I might have oversimplified a bit, but not too much, I don't think. The point is, why would the psychiatrist assume that the patient was "gay" because they were having homosexual thoughts? For example, many adolescents have such thoughts as a natural process of growing up, but they are not necessarily gay.
What if a gay man came in complaining about heterosexual thoughts? Would the therapist help him come to terms with the fact he was straight? I doubt it.
Where I oversimplified was when I said a patient might come in wanting to change. That sort of explicitness may be a bit rare. Usually people just want help.
BINGO. This is how recruitment is done - even by those who would deny that they recruit. A boy talks about a problem he's having - people tease him for being a sissy, he can't seem to get a girlfriend, he has disturbing homosexual thoughts. The correct answer to this is "don't worry, this is natural. All boys are different and mature differently. Give it time and it will come around. In the meantime, you can talk to me about it." Instead someone says, "You should get comfortable with the fact that you are gay" and the beat goes on.
The worst part is, heterosexual men and women who should know better are now saying the same thing.
Shalom.