Sexual Conversion Therapy: Ethical, Clinical, and Research Perspectives (Paperback)

~ Jack Drescher (Author), Ariel Shidlo (Author), Michael Schroeder (Author) "The American Psychiatric Association's 1973 decision to remove homosexuality as a mental disorder from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Bayer, 1981) has..." (more)
Key Phrases: conversion therapists, sexual conversion therapy, reparative therapists, New York, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Hear the other side of the story on sexual conversion therapy!

In their fervor to “fix” homosexuals, practitioners of sexual conversion therapies have often overlooked or completely dismissed the possible psychological and social side effects of such treatments. Sexual Conversion Therapy: Ethical, Clinical, and Research Perspectives works to counterbalance the clinical and ethical omissions of overzealous therapists who have focused on efficacy and outcome at the expense of their patients’self-esteem. Sexual Conversion Therapy features first-person accounts of patients and clinicians, including psychotherapists who themselves have undergone treatments ranging from psychoanalysis to religious faith healing to aversion behavior conditioning and even electroshock therapy. In addition to examining the history and ethics of conversion therapy, the book presents empirical data on current practice and recovery processes for survivors of failed conversion attempts.

Sexual Conversion Therapy presents current perspectives on the harmful impact of sexual orientation interventions, including:

• “Cures: A Gay Man?s Odyssey”
• “Becoming Gay”
• “A Psychologist?s Journey Through the Ex-Gay Movement”
• “Therapeutic Antidotes: Gay and Bisexual Men Recover from Conversion Therapies”
• “I?m Your Handyman: A History of Reparative Therapies”

Nearly 30 years after the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a small but dedicated group of mental health practitioners continues to diagnose and treat homosexuality as a mental illness. Sexual Conversion Therapy is an essential alternative to the bulk of published material that champions treatments that produce a handful of heterosexuals “cured” of their “illness,” while inflicting emotional and psychological damage on countless gay and lesbian patients who failed to convert.

Product Details

• Paperback: 215 pages
• Publisher: Informa Healthcare; 1 edition (May 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789019116
• ISBN-13: 978-0789019110
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,246,742 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SEMINAL RESEARCH, May 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Sexual Conversion Therapy: Ethical, Clincial, and Research Perspectives (Hardcover)

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).

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What is balance?, January 6, 2007

By	J. Huck "Jayhuck" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!

8 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Useful, but one-sided, June 6, 2006

By	Paula Lederman (Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sexual Conversion Therapy: Ethical, Clincial, and Research Perspectives (Hardcover)

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.