helps the guy get those needs met.”
The American Psychological Association said in a 2009 report that therapy based on acceptance and support of homosexuality could yield the same benefits.
“There’s no data to support that you can change someone’s sexual orientation,” said Colleen Logan, former president of the American Counseling Association. Reparative therapy “further exacerbates any kind of depression or anxiety that goes along with the stress of having a different orientation in a homo-prejudice society.”
Continue reading at:
http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2023949961_gaytherapyxml.html
