SIT framework in the 2009 APA report on sexual orientation and therapy

In August, 2009, the American Psychological Association released a report on sexual orientation and psychotherapy (click link for the report). The APA discouraged psychologists from promising sexual reorientation and called for psychologists to work with clients within clients’ valuative framework. The sexual identity therapy framework was reference favorably and prominently throughout the document. This page excerpts the APA report with those references. Look for Throckmorton & Yarhouse (2006) which is the reference to the SITF.

The conflict between psychology and traditional faiths may have its roots in different philosophical viewpoints. Some religions give priority to telic congruence (i.e., living consistently within one’s valuative goals) (W. Hathaway, personal communication, June 30, 2008; cf. Richards & Bergin, 2005). Some authors propose that for adherents of these religions, religious perspectives and values should be integrated into the goals of psychotherapy (Richards & Bergin, 2005; Throckmorton & Yarhouse, 2006). Affirmative and multicultural models of LGB psychology give priority to organismic congruence (i.e., living with a sense of wholeness in one’s experiential self) (W. Hathaway, personal communication, June 30, 2008; cf. Gonsiorek, 2004; Malyon, 1982). This perspective gives priority to the unfolding of developmental processes, including self-awareness and personal identity. (p. 18) 

 

This difference in worldviews can impact psychotherapy. For instance, individuals who have strong religious beliefs can experience tensions and conflicts between their ideal self and beliefs and their sexual and affectional needs and desires (Beckstead & Morrow, 2004; D. F. Morrow, 2003). The different worldviews would approach psychotherapy for these individuals from dissimilar perspectives: The telic strategy would prioritize values (Rosik, 2003; Yarhouse & Burkett, 2002), whereas the organismic approach would give priority to the development of self-awareness and identity (Beckstead & Israel, 2007; Gonsiorek, 2004; Haldeman, 2004). It is important to note that the organismic worldview can be congruent with and respectful of religion (Beckstead & Israel, 2007; Glassgold, 2008; Gonsiorek, 2004; Haldeman, 2004; Mark, 2008), and the telic worldview can be aware of sexual stigma and respectful of sexual orientation (Throckmorton & Yarhouse, 2006; Tan, 2008; Yarhouse, 2008). Understanding this philosophical difference may improve the dialogue between these two perspectives represented in the literature, as it refocuses the debate not on one group’s perceived rejection of homosexuals or the other group’s perceived minimization of religious viewpoints but on philosophical differences that extend beyond this particular subject matter. However, some of the differences between these philosophical assumptions may be difficult to bridge. (p. 18)

Recently, some authors have suggested alternative frameworks, many of which are drawn from a variety of models of psychotherapy, such as multicultural views of psychology and the psychology of religion, that provide frames for appropriate psychotherapeutic interventions seeking to bridge this divide (Bartoli & Gillem, 2008; Beckstead & Israel, 2007; Buchanon, Dzelme, Harris, Haldeman, 2004; Lasser & Gottlieb, 2004; S. L. Morrow & Beckstead, 2004; Ritter & O’Neill, 1989; Tan, 2008; Throckmorton & Yarhouse, 2006; Yarhouse, 2008). For instance, a growing number of authors address the religious and spiritual needs of LGBT individuals from integrative and affirmative perspectives that provide resources for LMHP working with this population (Astramovich, 2003; Beckstead & Israel, 2007; Beckstead & Morrow, 2004; Glassgold, 2008; Haldeman, 1996, 2004; Horne & Noffsinger-Frazier, 2003; Mark, 2008; D. F. Morrow, 2003; O’Neill & Ritter, 1992; Ritter & O’Neill, 1989; Throckmorton & Yarhouse, 2006; Yarhouse, 2008). Based on of these scholarly contributions, we take the perspective that religious faith and psychology do not have to be seen as being opposed to each other. Further, psychotherapy that respects faith can also explore the psychological implications and impacts of such beliefs. (p. 20)

 

Currently, mainstream mental health professional associations support affirmative approaches that focus on helping sexual minorities cope with the impact of minority stress and stigma (American Counseling Association Governing Council, 1998; American Psychiatric Association, 2000; APA, 1997, 2000; NASW, 1997). The literature on affirmative psychotherapy has grown enormously during this time (e.g., Bieschke et al., 2007; Eubanks-Carter, Burckell, & Goldfried, 2005; Ritter & Terndrup, 2002). Included in this literature are publications that aim to support individuals with strong religious beliefs and same-sex sexual orientation in exploring ways to integrate the two (e.g., Astramovich, 2003; Beckstead & Israel, 2007; Glassgold, 2008; Haldeman, 1996, 2004; Horne & Noffsinger-Frazier, 2003; Mark, 2008; D. F. Morrow, 2003; O’Neill & Ritter, 1992; Ritter & O’Neill, 1989, 1995; Ritter & Terndrup, 2002; Tan, 2008; Throckmorton & Yarhouse, 2006; Yarhouse, 2008). (p. 24)

Debates between those who advocate SOCE and those who oppose it have at times become polemical, with charges that professional psychology has not reflected the concerns of religious individuals, and both supporters and opponents of SOCE have presented themselves as advocates for consumers (cf. Brooke, 2005). Despite the polarization, there have been recent attempts to envision alternate frameworks to address these issues (e.g., Bartoli & Gillem, 2008; Beckstead & Israel, 2007; Benoit, 2005; Haldeman, 2004; McMinn, 2005; Phillips, 2004; Tan, 2008; Throckmorton &Yarhouse, 2006). (p. 25)

The appropriate application of affirmative therapeutic interventions for adults is built on three key findings in the research: 

• Our systematic review of the research on SOCE found that enduring change to an individual’s sexual orientation as a result of SOCE was unlikely. Further, some participants were harmed by the interventions. 

• What appears to shift and evolve in some individuals’ lives is sexual orientation identity, not sexual orientation (Beckstead, 2003; Beckstead & Morrow, 2004; Buchanan, Dzelme, Harris, & Hecker, 2001; Cass, 1983/1984; Diamond, 1998, 2006; McConaghy, 1999; Ponticelli, 1999; Rust, 2003; Tan, 2008; Throckmorton & Yarhouse, 2006; Troiden, 1988; Wolkomir, 2001, 2006; R. L. Worthington, 2003, 2004). 

• Some participants in SOCE reported benefits, but the benefits were not specific to SOCE. Rather, clients perceived a benefit when offered interventions that emphasized acceptance, support. and recognition of important values and concerns. (p. 54)

A Framework for the Appropriate Application of Affirmative Therapeutic Interventions 

On the basis of the three findings summarized previously and our comprehensive review of the research and clinical literature, we developed a framework for the appropriate application of affirmative therapeutic interventions for adults that has the following central elements: (a) acceptance and support, (b) assessment, (c) active coping, (d) social support, and (e) identity exploration and development. 

Acceptance and Support 

In our review of the research and clinical literature, we found that the appropriate application of affirmative therapeutic interventions for adults presenting with a desire to change their sexual orientation has been grounded in a client-centered approach (e.g., Astramovich, 2003; Bartoli & Gillem, 2008; Beckstead & Israel, 2007, Buchanan et al., 2001; Drescher, 1998a; Glassgold; 2008; Gonsiorek; 2004; Haldeman, 2004, Lasser & Gottlieb, 2004; Mark, 2008; Ritter & O’Neill, 1989, 1995; Tan, 2008; Throckmorton & Yarhouse, 2006; Yarhouse & Tan, 2005a; and Yarhouse, 2008). The client-centered approach (Rogers, 1957; cf. Brown, 2006) stresses (a) the LMHP’s unconditional positive regard for and congruence and empathy with the client, (b) openness to the client’s perspective as a means to understanding their concerns, and (c) encouragement of the client’s positive self-concept. This approach incorporates aspects of the therapeutic relationships that have been shown to have a positive benefit in research literature, such as empathy, positive regard, and honesty (APA, 2005a, 2005b; Lambert & Barley, 2001; Norcross, 2002; Norcross & Hill, 2004).

This approach consists of empathic attunement to concerns regarding sexual orientation identity that acknowledges the role of cultural context and diversity and allows the different aspects of the evolving self to be acknowledged, explored, respected, and potentially rewoven into a more coherent sense of self that feels authentic to the client (Bartoli & Gillem, 2008; Beckstead & Morrow, 2004; Brown, 2006; Buchanan et al., 2001; Glassgold, 2008; Gonsiorek, 2004; Haldeman, 2004; Mark, 2008; Miville & Ferguson, 2004; Tan, 2008; Throckmorton & Yarhouse, 2006; Yarhouse, 2008). The client-centered therapeutic environment aspires to be a place of compassionate caring and respect that facilitates development (Bronfennbrenner, 1979; Winnicott, 1965) by exploring issues without criticism or condemnation (Bartoli & Gillem, 2008; Beckstead & Morrow, 2004; McMinn, 2005; Throckmorton & Welton, 2005) and reducing distress caused by isolation, stigma, and shame (Drescher, 1998a; Glassgold, 2008; Haldeman, 2004; Isay, 2001). (p. 55)

Male participants in Beckstead and Morrow’s (2004) investigation, regardless of their ultimate sexual orientation identity, described their ability to accept, reframe, or “surrender” to their attractions as reducing their distress by decreasing their self-judgments and reducing their fear, anxiety, and shame. However, acceptance of same-sex sexual attractions and sexual orientation may not mean the formation of an LGB sexual orientation identity; alternate identities may develop instead (Beckstead & Morrow, 2004; Tan, 2008; Throckmorton & Yarhouse, 2006; Yarhouse, 2008; Yarhouse et al., 2005). (p. 58)

The research literature indicates that there are variations in how individuals express their sexual orientation and label their identities based on ethnicity, culture, age and generation, gender, nationality, acculturation, and religion (Boykin, 1996; Carrillo, 2002; Chan, 1997; Crawford et al., 2002; Denizet-Lewis, 2003; Kimmel & Yi, 2004; Martinez & Hosek, 2005; Miville & Ferguson, 2004; Millett, Malebranche, Mason, & Spikes, 2005; Stokes, Miller, & Mundhenk, 1998; Toro-Alfonso, 2007; Weeks, 1995; Yarhouse, 2008; Yarhouse et al., 2005; Zea et al., 2003). Some authors have provided analyses of identity that take into account diversity in sexual identity development and ethnic identity formation (Helms, 1995; LaFramboise et al., 1993; Myers et al., 1991; Yi & Shorter-Gooden, 1999), religious identity (Fowler, 1981, 1991; Oser, 1991; Strieb, 2001), as well as combinations of religious and sexual orientation identities (Coyle & Rafalin, 2000; Hoffman et al., 2007; Kerr, 1997; Knight & Hoffman, 2007; Ritter & O’Neill, 1989, 1995; Thumma, 1991; Throckmorton & Yarhouse, 2006; Yarhouse & Tan 2004). (p. 61) 

We believe that simply providing SOCE to clients who request it does not necessarily increase self-determination but rather abdicates the responsibility of LMHP to provide competent assessment and interventions that have the potential for benefit with a limited risk of harm. We also believe that LMHP are more likely to maximize their clients’ self-determination by providing effective psychotherapy that increases a client’s abilities to cope, understand, acknowledge, explore, and integrate sexual orientation concerns into a self-chosen life in which the client determines the ultimate manner in which he or she does or does not express sexual orientation (Bartoli & Gillem, 2008; Beckstead & Israel, 2007; S. L. Morrow & Beckstead, 2004; Haldeman, 2004; Tan, 2008; Throckmorton & Yarhouse, 2006; Yarhouse, 2008). (p. 69)

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