Conversion therapy

Reparative therapy claims to help a homosexual get rid of his (or, less frequently, her) unwanted same-sex longings.

Joseph Nicolosi wrote:

The fact that so many men continue to feel "dis-eased" by their homosexuality can be explained in one of two ways. Either society and the Judeo-Christian ethic have coerced these individuals into thinking they have a problem; or, the homosexual condition itself is inherently problematic.

For those seeking to leave the homosexual lifestyle, Exodus International is one example of a Christian group that helps practicing homosexuals by giving them freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ.

• All treatment must overcome some form of resistance against growth. We may say very simply that the treatment of homosexuality is the undoing of the resistance of defensive detachment from males.

Opposition to reparative therapy

In general, the therapeutic community in the United States has refused to consider the possiblity that RT is effective:

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"NARTH offered to join with the American Psychological Association (APA) in conducting a detailed study of the effectiveness of reparative therapy. The APA refused to cooperate."

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This opposition is most likely ideologically based, and it directs attention away from the harm that gay affirmative therapy can cause. The American Journal of Psychotherapy published a case study about a client who was harmed by treating him for "internalized homophobia".