Comments on: The APA symposium on homosexuality, therapy and religion has been cancelled http://wthrockmorton.com/2008/05/01/the-apa-symposium-on-homosexuality-therapy-and-religion-has-been-cancelled/ A College Psychology Professor's Observations About Public Policy, Mental Health, Sexual Identity, and Religious Issues Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:15:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Warren http://wthrockmorton.com/2008/05/01/the-apa-symposium-on-homosexuality-therapy-and-religion-has-been-cancelled/comment-page-2/#comment-188490 Warren Tue, 19 May 2009 03:38:23 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=882#comment-188490 Tim - You have the wrong APA - you are referring to the psychological group. And the APA did not say environmental influences were more of a component. Please see this recent post here: http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/05/14/worldnetdaily-suddenly-finds-year-old-narth-article-newsworthy/ Tim – You have the wrong APA – you are referring to the psychological group.

And the APA did not say environmental influences were more of a component. Please see this recent post here:
http://wthrockmorton.com/2009/05/14/worldnetdaily-suddenly-finds-year-old-narth-article-newsworthy/

]]> By: Tim http://wthrockmorton.com/2008/05/01/the-apa-symposium-on-homosexuality-therapy-and-religion-has-been-cancelled/comment-page-2/#comment-188488 Tim Tue, 19 May 2009 03:32:38 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=882#comment-188488 There are a lot of posts in this comment thread. If it hasn't been stated earlier, the APA has been changing its stance and saying now that any biological component in minimal and enivironmental influences are more of a component. There are a lot of posts in this comment thread. If it hasn’t been stated earlier, the APA has been changing its stance and saying now that any biological component in minimal and enivironmental influences are more of a component.

]]> By: Warren Throckmorton » Year in review: Top ten stories of 2008 http://wthrockmorton.com/2008/05/01/the-apa-symposium-on-homosexuality-therapy-and-religion-has-been-cancelled/comment-page-2/#comment-154394 Warren Throckmorton » Year in review: Top ten stories of 2008 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 20:04:50 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=882#comment-154394 [...] Cancelation of the American Psychiatric Association symposium - Amidst threat of protests, the APA pressed to halt a scheduled symposium dedicated to sexual identity therapy and religious affiliation. Whipped up by [...] [...] Cancelation of the American Psychiatric Association symposium – Amidst threat of protests, the APA pressed to halt a scheduled symposium dedicated to sexual identity therapy and religious affiliation. Whipped up by [...]

]]> By: Mary http://wthrockmorton.com/2008/05/01/the-apa-symposium-on-homosexuality-therapy-and-religion-has-been-cancelled/comment-page-2/#comment-100766 Mary Wed, 14 May 2008 00:38:35 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=882#comment-100766 Michael, Hope this gets through - it is about the third time I have tried. As to your request. I would refer anyone to Warren who has more contacts and connections than do I. For women, I would refer them to Hallman, as she has also more contacts and connections as well. Both are different kinds of therapists with different views on the development of sexuality. But - niether do they suggest to anyone that they impose their views on to their clients. They both have specifically said that they work with a certain client (not all kinds of homosexuals) and that the decision for the outcome of therapy is theirs. I cannot give the name of my personal therapist - as this has been discussed on this blog before. Some people have families to protect. And yes - some gays have been very active in seeking these people out and calling much attention to them. <strong>That is repressed expression</strong>. Not everyone wants to be highlighted, and some just do not have the time nor energy to deal with the onslaught of gay activists in their e-mail, at their office, in their mail box, or bothering the people around them etc... Michael,

Hope this gets through – it is about the third time I have tried.

As to your request. I would refer anyone to Warren who has more contacts and connections than do I. For women, I would refer them to Hallman, as she has also more contacts and connections as well. Both are different kinds of therapists with different views on the development of sexuality. But – niether do they suggest to anyone that they impose their views on to their clients. They both have specifically said that they work with a certain client (not all kinds of homosexuals) and that the decision for the outcome of therapy is theirs.

I cannot give the name of my personal therapist – as this has been discussed on this blog before. Some people have families to protect. And yes – some gays have been very active in seeking these people out and calling much attention to them. That is repressed expression. Not everyone wants to be highlighted, and some just do not have the time nor energy to deal with the onslaught of gay activists in their e-mail, at their office, in their mail box, or bothering the people around them etc…

]]> By: Michael Bussee http://wthrockmorton.com/2008/05/01/the-apa-symposium-on-homosexuality-therapy-and-religion-has-been-cancelled/comment-page-2/#comment-100731 Michael Bussee Tue, 13 May 2008 18:43:56 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=882#comment-100731 Mary: you said : <strong> Michael you are kept safely in your convienent world of not knowing anyone.</strong> <strong> Me </strong>not knowing anyone? Heck, <strong>you </strong>can only think of two -- and one is too scared to step forward and make herself known. Where are the rest of them? Hiding in closets for fear of the dreaded gay activists? If they realy know truth that can actually set people free, don't thet have a moral obligation, as a Christian, to make themselves known? Contrary to what you are implying, I am not afraid of knowing someone who knows how to do the therapy you and Eddy are promoting. I would really and sincerely like to meet one. I have no need for a "convenient world" where everyone agrees with me. My eyes are open here. So I repeat: If someone -- anyone -- knows who these therapists are, I repeat: PLEASE TELL ME. I would love to meet them. So far, Wendy Gritter is it -- and not everyone can go to Canada to see her. Mary: you said : Michael you are kept safely in your convienent world of not knowing anyone. Me not knowing anyone? Heck, you can only think of two — and one is too scared to step forward and make herself known.

Where are the rest of them? Hiding in closets for fear of the dreaded gay activists? If they realy know truth that can actually set people free, don’t thet have a moral obligation, as a Christian, to make themselves known?

Contrary to what you are implying, I am not afraid of knowing someone who knows how to do the therapy you and Eddy are promoting. I would really and sincerely like to meet one. I have no need for a “convenient world” where everyone agrees with me.

My eyes are open here. So I repeat: If someone — anyone — knows who these therapists are, I repeat: PLEASE TELL ME. I would love to meet them. So far, Wendy Gritter is it — and not everyone can go to Canada to see her.

]]> By: Eddy http://wthrockmorton.com/2008/05/01/the-apa-symposium-on-homosexuality-therapy-and-religion-has-been-cancelled/comment-page-2/#comment-99761 Eddy Wed, 07 May 2008 00:07:14 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=882#comment-99761 Ken-- Just from the read I did, it's clear that the task force agenda was not exclusively political but the entire 'social issues' area could/would be interpreted as political. But, in reading the language and some of the incidental concerns they brought up, these seem to be entirely realistic and valid concerns. The psychological community's motivation for speaking to the 'social issues' was directly related to concerns for mental health. So, currently I'm at "partially political but, understandably so, and not insidious." :-) Just reading it--some of the language and phrasing--is taking me back to that time. I do want to review it again when I can be more reflective. Ken–
Just from the read I did, it’s clear that the task force agenda was not exclusively political but the entire ‘social issues’ area could/would be interpreted as political. But, in reading the language and some of the incidental concerns they brought up, these seem to be entirely realistic and valid concerns. The psychological community’s motivation for speaking to the ‘social issues’ was directly related to concerns for mental health. So, currently I’m at “partially political but, understandably so, and not insidious.” :-)

Just reading it–some of the language and phrasing–is taking me back to that time. I do want to review it again when I can be more reflective.

]]> By: Eddy http://wthrockmorton.com/2008/05/01/the-apa-symposium-on-homosexuality-therapy-and-religion-has-been-cancelled/comment-page-2/#comment-99760 Eddy Tue, 06 May 2008 23:54:43 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=882#comment-99760 Ken-- Many, many thanks! This link worked and I was able to read the entire document. LOL. I'm doing mandatory overtime this week...and it's all proofing scanned documents. I've saved a copy to review more deeply after the work crunch is over. Thanks again for the link. I'm a books/library kind of a guy...the computer only became part of my personal life about 5 years ago...I've learned to google and even to do some selected searches but some things are still way beyond my scope. This link is much appreciated! Ken–
Many, many thanks! This link worked and I was able to read the entire document. LOL. I’m doing mandatory overtime this week…and it’s all proofing scanned documents. I’ve saved a copy to review more deeply after the work crunch is over.

Thanks again for the link. I’m a books/library kind of a guy…the computer only became part of my personal life about 5 years ago…I’ve learned to google and even to do some selected searches but some things are still way beyond my scope. This link is much appreciated!

]]> By: ken http://wthrockmorton.com/2008/05/01/the-apa-symposium-on-homosexuality-therapy-and-religion-has-been-cancelled/comment-page-2/#comment-99747 ken Tue, 06 May 2008 21:14:03 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=882#comment-99747 I'm not sure where you are getting that the report is no longer available online. Here is a link directly to the pdf file (note for those who would rather not download the whole thing, you can read the 1 paragraph abstract in the previous link I gave, at the top of the page is a link to the Full Text) <a href="http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED173696" rel="nofollow">Task Force report - Full PDF Text</a> I’m not sure where you are getting that the report is no longer available online. Here is a link directly to the pdf file (note for those who would rather not download the whole thing, you can read the 1 paragraph abstract in the previous link I gave, at the top of the page is a link to the Full Text)

Task Force report – Full PDF Text

]]> By: Eddy http://wthrockmorton.com/2008/05/01/the-apa-symposium-on-homosexuality-therapy-and-religion-has-been-cancelled/comment-page-2/#comment-99603 Eddy Mon, 05 May 2008 23:32:23 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=882#comment-99603 Michael-- Please forgive me. I was not trying to question either your therapy or credentials but I can see how it looked that way. I was mostly going after that piece of your comment where you said you didn't see the need for groups like SIT since all the guidelines are already in place. But then you admitted that you couldn't assist people like Mary or myself and you didn't know anyone who could. So, for purely selfish reasons, my discussion was motivated by the realization that I'm still out in the cold. If I sought counseling through my church wanting to explore <em>whether or not </em>homosexuality is right or wrong...I can't get that. They don't want me to question it. But, if I go to a therapist wanting to explore <em>whether or not </em>homosexuality is right or wrong...I can't get that. They don't want me to question it either. It seems both sides either want me to see it their way from the start or want it understood that the only reasonable outcome is that I learn to see it their way. For a question of such significance, I'd hope to find a counselor/therapist who could at least pretend not to have a pre-conceived conclusion. That's sounding more and more impossible. Ken-- Thanks for some direction and clarity on the mechanics behind the reclassification. The link says the materials are no longer available online but even the knowledge of the 2 year prior study is more than I had before. I'll see what I can do about getting access to that pdf. The declassification happened during my post high school and college days back when I was quite a social activist. (Anti-war, racial equality, and gay awareness were my principal causes.) Anyway, I recall that we celebrated the declassification as a political victory but I can see where that could have been our own ignorance. (Something happens that fits with your agenda and you take it on investing it with your own particular spin...sometimes with little or no regard for the original process and purpose.) (That, BTW, is pretty much what I think Focus on the Family did with the news of the symposium.) Michael–
Please forgive me. I was not trying to question either your therapy or credentials but I can see how it looked that way. I was mostly going after that piece of your comment where you said you didn’t see the need for groups like SIT since all the guidelines are already in place. But then you admitted that you couldn’t assist people like Mary or myself and you didn’t know anyone who could.

So, for purely selfish reasons, my discussion was motivated by the realization that I’m still out in the cold. If I sought counseling through my church wanting to explore whether or not homosexuality is right or wrong…I can’t get that. They don’t want me to question it. But, if I go to a therapist wanting to explore whether or not homosexuality is right or wrong…I can’t get that. They don’t want me to question it either. It seems both sides either want me to see it their way from the start or want it understood that the only reasonable outcome is that I learn to see it their way. For a question of such significance, I’d hope to find a counselor/therapist who could at least pretend not to have a pre-conceived conclusion. That’s sounding more and more impossible.

Ken–
Thanks for some direction and clarity on the mechanics behind the reclassification. The link says the materials are no longer available online but even the knowledge of the 2 year prior study is more than I had before. I’ll see what I can do about getting access to that pdf.

The declassification happened during my post high school and college days back when I was quite a social activist. (Anti-war, racial equality, and gay awareness were my principal causes.) Anyway, I recall that we celebrated the declassification as a political victory but I can see where that could have been our own ignorance. (Something happens that fits with your agenda and you take it on investing it with your own particular spin…sometimes with little or no regard for the original process and purpose.)

(That, BTW, is pretty much what I think Focus on the Family did with the news of the symposium.)

]]> By: Mary http://wthrockmorton.com/2008/05/01/the-apa-symposium-on-homosexuality-therapy-and-religion-has-been-cancelled/comment-page-2/#comment-99568 Mary Mon, 05 May 2008 19:24:44 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=882#comment-99568 Michael, Unfortunately, I cannot give out the name of mine. Of those that I feel comfortable with that are public are Warren, and Janelle Hallman for women and that's about it. And I would use these two people for further referrals. Like you I would not suggest that there is any gaurantee, that different therapists have different approaches and to look into those. Like I said - it is a double bind created by political pressure. Michael,
Unfortunately, I cannot give out the name of mine. Of those that I feel comfortable with that are public are Warren, and Janelle Hallman for women and that’s about it. And I would use these two people for further referrals.

Like you I would not suggest that there is any gaurantee, that different therapists have different approaches and to look into those.

Like I said – it is a double bind created by political pressure.

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