NARTH survey says Change IS possible...

Since 1973, when the Amercican Psychiatric officially REMOVED homosexuality from its lists of disorders,research on the subject has changed direction. Conducted almost entirely from gay-advocacy perspective, it is often funded by gay sponsors, carried out by gay researchers. and designed to prove that homosexuality in inate, psychological normal, and socially desirable.

With its new survey, NARTH has taken a step again in the direction abondoned 25 years ago. For many years, NARTH clincians have been saying that sexual-orientation changes is possible and that attempts at change are not inherently psychologically harmful. Results of our recent study support that assertion.

The self-support survey was conducted with 882 individuals--surveying persons who claim to have made a degree of sexual orientation change.

Among the findings:

Before coundeling or therapy, 68% of the respondents perceived themnselves as exclusively or almost entirely homosexual, with another 22% stating they were more homosexual (same sex attracted) than heterosexual. After treatment, only 13% perceived themselves as exclusively or entirely homosexual (attracted to same sex or same gender), while 33% described themselves as either exclusively or almost entirely heterosexual. Ninety-nine percent of respondents said they now believe treatment to change homsexuality can be effective and valuable. Those surveyed reported very significant decreases, following tratment, in the frequency and intensity of their homosexual thoughts and fantasies. The same was true of sexual behaviors with a partner (30% had homosexual sex "very often" before treatment, whileonly 1% did so afterwards.) Respondents further indicated that, as a result of treatment and sexual-orientation changes, they WERE IMPROVING pschologically and interpersonally.

Dr.Joseph Nicolosi, pricipal investigator, said " We should stop telling young people or other people struggling with desires for the Same-sex or Homosexuality,Bi-sexuality, lesbianism etc. that they are destined to be gay. We should instead be encouraging them that CHANGE IS POSSIBLE."

He cautioned that a major orientation shift will not be achieved by every one; that some remaining degree of struggle is often necessary over the clients lifetime, particularly during times of stress (as with clients stuggling with alcoholism or self-esteem issues); and that is to be expected that some clients will change their minds about the direction of treatment(due to uncertainity and unfamiliarity), and decide to go back to a gay lifestyle.

"The change process requires powerful motivation", Dr. Nicholisi said. "But the respondents to this study have told us that counseling greatly raised their self-acceptance, self esteem, self-understanding, and emtional stability and maturity. We also see that it significantly changed unwanted fantasies and behaviors"

Three respondents said:

"I was deceived for a number of years into bielieving that there was nothing I could do to change my sexual orientation....I tried counseling, but was simply told to stop fighting the homosexual feelings and accept who I was........The greatest freedom came when i discovered that I could move away from the addiction of homosexual behavior/ Same sex attractions and BEGIN to see myself differently."

"Throughout these 16 years since i chose to pursue a heterosexual lifestyle, the rightness of my choice has only been confirmed again and again; I feel whole and true to my real self."

"Change is extremly difficult and requires total commitment. But I have broken the terrible power that homosexuality had over me for so long. I haven't been this light and happy since I was a child. People can and do change, and become free."

Dr. Nicolisi said, "This survey will give a new voice to the hundreds of individuals who participated in out study. This is a population which is said not to have existed. The psychological profession ignores them, and the media implies that their choice is not an option. But therapist who have worked with these clients have known all along that CHANGE Is Possible."

National Association for Research and Therapy of Homsexuality (N.A.R.T.H.) see web site at www.narth.com or call the California office at (818( 789-4440

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2002

Answers

um... confused.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2003