Despite the fact that it has been decades since homosexuality was acknowledged as a mental disorder there are still practitioners all over the world who offer sexual reorientation therapy (SRT), also known as conversion or reparative therapy, as a service. The debate over whether or not SRT is an effective treatment has been ongoing for as long as the therapy has been used, and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight. This essay looks to explore the reasons people seek SRT, look at its failures and successes, and discuss why this therapy could be pseudoscientific.
Conversion therapy is one which has been used for decades as a way to change a person’s sexuality from Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual (LGB) to heterosexual (E Macchio 2011). This can be
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More recent reasons could include; conflicts with religious views, fear of rejection from family, friends and church due to sexuality and personal views on homosexuality/internalised homophobia. Others may have at one time been sent for SRT by family members, pastors or various professionals, due to the fact that homosexuality was classed as a treatable disorder (A. Flentje, N.Heck & B.Cochran 2014). Religious leaders may offer conversion counselling without a licence making this an unscientific practice.
One of the biggest issues with SRT is that there are ethical issues in both banning the practice and continuing to offer the practice. Supporters of SRT claim that it is unethical to refuse treatment to people who wish to try it as a way of handling their sexuality. It has been brought to attention that the APA’s ethical guidelines state:
‘Psychologists respect the dignity and worth of all people… Psychologists are aware of and respect cultural, individual and role differences, including those based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, language and socioeconomic status and consider these factors when working with members of such groups.’ (APA,
Should a clinician not refer a client for medical intervention, they would be negligent in their care in addressing the whole person. Additionally, addressing issues from the biological perspective can help reduce feelings of guilt for clients that are associated with their disorder. Often clients are told to “buck up” by friends and family. This often results in guilty feelings for them because that they can’t seem to escape their symptoms no matter how hard they try. Educating clients about the impact of the
Michael Woodford cites Dan’s savages ‘ IT GETS BETTER ‘ campaign movement . to improve the self – esteem of lesbian , gay , bisexual and transgender individuals . However , The Testo Junkie book written by Paul b .
As a result of being shaped by a heteropatriarchal society, it is assumed that medical transition will make a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity “line up”; if, for example, a trans woman is a lesbian, she will be questioned about why she felt the need to transition, as if there has to be a direct relationship between the two, or as if what’s more accepted societally trumps personal feelings. Today, much like Jorgensen’s transition was seen as a practical solution to a problem that demands a solution, we see the Iranian government’s attempt at solving the problem. A 1979 fatwa by Ayatollah Khomeini, sanctioning sex-change operations, has led to Iran having the highest rates of gender reassignment surgeries, second only to Thailand. Homosexuality is punishable by death in Iran; however, the government covers “up to half the cost for those needing financial assistance” when it comes to surgery, and recognizes the change on birth certificates, as documented in a 2008 BBC article, “Iran’s ‘diagnosed transsexuals’” by Vanessa Barford. Just as Jorgensen went from being an “ex-GI” to being a “blonde bombshell”, positioned on opposite ends of a spectrum, those who want to love who they choose in Iran must go through psychological evaluations, hormone therapy, and surgeries that they often don’t
Liam Delaney Mr. Musgrove Senior comp Lit 16 February 2023 LGBTQ+ Mental Health: An Overview of Current Research and Implications for Practice LGBTQ+ individuals are a diverse group of people who face various mental health challenges due to the stigma and discrimination they experience. Despite progress toward greater acceptance and inclusion in recent years, many LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face discrimination, harassment, and violence, which can negatively impact their mental health. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of current research on LGBTQ+ mental health, highlighting key findings and implications for practice. Studies consistently show that LGBTQ+ individuals experience higher rates of mental health problems than their
(2010) by McMinn, Staley, Webb, and Seegobin the authors decipher the differences between various Christian approaches. Biblical counseling, pastoral counseling, and Christian psychology are a few of the different methods which can be used when clients want a Christian perspective integrated into their therapy. Biblical counseling is mainly used among very conservative Christians who wish to return the role of counseling to the church (McMinn et al., 2010, p. 392). “Biblical counselors consider the bible to be superior and more authoritative than psychological science, theory, or technique” (McMinn et al., 2010, p. 392). Pastoral counseling can have two different meanings.
Ante Kurtović Annotated Bibliography UWRT.150.83 October 17, 2014 References Cooper, A. (n.d.) Changing gay male identities. New York City, NY: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group. This book presented the changes in sexual identity.
The 1920s were changing times and with people becoming more open about who they were, the idea of homosexuality began to become more widespread. However, that did not mean that homosexuality was in any way accepted by society. Doctors and psychologists believed that there was something wrong with people who identified as homosexual and there was a way to “fix” them. The doctors underwent studies attempting to classify and categorize these people based on their human behavior. Havelock Ellis was a physician and psychologist who discussed a phenomenon known as “sexual inversion.”
In these concepts, heterosexuality has the power to define GLBTI people as marginal and abnormal. This socially constructed norm has created health inequalities among GLBTI people and contributed to poor mental health because of the inequality, discrimination and a lack of cultural competency in healthcare system. One reason leading to poor mental health is fear of stigma or discrimination. Many GLBTI people need to concern and modify their daily activities in order to avoid discrimination (Willis & Elmer, 2011, p.
One of the benefits that should be included on the informed consent for spirituality is the client being able to express their feelings. Spirituality implemented into therapy will help the client with both social and emotional support. Also, it will help the person find a meaning and purpose in their life. When this done a client, can pray, and meditate during this time. Implementing spirituality and religion into counseling will help treat a person’s soul.
Notably, the “T” in LGBT stands for transgender, which includes those who do not conform to the traditional ideals of their ‘gender’ or birth sex (Ard & Makadon, 2012). In some cases, these individuals may decide to go through hormonal therapy or surgery to alter their gender identity. Due to the fact that the transgender population in the US is known to only be 0.3%, many are uneducated about the medical needs of these individuals, including physicians (Ard & Makadon, 2012). Moreover, a policy to diminish LGBT care disparities should also educate people (especially physicians) in understanding the cultural context of their patients’ lives (LGBT individuals) in order for all people to attain the best possible
Conversion Therapy Although many people have strong convictions against gay people, sometimes leading parents to attempt to change their children’s sexual orientation, it should be banned on a national level for parents to be able to force their children under the age of 18 into conversion therapy because it is unconstitutional, it evidently damages the child's wellbeing, and the methods have never even been proven by credible research. Members of the ex-gay (anti-LGBT) movement argue that banning reparative therapy is an infringement on the rights to freedom of speech and religion, while parents following this movement have similar feelings and believe that putting their child through conversion therapy will help them be ridded of an "unwanted
An industry, psychotherapy and counselling are evolving, moving with the times, keeping everything relevant for all clients, in order that therapists are not seen as “useless” However many available counsellors still subscribe to the original ideals, meaning that multicultural and LGBT style therapists are not so readily available and these clients feel a though their needs are not being
Minority sexual orientation is also associated with higher levels of mental health morbidity in Australian women. Over 34.8 per cent of lesbian and bisexual women had been diagnosed with depression by a doctor compared to 22.8 per cent of women in the general population. Almost one in five (19.3 per cent) lesbian and bisexual participants in a West Australian study reported current treatment for a mental health problem including anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems compared to 8.5 per cent of women in the general population. Stigmatisation, discrimination and lack of social support may play a role in explaining poorer mental
Background and Significance Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) are members of every community across the United States. They are representative of every socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, generation, and gender. However, LGBT individuals have historically and currently been an underserved population in healthcare. As more people in the U.S. openly identify as LGBT, approximately 10 million in 2016 (Gates, 2017), properly addressing sexual orientation and the unique health concerns of the LGBT population is necessary in the primary care setting.
Jurak Una PS190 Argumentative analysis essay In the past few years, there has been much discussion on whether religious teaching should be part of the public school curriculum. Religion is a constant element shaping our political, economic and social lives. It pinpoints the set of beliefs, dogmas and practices defining the relation between human beings and the so called “divinity”. The notion of religion has always been a very important element of the world’s history.