A college psychology professor's observations about public policy, mental health, sexual identity, and religious issues
What a difference a day (seems to) makes. First, the LA Times article and then this afternoon, Alan Chambers appeared on CNN’s Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. Apparently stimulated by the LA Times article, CNN’s Mary Snow interviewed Alan about the term ex-gay and what is meant by change. Jack Drescher was on briefly to … Continue reading “Alan Chambers on CNN’s The Situation Room”
I may add some additional comments later but I wanted to post the transcript of the Anderson Cooper CNN segment (scroll a bit over half way down the page) this evening regarding Ted Haggard’s rehabilitation. The report was quite interesting with several points worthy of discussion. I felt Alan’s tone and responses were reasonable and … Continue reading “CNN segment on Ted Haggard”
The Unity Rally website refers to my entry below about Dr. Schoenewolf’s article on political correctness but misrepresents me and the relationship (as I understand it) between NARTH and Focus on the Family. The website attempts to link the article by Dr. Schoenewolf with Focus on the Family by claiming that “Love Won Out, NARTH … Continue reading “Palm Springs Unity Rally Website Gets It Wrong”
In a Q&A today at the American Psychological Association convention in New Orleans, APA president Gerald Koocher was asked about a client’s right to seek therapy to modify same-sex attraction. He reportedly said (and I am seeking confirmation from the APA) that clients may seek psychotherapy to affirm their religious values even if that meant … Continue reading “APA president speaks about a client’s right to self-determination”
From the Journal of Health and Social Behavior (Dec., 2005), pp. 307-22 comes this interesting abstract: Title: Geneticization of deviant behavior and consequences for stigma: the case of mental illness. Author: Phelan JC. of the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, Department of Sociomedical Sciences, 722 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. … Continue reading “Genetics and stigmatization”