Sexual conversion therapy : ethical, clinical and research perspectives

A. Shidlo, M. Schroeder, J. Drescher

The practitioners of sexual conversion therapy, meant to "cure" homosexuals of their homosexuality, have overlooked a number of harmful effects and failed to produce a reliable clinical basis for their treatments, argue the editors. They present 11 contributions from the perspectives of patients and clinicians on the problems with sexual conversion therapy. The history and theoretical assumptions of the therapy are examined, testimonies of those who have suffered from conversion therapies are presented, and methods of giving healing therapy to those who suffered the trauma of conversion therapy are explored. Finally, a group of essays explore the ethical implications and concerns raised by sexual conversion therapies.