Christian counsellors ban therapy aimed at 'converting' gay patients

Guardian ^ | 01/10/2013 | Patrick Strudwick

[LonelyCon]

Britain's leading body for Christian therapists has instructed its members to stop trying to turn gay patients straight using so-called "conversion therapy".

The Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC) said the practice should be stopped "in the interests of public safety", but the move has prompted a furious response from proponents of talking "cures" for homosexuality who have promised to fight for what they see as the right to therapy of anyone distressed by "unwanted same sex attraction".

The controversial practice seeks to unearth childhood traumas, which are considered by conversion therapists to have caused homosexuality. Sexual abuse, bullying and having an overbearing mother or distant father are among the supposed triggers.

Research by the US clinical psychologists Ariel Shidlo and Michael Schroeder has shown such treatment routinely led to worsened mental health, self-harm, thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts.

The decision by the ACC to speak out against the practice follows similar statements in the last two years by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, the UK Council for Psychotherapy and the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Department of Health.

[JSDude1]

The “conversion” therapy that unrepentant homosexual people need is the GOSPLE of Jesus Christ as outlined in the Bible.

Once they’re saved God will change them...

[Louis Foxwell]

The nature of the disease is resistance. It is born in anger and nurtured by obscenity. Homosexuality creates a pathology of contempt for normalcy, homocidal and suicidal tendencies, and intense vulgarity. It is a pathological disease, not a proclivity. The celebration of abhorrent male sexual acts demonstrates the extent of the disease.

[xzins]

Way back in 95-6 at K-State University, they were already teaching us this stuff about judgment free counseling regarding sexuality. As a minister in their course, they gave me a bit more leeway than others, but I could tell they still hoped I’d see it that way. Fortunately, we had a strong Christian professor, Walter Schumm, there at the time. I think he’s still there. I hope the flexibility is still there.

Our position (other chaplains/pastors with me) was that in such things we weren’t bound by secular policies such as this one. We voiced that. The profs at the time were fine with it.

I don’t know what they’ve become since then, but if Dr Schumm is still there, I’m sure there’s an advocate for Christians.

I think the biggest new (very old) insight given recently was by Robertson from Duck Dynasty who described for folks again what we’re talking about...someone putting a penis in an anus, an unclean act.

Christians, in general, need to remind folks of the act involved. The act itself conjures up images that convince of the unnaturalness of the act. Natural theology grabs attention and their gut knows it’s a wrongful act. Revealed theology tells them it’s a sin and that there’s a Savior.