News Release: Sexual Identity Therapy Framework
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News Release
New Paradigm to Help People with Sexual Orientation Conflicts
“Drs. Throckmorton and Yarhouse have brilliantly resolved contention in psychotherapy by providing the field with unbiased guidelines that are responsive to scientific evidence, are sensitive to professional practice, and which restore patient determination in choosing his/her goals in psychotherapy.” — Dr. Nicholas Cummings, past president, American Psychological Association
MEDIA ADVISORY, April 16 — When Rev. Ted Haggard’s ongoing struggle with homosexuality became public last November, the nation’s attention turned to how people resolve conflicts between strongly held personal beliefs and homosexuality. Now, two prominent clinicians have crafted a framework, endorsed by an American Psychological Association past-president, that will help counselors and clients address such conflicts in order to achieve a valued sexual identity. This new paradigm is authored by Warren Throckmorton, Fellow for Psychology and Public Policy with the Center for Vision and Values at Grove City College and Mark Yarhouse, Professor of Psychology at Regent University and Director of the Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity.
The framework, titled “Sexual Identity Therapy: Practice Framework for Managing Sexual Identity Conflicts” have been endorsed by American Psychological Association past-president Dr. Nicholas Cummings and other prominent clinicians. A partial list is available on the website or by request.
Why the Sexual Identity Therapy Framework is Needed
Dr. Throckmorton says, “We believe the mental health professions could provide more specific guidance about situations where clients experience religious and value conflicts over sexual attractions to the same sex. We don’t know what causes homosexual behavior for any given individual nor do we know how much, if any, change in attractions might be possible but what we can do is help clients to pursue lives they value. In our application of this paradigm with clients, we have found clients to have high levels of satisfaction with this approach.”
“People who struggle with sexual identity concerns ought to be able to meet with mental health professionals who can assist them to reach a place of congruence in their lives. We believe this framework provides clinicians with a general map, so that they can work collaboratively with their clients to navigate their concerns and ultimately arrive at a place of congruence, so that clients’ behavior and identity lines up with their beliefs and values,” explains Dr. Yarhouse.
The sexual identity paradigm of Throckmorton and Yarhouse is crafted with the recognition that we do not know precisely what causes the individual direction of sexual orientation nor can we say to what degree sexual orientation can change. Thus, therapists should not assume why clients have the attractions they do but rather conduct individualized assessments. Furthermore, instead of focusing on change or uncritical acceptance of undesired attractions, therapists strategically work with people to develop a life consistent with personal values and beliefs.
Dr. Cummings says, “Drs. Throckmorton and Yarhouse have brilliantly resolved contention in psychotherapy by providing the field with unbiased guidelines that are responsive to scientific evidence, are sensitive to professional practice, and which restore patient determination in choosing his/her goals in psychotherapy.”
Sexual Identity Therapy Discussion Group
Mental health professionals who affirm the sexual identity therapy framework are invited to join the Sexual Identity Therapy Discussion Group. This group is an online forum devoted to ongoing development and implementation of the sexual identity therapy framework and related issues. Mental health professions desiring to join may do so at www.sexualidentity.blogspot.com or by writing Warren Throckmorton, PhD, co-moderator, at ewthrockmorton@gcc.edu.
Warren Throckmorton, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Psychology at Grove City College, and Fellow for Psychology and Public Policy in Grove City College’s Center for Vision and Values. He produced, I Do Exist, a documentary about sexual identity.
Mark A. Yarhouse, Psy.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychology at Regent University, where he also directs the Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity (www.sexualidentityinstitute.org).
New endorsements for the sexual identity therapy framework
Several new people have endorsed the Sexual Identity Therapy Framework. To read the comments, click here.
The following individuals have provided supportive comments.
Nicholas Cummings, PhD, ScD
Stanton L. Jones, PhD
Lee Beckstead, PhD
Merton Strommen, PhD
David Blakeslee, PsyD
Kenyon Knapp, PhD, LPC, NCC
Michael Bussee, MA, MFT
Michael A. Rosebush, PhD, LPC
Steven Donaldson, MA, LPC
David C. Pruden, MS
APA president Gerald Koocher’s statement about therapy and homosexuality
This is not a statement specifically regarding the SIT guidelines but rather in response to a Q&A meeting at the APA 2006 convention. Let me clear, Dr. Koocher is not endorsing the SIT guidelines. However, this statement is so consistent with them, that I wanted to post it here. This was received 8/15/06 via email from Rhea Farberman, APA Public Affairs Office.
APA Office of Public Affairs
(202) 336-5700
Public.Affairs@apa.org
August 15, 2006
Statement by Dr. Gerald P. Koocher Concerning Therapeutic Interventions To Deal With Unwanted Same-Sex Attraction
During the Town Hall Meeting that took place at APA’s 2006 convention, I was asked about the role of patient choice in therapeutic interventions to diminish same-sex attractions.
This is an extremely complex issue. And discussion of it must balance patient choice with the therapist’s ethical obligation to obtain informed consent for any therapy process.
The issue centers on patient choice and the role of the therapist in supporting that choice with fully informed consent—be it sexual orientation or any other behavior or emotion.
In a full multifaceted therapeutic relationship, the therapist has every duty to respond to patient choice and to help patients achieve their goals. I affirmed during the Town Hall discussion, and I will always affirm, the crucial importance of providing our services with careful attention to patients’ wishes.
BUT—and this is absolutely essential, especially when dealing with sexual orientation—the therapeutic responsibility, in strict accordance with APA guidelines, MUST also include the following considerations:
One: The therapist has an obligation to carefully explore how patients arrive at the choices they want to make. Therapists must determine whether patients understand that their motives may arise purely from the social pressures of a homophobic environment. No type or amount of individual therapy will modify societal prejudices.
Two, informed consent: Patients must understand the potential consequences of any treatment, including those intended to modify sexual orientation. Patients must understand that such treatments lack a validated scientific foundation and may prove psychologically harmful.
Finally, I would add that our patients ought to know from the very start that we as their therapists do not consider homosexuality a mental disorder. In fact, the data show that gay and lesbian people do not differ from heterosexuals in their psychological health. By that I mean that they have no greater instance of mental disorders than do heterosexuals.
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Dr. Koocher is the President of the American Psychological Association.
