The Failings of Reparative Therapy | Great Plains Skeptic

Concise and well presented. Some good counter points to the NARTH position that we all face in our battle with religionist,,,

Homosexuality is neither a mental illness nor is it a psychological issue which requires repair. This is the current crux of the issue between the vast majority of the scientific community and a very minor few who insist that further research is necessary. The current champion of Sexual Orientation Change Efforts (SOCE) is The NARTH Institute. Groups such as NARTH attempt to associate themselves with solid scientific rigor insomuch as they can use this association to further legitimize their cause, all the while bemoaning the fact that the vast majority of their field of study stands in stark opposition to them not because of the current scientific data, but because of the absence of sufficient evidence. NARTH columnist Matt Barbers calls them “Gay-Activist Science Deniers,” but NARTH (or anyone else) has yet to produce scientific evidence for anyone to deny. Anecdotal evidence, data derived from poor to abysmal methodology, and a total lack of statistically significant results carry no weight in the scientific community. Admittedly, aspects of SOCE treatments are grounded in legitimate science and psychology, but, elements of behavior therapy techniques that have been known to be successful in some therapeutic treatments are inappropriate in seeking to alter sexual orientation. Aversion therapy and sensitization/desensitization processes may have usefulness in other situations, but the literature indicates that it is simply unsuccessful in SOCE.

The Failings of Reparative Therapy | Great Plains Skeptic