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The War on Psychotherapy: When Sexual Politics, Gender Ideology, and Mental Health Collide
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1969 riots at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, New York–the spark that lit the fire of the modern gay rights movement in America. What has resulted in the following five decades is the takeover of a new ideology of sex and gender, with devastating effects on all sectors of our society. Consequently, we are now embroiled in a war of ethics and morality over sexuality and gender, and the battle is being waged in our courts, our college campuses, and our counseling offices. Even our churches and synagogues are in the thick of this conflict. Tragically, our precious children have become the innocent casualties in this war.Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) activists have successfully convinced over a dozen states and over 45 cities to ban so-called “conversion therapy” for minors, while campaigns to restrict licensed psychotherapy for adults are mounting in liberal areas like California and New York City. Abroad, several countries have banned the practice altogether, with the United Kingdom currently debating the Should it be illegal for a licensed mental health professional to help patients voluntarily alter their sexual orientation or gender identity? Should clinicians even be able to talk with clients who are distressed over unwanted attractions, sexual behaviors, or gender expressions and seek options for change? Will those who came out of the closet succeed in putting dissenters and strugglers in the closet?How far will this movement go in terms of defining client autonomy, self-determination, and freedom of choice? To what extent will it rewrite our laws? To what degree will it silence those who refuse to fall in line with its radical goals? Who will stand up and put a stop to this madness? In The War on Psychotherapy, licensed psychotherapist Christopher Doyle provides a map of this unprecedented assault on personal freedom and religious liberty while offering meaningful solutions on how licensed clinicians, informed legislators, and responsible citizens can work together to stop fraudulent LGBT activism, end truly harmful counseling practices, and ensure safe and effective assistance for those who are struggling and sincerely seeking help for sexual and gender identity conflicts.
412 pages, Paperback
Published May 28, 2019
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May 23, 2024
A CHRISTIAN THERAPIST SUPPORTS SOME FORMS OF ‘REPARATIVE THERAPY’
Psychotherapist Christopher Doyle wrote in the ‘Acknowledgements’ of this 2019 book, “Over the past 15 years, I have come to know hundreds, and heard the testimonies of thousands of individuals, clients, and colleagues who refused to accept what the so-called ‘mainstream’ medical and mental health professional communities told them about who and what they are. Instead, they chose to follow their faith and conscience, to fulfill their hopes and realize their dreams of marriage, family, authenticity, and health. This book would not be possible without these courageous men and women who have struggled to overcome unwanted same-sex attractions and gender identity conflicts. Like myself, these individuals refused to believe the ‘born gay’ myth and forged ahead to fulfill their hearts’ desires.”
Michelle A. Cretella wrote in her Preface, “When it came time to reevaluate the DSM for publication of the fifth edition, the clinicians … were first and foremost concerned with providing a diagnosis that would both ease social stigma and justify insurance payment for sex-change hormones and sex reassignment surgery. The end result was a name change to ‘gender dysphoria’ (GD). Not only was the term ‘disorder’ dropped, but there was a shift… to a focus solely on emotional distress… That the next edition of the DSM will drop gender dysphoria altogether is likely because the World Health Organization (WHO) has already done so in its upcoming 11th edition… For the same of our children, we must not let this happen. We must fight to re-tether psychology and medicine to an authentic definition of normalcy: That which functions according to its design is normal.” (Pg. 6-7)
Michael L. Brown wrote in the Foreword, “Christopher Doyle is... a former same-sex attracted man, now happily married to his wife and a devoted father to his five children. When he speaks about change, he speaks from firsthand experience… he has counseled hundreds of people who have struggled with sexual and gender identity conflicts… he is a man of faith, recognizing that …. God… has the power to change us.”
Doyle explains in his Introduction, “As you read this book, I hope you can put aside your pre-conceived notions and biases about sexuality, sexual orientation, gender identity, and therapeutic efforts to assist those who struggle. The facts I present will lay a case for why therapy for sexual and gender identity conflicts should be available and legal for all who seek it; however, I will not try to convince you that all efforts to reduce, change, or manage unwanted attractions, desire, or behaviors are effective or safe. In reality, some well-meaning mental health clinicians, religious counselors, and life coaches are offering ineffective, ill-advised, and/or unsafe counseling… I will conclude the book with meaningful solutions on how licensed mental health professionals, informed legislators, and responsible citizens can work together to … end truly harmful therapeutic practices, and ensure safe and effective help for sexual and gender identity conflicts.”
He recounts, “In 2012, LGBT activists began working with politicians in the state of California to pass legislation to prohibit licensed mental health practitioners from helping minors who experienced unwanted same-sex attractions, or wished to change their sexual orientation… On September 30, 2012, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law SB 1172, which essentially outlawed the practice of sexual orientation change effort (SOCE) therapy for clients under the age of 18 in the state of California… Brown said… ‘These practices have no basis in science or medicine, and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery.’ … Despite the claims of harm cited in SB 1172… there is not one single outcome-based study in the scientific literature to minors undergoing SOCE therapy to back up these claims.” (Pg. 31-33)
He quotes a 1973 article by Dr. Robert Spitzer of Columbia University, and observes, “What is fascinating is one key point in his argument: When he discusses other psychiatric conditions not considered mental disorders that still exist in the DSM [his] justification for why they still exist was: ‘Perhaps that’s because the voyeurs and fetishists have not yet organized themselves and forced us to do that (remove the conditions from the DSM).’ … What Sencer was essentially saying is that psychiatry as a profession is so fragile, that if a group of individuals who exhibit a classified mental illness organize themselves, they could ‘force’ the APR to reclassify their condition; and that is exactly what the LGBT activists did.” (Pg. 73)
Later, he adds, “in 2012, Spitzer had a change of heart after meeting with a gay journalist who described his own ‘painful debacle’ of ‘reparative counseling.’ Not long after, he published an apology to the gay community… [A] New York Time article wrote … of Spitzer’s condition: … “Dr. Spitzer, who turns 80 next week, suffers from Parkinson’s disease and has trouble… even holding his head upright…’ The article didn’t tell the reader about the intense vitriol from militant gay activists that Spitzer received for many years after the publishing of the [2001] article. That harassment, coupled with his declining health due to Parkinson’s disease, may have caused Spitzer to decide to issue the apology. According to… a colleague, Spitzer was emotionally broken from years of harassment from the gay activist community.” (Pg. 81-83)
He recounts a conversation with an associate editor of ABC’s ‘20/20’ program [who was asking about ‘Gay conversion therapy: torture camps’]. Doyle explained, “[‘Gay conversion therapy’] is a term made up by gay activists to describe a practice to convert ‘gay’ young to ‘straight’ against their will. I don’t do that. I do work with clients who experience distress over their sexual or gender identity, but what you are describing if a practice that ethical, licensed therapists simply do not do… I can almost guarantee that these ‘therapists’ … are not licensed, and I doubt they are actual therapists… Licensed, ethical mental health counselors … don’t make moral judgment statements to clients… We work with clients to help them formulate their own goals, and we never shame them or tell them they are wrong for experiencing sexual attractions of any sort.” (Pg. 97-99)
He asserts, “far-left advocacy groups such as the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) are often referred to in the media as ‘experts’ or ‘watchdogs’ for ‘conversion therapists’ … their written … opinions about the subject are reported as ‘objective’ news, rather than what they really are---politically motivated and biased smear attacks.” (Pg. 136)
He explains that “Dr. Dean Hamer, a gay-identified scientist… published a famous genetic study on homosexuality in 1993. Newspapers were quick to make conclusions: ‘Report Suggests Homosexuality Is Linked to Genes’… But in actuality, Hamer commented in the study that he did NOT find a gay gene… In truth, research has never made this determination, and even… the American Psychological Association (APA) ha said that scientists cannot conclude that people are born with a sexual orientation---and that nature and nurture both play roles in how individuals develop sexual attractions… Yet the phrase: ‘You’re born that way’ … still gets repeated over and over by the mainstream media, far-left academics, and liberal politicians… Those who … provide therapeutic assistance to individuals with sexual and gender identity conflicts are being sued, legislated against---and if the courts don’t intervene soon, they may even be criminalized! Think I’m joking?...” (Pg. 153-154)
He states, “the war against the SPLC and other gay activist organizations continues to rage, and intensify, in recent years… the SPLC, Human Rights Campaign (LRC) and National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission… against People Can Change… accusing [them] … of committing consumer fraud… by offering, marketing, selling, and performing services that purport to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity…” (Pg. 176)
He asserts, “there is no actual science that says reparative therapy is dangerous and causes depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behavior among youth. It doesn’t exist, because there is no outcome based research on the experiences of minors who have undergone therapy that is open to sexual orientation change or gender fluidity!” (Pg. 196)
He acknowledges, “Do organizations and counselors exist that mistreat vulnerable homosexual and gender confused youth? I’m sure they do. But the descriptions of these gay activist organizations are so far overblown, and in the vast majority of situations, the abuse is carried out by rogue, unlicensed, and untrained pseudo-professionals. But if you looked at the false narrative promoted by … pushers of ‘conversion therapy’ ban legislation, you might think these ‘conversion therapy’ camps are a widespread practice among licensed therapists!” (Pg. 250)
He argues, “To justify their lifestyle, revelers must completely reinterpret the Bible’s teachings on sexuality… Gay-revisionist theology is full of contradictions, , bad logic, and questionable historical accuracy. It espouses the idea that the Bible condemned only casual homosexual encounters, not committed, loving same-sex relationships and gay marriage. It also makes wild claims that some of the Bible’s most important figures, such as David and Jonathan, were actually secret gay lovers… Revelers also believe in psychology, but selectively choose to embrace only debunked studies that confirm their bias that they were ‘born LGBT’ and therefore, cannot change.” (Pg. 266)
He admits, “I must admit that a part of me didn’t want to write the book you are now reading, because I felt that perhaps it would further anger LGBT-identified psychologists… and this might push them away from working with me… However, after much contemplation and prayer I accepted the fact that this may happen. I know full well that many LGBT-identified persons who read this book will feel attacked… I have lost nights of sleep worrying about the future of my clients, my practice, and my family… what I am about to say is my attempt to make sense out of the senseless… After working with over 200 clients … struggling with sexual and gender identity over the last ten years, my compassion and empathy for their struggles has caused me to become less ideological, more compassionate, and far more accepting of their diverse experiences… I still retain the same values for sex and sexuality. But my values do not dictate my therapeutic ethics.” (Pg. 296-297)
He concludes, “in the last two years, I have stopped engaging in lobbying and advocacy as I once did… I realized that the facts no longer mattered to politicians, the media, and ideologues… I chose to invest my time and energy in documenting this war from a historical and political perspective… this war… has caused me to examine myself, my motivations, and the way I practice psychotherapy… I improved my practice to be more ethical and effective. Whereas I once held contempt for the LGBT community, that has completely transformed to love and compassion. So, I wish to express my gratitude for the many gay activist organizations out there spreading misinformation and committing mass fraud… your movement has kept my colleagues on their toes as well… But your job is now over, and I hope you can take a break. I have been changed and converted!” (Pg. 311-312)
A book on a very controversial topic will obviously be controversial. Some folks will love this book, but probably more will view it as discredited ‘junk science.’ Caveat emptor…
Psychotherapist Christopher Doyle wrote in the ‘Acknowledgements’ of this 2019 book, “Over the past 15 years, I have come to know hundreds, and heard the testimonies of thousands of individuals, clients, and colleagues who refused to accept what the so-called ‘mainstream’ medical and mental health professional communities told them about who and what they are. Instead, they chose to follow their faith and conscience, to fulfill their hopes and realize their dreams of marriage, family, authenticity, and health. This book would not be possible without these courageous men and women who have struggled to overcome unwanted same-sex attractions and gender identity conflicts. Like myself, these individuals refused to believe the ‘born gay’ myth and forged ahead to fulfill their hearts’ desires.”
Michelle A. Cretella wrote in her Preface, “When it came time to reevaluate the DSM for publication of the fifth edition, the clinicians … were first and foremost concerned with providing a diagnosis that would both ease social stigma and justify insurance payment for sex-change hormones and sex reassignment surgery. The end result was a name change to ‘gender dysphoria’ (GD). Not only was the term ‘disorder’ dropped, but there was a shift… to a focus solely on emotional distress… That the next edition of the DSM will drop gender dysphoria altogether is likely because the World Health Organization (WHO) has already done so in its upcoming 11th edition… For the same of our children, we must not let this happen. We must fight to re-tether psychology and medicine to an authentic definition of normalcy: That which functions according to its design is normal.” (Pg. 6-7)
Michael L. Brown wrote in the Foreword, “Christopher Doyle is... a former same-sex attracted man, now happily married to his wife and a devoted father to his five children. When he speaks about change, he speaks from firsthand experience… he has counseled hundreds of people who have struggled with sexual and gender identity conflicts… he is a man of faith, recognizing that …. God… has the power to change us.”
Doyle explains in his Introduction, “As you read this book, I hope you can put aside your pre-conceived notions and biases about sexuality, sexual orientation, gender identity, and therapeutic efforts to assist those who struggle. The facts I present will lay a case for why therapy for sexual and gender identity conflicts should be available and legal for all who seek it; however, I will not try to convince you that all efforts to reduce, change, or manage unwanted attractions, desire, or behaviors are effective or safe. In reality, some well-meaning mental health clinicians, religious counselors, and life coaches are offering ineffective, ill-advised, and/or unsafe counseling… I will conclude the book with meaningful solutions on how licensed mental health professionals, informed legislators, and responsible citizens can work together to … end truly harmful therapeutic practices, and ensure safe and effective help for sexual and gender identity conflicts.”
He recounts, “In 2012, LGBT activists began working with politicians in the state of California to pass legislation to prohibit licensed mental health practitioners from helping minors who experienced unwanted same-sex attractions, or wished to change their sexual orientation… On September 30, 2012, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law SB 1172, which essentially outlawed the practice of sexual orientation change effort (SOCE) therapy for clients under the age of 18 in the state of California… Brown said… ‘These practices have no basis in science or medicine, and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery.’ … Despite the claims of harm cited in SB 1172… there is not one single outcome-based study in the scientific literature to minors undergoing SOCE therapy to back up these claims.” (Pg. 31-33)
He quotes a 1973 article by Dr. Robert Spitzer of Columbia University, and observes, “What is fascinating is one key point in his argument: When he discusses other psychiatric conditions not considered mental disorders that still exist in the DSM [his] justification for why they still exist was: ‘Perhaps that’s because the voyeurs and fetishists have not yet organized themselves and forced us to do that (remove the conditions from the DSM).’ … What Sencer was essentially saying is that psychiatry as a profession is so fragile, that if a group of individuals who exhibit a classified mental illness organize themselves, they could ‘force’ the APR to reclassify their condition; and that is exactly what the LGBT activists did.” (Pg. 73)
Later, he adds, “in 2012, Spitzer had a change of heart after meeting with a gay journalist who described his own ‘painful debacle’ of ‘reparative counseling.’ Not long after, he published an apology to the gay community… [A] New York Time article wrote … of Spitzer’s condition: … “Dr. Spitzer, who turns 80 next week, suffers from Parkinson’s disease and has trouble… even holding his head upright…’ The article didn’t tell the reader about the intense vitriol from militant gay activists that Spitzer received for many years after the publishing of the [2001] article. That harassment, coupled with his declining health due to Parkinson’s disease, may have caused Spitzer to decide to issue the apology. According to… a colleague, Spitzer was emotionally broken from years of harassment from the gay activist community.” (Pg. 81-83)
He recounts a conversation with an associate editor of ABC’s ‘20/20’ program [who was asking about ‘Gay conversion therapy: torture camps’]. Doyle explained, “[‘Gay conversion therapy’] is a term made up by gay activists to describe a practice to convert ‘gay’ young to ‘straight’ against their will. I don’t do that. I do work with clients who experience distress over their sexual or gender identity, but what you are describing if a practice that ethical, licensed therapists simply do not do… I can almost guarantee that these ‘therapists’ … are not licensed, and I doubt they are actual therapists… Licensed, ethical mental health counselors … don’t make moral judgment statements to clients… We work with clients to help them formulate their own goals, and we never shame them or tell them they are wrong for experiencing sexual attractions of any sort.” (Pg. 97-99)
He asserts, “far-left advocacy groups such as the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) are often referred to in the media as ‘experts’ or ‘watchdogs’ for ‘conversion therapists’ … their written … opinions about the subject are reported as ‘objective’ news, rather than what they really are---politically motivated and biased smear attacks.” (Pg. 136)
He explains that “Dr. Dean Hamer, a gay-identified scientist… published a famous genetic study on homosexuality in 1993. Newspapers were quick to make conclusions: ‘Report Suggests Homosexuality Is Linked to Genes’… But in actuality, Hamer commented in the study that he did NOT find a gay gene… In truth, research has never made this determination, and even… the American Psychological Association (APA) ha said that scientists cannot conclude that people are born with a sexual orientation---and that nature and nurture both play roles in how individuals develop sexual attractions… Yet the phrase: ‘You’re born that way’ … still gets repeated over and over by the mainstream media, far-left academics, and liberal politicians… Those who … provide therapeutic assistance to individuals with sexual and gender identity conflicts are being sued, legislated against---and if the courts don’t intervene soon, they may even be criminalized! Think I’m joking?...” (Pg. 153-154)
He states, “the war against the SPLC and other gay activist organizations continues to rage, and intensify, in recent years… the SPLC, Human Rights Campaign (LRC) and National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission… against People Can Change… accusing [them] … of committing consumer fraud… by offering, marketing, selling, and performing services that purport to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity…” (Pg. 176)
He asserts, “there is no actual science that says reparative therapy is dangerous and causes depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behavior among youth. It doesn’t exist, because there is no outcome based research on the experiences of minors who have undergone therapy that is open to sexual orientation change or gender fluidity!” (Pg. 196)
He acknowledges, “Do organizations and counselors exist that mistreat vulnerable homosexual and gender confused youth? I’m sure they do. But the descriptions of these gay activist organizations are so far overblown, and in the vast majority of situations, the abuse is carried out by rogue, unlicensed, and untrained pseudo-professionals. But if you looked at the false narrative promoted by … pushers of ‘conversion therapy’ ban legislation, you might think these ‘conversion therapy’ camps are a widespread practice among licensed therapists!” (Pg. 250)
He argues, “To justify their lifestyle, revelers must completely reinterpret the Bible’s teachings on sexuality… Gay-revisionist theology is full of contradictions, , bad logic, and questionable historical accuracy. It espouses the idea that the Bible condemned only casual homosexual encounters, not committed, loving same-sex relationships and gay marriage. It also makes wild claims that some of the Bible’s most important figures, such as David and Jonathan, were actually secret gay lovers… Revelers also believe in psychology, but selectively choose to embrace only debunked studies that confirm their bias that they were ‘born LGBT’ and therefore, cannot change.” (Pg. 266)
He admits, “I must admit that a part of me didn’t want to write the book you are now reading, because I felt that perhaps it would further anger LGBT-identified psychologists… and this might push them away from working with me… However, after much contemplation and prayer I accepted the fact that this may happen. I know full well that many LGBT-identified persons who read this book will feel attacked… I have lost nights of sleep worrying about the future of my clients, my practice, and my family… what I am about to say is my attempt to make sense out of the senseless… After working with over 200 clients … struggling with sexual and gender identity over the last ten years, my compassion and empathy for their struggles has caused me to become less ideological, more compassionate, and far more accepting of their diverse experiences… I still retain the same values for sex and sexuality. But my values do not dictate my therapeutic ethics.” (Pg. 296-297)
He concludes, “in the last two years, I have stopped engaging in lobbying and advocacy as I once did… I realized that the facts no longer mattered to politicians, the media, and ideologues… I chose to invest my time and energy in documenting this war from a historical and political perspective… this war… has caused me to examine myself, my motivations, and the way I practice psychotherapy… I improved my practice to be more ethical and effective. Whereas I once held contempt for the LGBT community, that has completely transformed to love and compassion. So, I wish to express my gratitude for the many gay activist organizations out there spreading misinformation and committing mass fraud… your movement has kept my colleagues on their toes as well… But your job is now over, and I hope you can take a break. I have been changed and converted!” (Pg. 311-312)
A book on a very controversial topic will obviously be controversial. Some folks will love this book, but probably more will view it as discredited ‘junk science.’ Caveat emptor…
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September 23, 2024"Bu kitap, cinsel devrimin, ideolojik aşırılığının sadece kültürümüzün ana akımına nüfus etmekle kalmayıp aynı zamanda mesleklerimizi nasıl çarpıttığını ... inceleyen bir çalışmadır."
Aynı aşırılığı göstermemek için üstün gayret(!) sarf eden muhalif görüşü de...
Aynı aşırılığı göstermemek için üstün gayret(!) sarf eden muhalif görüşü de...
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