Customer Reviews

Sexual Conversion Therapy: Ethical, Clinical, and Research Perspectives

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Excellent body of work. This book is so very much needed. It provides a comprehensive view of conversion therapy, in addition to new seminal research on the ethics of conversion therapy (see the Schroeder and Shidlo article).

The problem with providing groups like NARTH and Exodus International equal time, is that these fringe psychological groups make up such a tiny minority of professionals who deal with the subject of homosexuality - so while it is important to understand what they say, it is even more important to know that these people make up less than 5% of the all the professionals who deal with this subject. Should they have a voice - of course - do they represent the consensus of a majority of psychologists, psychiatrists and doctors who have delved into this topic - NO! This is a great book and more than fair!

This is not a bad resource for people interested in the subject, because it provides a good -- though very biased - review of the arguments used by those who oppose therapies aimed at helping people who are not comfortable and do not want to become comfortable with their homosexual attractions. Unfortunately, they ignore any researchers, therapists, or clients who support or see benefit in these therapies, while giving the impression that their work is actually a comprehensive treatment of the subject.

At the least, I would recommend searching the NARTH website for the names of some of the editors or contributors to this book, to see what scientists and clinicians on the "other side" have to say about their work.

There is a need for a more balanced book on the subject, that fairly covers all sides of the issue, but of course everyone is more intent on promoting their own sociopolitical stance.