Reparative Therapy

Over at Staff Psychologist, there is a quick post which, citing the Ted Haggard scandal, briefly addresses the issue of reparative therapy. Reparative therapy is an attempt by religious conservatives to try to "cure" homosexuality."

It doesn't work, and it violates the Hippocratic Oath, "First, do no harm." It does a great deal of harm, in that it induces guilt in those who fail in their efforts to embrace heterosexuality. The author, William, Meek, has a great comment about it:

Essentially there is no reparative therapy debate. The American Psychological Association (resolution text) and American Psychiatric Association (resolution text), the two largest organizations representing mental health practitioners, do not recognize it and warn against participating in it. There is also a body of research documenting its ineffectivenss and harmfulness. To me, it represents the worst intersection of cultural judgement, prejudice, and psychology.

'Nuff said.