|
from Clinical/Therapeutic Issues
Report:
2000 NARTH Conference
Washington, D.C.
by Jim Lewis
On Saturday and Sunday, November 18 and 19, 2000
NARTH held its ninth annual conference at the
Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.
This was the best-attended conference in NARTH's
history, with 110 participants from all parts of
the nation.
One-and-a-half days of intense, educational
workshops were provided for therapists, religious
leaders, spouses, parents, and others, as well as
those struggling personally with same-sex
attraction.
A wide variety of topics were covered. It was
noted that although there is more research-based
information about homosexuality now being accepted
in professional journals than ever before, there
is still a great need for more research that is
unbiased by the values and poltical aims of the
researchers, particularly in the area of gay
parenting and adoption.
Presenters from broadly different disciplines came
together at this conference to discuss their
approaches. Some described work based on a
spiritual approach, while others described work
which deals with homosexuality from a secular
perspective.
The presenters' work is directly opposed to those
in the profession who are saying that not only is
it impossible to change, but it is professionally
unethical to treat someone who is homosexual who
asks for help to overcome his or her
homosexuality.
Dr. Benjamin Kaufman and Dr. Charles Socarides
presented workshops on the early etiology of
homosexuality in infancy and early childhood.
Psychologist Mark Yarhouse of Regent University
suggested that professionals need to respect
religious diversity with the same deference they
grant to cultural diversity--especially for those
who are religiously orthodox. Dr. Yarhouse was
the organizer of the groundbreaking August 2000
symposium at the American Psychological
Association Conference, which addressed the ethics
and effectiveness of reorientation therapy.
Dr. Yarhouse is also the co-author of "The Use,
Misuse and Abuse of Science in the Ecclesiastical
Homosexuality Debates," co-written with Stanton
Jones, which appeared in a book released last
year, Homosexuality, Science and the Plain Sense
of Scripture.
Dr. Richard Williams reported on his study of gay
parenting. Some of his findings were that lesbian
mothers had undergone more psychiatric counseling,
children raised by lesbian mothers were more
likely to be homosexual, and the range of
difference in self-esteem of lesbian mothers'
children was greater than that of children of
heterosexual parents.
Counselor Richard Cohen, Director of International
Healing Foundation, described the importance of
mentoring and healing touch, said that we are a
touch-deprived culture. He also explained the
etiology of what he terms "Same-Sex Attachment
Disorder (SSAD).
Dr. Harold Voth encouraged therapists to uncover
the unconscious conflicts that lead to
homosexuality, to allow themselves to feel
compassion and love for their clients--becoming
more than a therapist, but less than a friend--and
to help clients distinguish between healthy and
unhealthy behaviors.
Joseph Nicolosi described the Narcissistic Triadic
Family model, a parenting style where the needs of
the child are compromised by the parents' own
narcissistic desires. This causes the sensitive,
emotionally vulnerable child to surrender his
authentic identity as a gendered, distinct
individual and to develop a false self to please
his parents. Because it is impossible to please
them completely, he eventually concludes that he
is unlovable. At this point, he develops a
defense against emotional attachment (known as
defensive detachment) and a narcissistic pride (of
which the reverse side is shame) to allow him to
cope with his pervasive sense that he is unworthy
of love. Thus some children's autonomy and gender
identity come to be compromised.
Dr. Shirley Cox made a presentation about a
guidebook she has co-authored for women struggling
with same-sex attraction. The book is entitled,
"Developing Genuine Friendships; A Guide For Women
Struggling With Same-Sex Attraction."
Rabbi Sam Rosenberg of JONAH (an acronym for "Jews
Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality") spoke
about Reparative Therapy and Judaic biblical and
Talmudic insights into the homosexual condition.
At the luncheon, Keynote Speaker Robert Knight of
the Family Research Council provided his insight
into the gay liberation agenda and described his
personal experiences trying to defend the
traditional family unit.
The NARTH Sigmund Freud Award was presented in
absentia to George Rekers, Ph.D. of the South
Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. Rekers is
well-known as the author of several respected
clinical works on childhood gender-identity
disorder.
The NARTH Fellow Award was presented to Lynn D.
Wardle, J.D., a nationally known family-law
professor who has strongly urged clinicians
writing from NARTH's perspective to contribute to
the research now being used by legal experts in
the same-sex marriage debate. Dr. Wardle made a
compelling presentation at last year's NARTH
conference, describing the "shunning" process that
often accompanies the effort to speak up against
same-sex marriage within the legal profession.
Joseph Nicolosi gave the following counsel in
closing the meeting: we should study the
literature, obtain good training, get to know the
arguments (from both sides), and be aware that
research indicates about one-third of those who
persevere in therapy for unwanted homosexual
attractions are successful in making a significant
change in behavior and identity and developing
heterosexual responsiveness. Even if the change
may not be complete, there is substantial
improvement along with greater life satisfaction,
better self-esteem and improved relationships with
others.
Many came away from the conference with renewed
hope and belief that those suffering from
homosexuality can be successful.
Updated: 8 February 2008
|
