question about reorientation therapy

Every credible scientific source, including the American Psychological Association, has decried the practice as harmful, and the APA is currently reviewing its policy with the consideration of BANNING the practice. Outside of the religious zealot whackjobs, I don't think you'll find a shred of support for it.

 

xequar summed it up well. It's basically brain-washing. Don't go there!

 

I never even heard of this before this post. That's ridiculous... Honestly, it should be outlawed.

 

Some info here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reorientation_therapy which I haven't read yet.

 

I used to look into that kind of stuff. Some methods are harsher than others. There are anti-gay camps that make you think of doing something sexual with someone of the same sex and then they do some shock therapy, I guess they do that to make you autmotically afraid to have homosexual thoughts but I don't see how an actual attraction to females is created.

Also there are more psychological methods that make more sense, like going to deep psychological sessions regulary, go deep inside your mind to address why you want a man figure in your life. Supposedly after every session you feel man enough and you don't have to need a man that loves you. That makes your mind want girls because you're now "man enough". Funny that they're so God-loving to make people go the "right" way and yet they don't do it for free and make it THEIR profit (God who?).

 

I am not against "reorientation therapy" as a concept because I think people should be allowed to live their lives however they want (as long as they're not directly harming anyone else). A person might have any number of very valid reasons for not wanting to be attracted to the same sex, and that's fine for them. Let them try to get "reoriented" if they want to try.

My problem w/ reorientation therapy as it is now is that it seems, w/o alternative, based on the notion that being gay is WRONG in a larger sense -- not that it isn't right for the particular individual seeking the therapy, but that it isn't right, period. And that's bull.

 

I want some straight people be be re-orientated. >_>

 

Me too! But, I don't think re-orientation to gay or straight would actually work.

 

Hahaha I agree with you there. :lol:

But if you can't make gays straight, then I highly doubt you could make a straight person gay. Or... at least I would think so. Maybe it would still be worth the old college try. >_>

 

But all those 3-beer queers!

 

That's an interesting point. I guess if it actually worked then yeah, it wouldn't be harming anyone. Sadly, as has been mentioned, no credible source believes it does... at best it seems to teach people how to ACT straight, which of course is exceptionally harmful to others because if the not-really-ex-gay person starts a relationship with someone of a different gender then one assumes that can only lead to heartbreak owing to, essentially, false pretences.

 

Hmm... If my parents or anyone ever tries to get this done on me, I would so sue them for psychological abuse and get an emancipation.

But then again, it probably wouldn't happen. Just me having nightmares again.

 

Here's a link to Time's article about the APA's review of reorientation therapy, for those who are interested.

 

It is impossible, and attempting to do it is traumatizing for the patient. Never, ever, try to do it!

 

It is a waste of time and money. Just love yourself. Watch the DVD Fish Can't Fly.
www.fishcantfly.com

 

Becky G, you are a treasuretrove of information. Can you be my mum?

I hope your son appreciates you!!!!

Good luck careandrespect.

 

LOL - Since you are 41 and I'm 45, I'd think we'd make better friends but thanks for the compliment! Yes, my son does appreciate me. Although sometimes I annoy him too because I think more about support, education, and advocacy than he does. He's always calling me a lesbian. lol