{"id":2980,"date":"2009-08-11T05:30:09","date_gmt":"2009-08-11T09:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.geneveith.com\/?p=2980"},"modified":"2009-08-11T05:30:09","modified_gmt":"2009-08-11T09:30:09","slug":"psychologists-may-now-help-gays-resist-their-attractions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/geneveith\/2009\/08\/psychologists-may-now-help-gays-resist-their-attractions\/","title":{"rendered":"Psychologists may now help gays resist their attractions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

The American Psychological Association has had a bad reputation among conservatives, among other reasons for changing its guidelines classifying homosexuality as a mental disorder. But now the APA has issued new guidelines that allow counselors to help gays who want to battle their inclinations\u2013particularly those with religious issues. From A New Therapy on Faith and Sexual Identity \u2013 WSJ.com<\/a>:<\/p>\n

In a striking departure, the American Psychological Association said Wednesday that it is ethical \u2014 and can be beneficial \u2014 for counselors to help some clients reject gay or lesbian attractions.<\/p>\n

The APA is the largest association of psychologists world-wide, with 150,000 members. The association plans to promote the new approach to sexuality with YouTube videos, speeches to schools and churches, and presentations to Christian counselors.<\/p>\n

\nAccording to new APA guidelines, the therapist must make clear that homosexuality doesn\u2019t signal a mental or emotional disorder. The counselor must advise clients that gay men and women can lead happy and healthy lives, and emphasize that there is no evidence therapy can change sexual orientation.\n

But if the client still believes that affirming his same-sex attractions would be sinful or destructive to his faith, psychologists can help him construct an identity that rejects the power of those attractions, the APA says. That might require living celibately, learning to deflect sexual impulses or framing a life of struggle as an opportunity to grow closer to God.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not trying to encourage people to become \u2018ex-gay,'\u201d said Judith Glassgold, who chaired the APA\u2019s task force on the issue. \u201cBut we have to acknowledge that, for some people, religious identity is such an important part of their lives, it may transcend everything else.\u201d<\/p>\n

The APA has long endorsed the right of clients to determine their own identities. But it also warned that \u201clesbians and gay men who feel they must conceal their sexual orientation report more frequent mental health concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new approach allowing therapists to help clients transcend their sexual orientation was developed by an APA task force of six academics and counselors, some active in gay-rights causes, and endorsed by the group\u2019s governing body. <\/p>\n

HT: Todd Stadler (tODD)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote><\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The American Psychological Association has had a bad reputation among conservatives, among other reasons for changing its guidelines classifying homosexuality as a mental disorder. But now the APA has issued new guidelines that allow counselors to help gays who want to battle their inclinations\u2013particularly those with religious issues. 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