Change of Sexual Orientation – What does the Research Really Say?
by Dale O’Leary:
Review of the Literature:
Is it possible for therapy to produce a change in sexual orientation? Is such therapy ethical?
C.A. Tripp in a 1971 debate with Lawrence Hatterer insisted that “there is not a single recorded instance of a change in homosexual orientation which has been validated by outside judges or testing.” Tripp claimed to have treated him because they do not want to disappoint their previous therapist. The full text of the debate reveals Tripp was offered clinical evidence of change by Hatterer. Hatterer’s book published in 1970 contains extensive case material drawn from tape recorded sessions and follow-up information.
Warren Throckmorton, who has reviewed the literature, sums up the evidence:
“Narrowly, the question to be addressed is: Do conversion therapy techniques work to change unwanted sexual arousal? I submit that the case against conversion therapy requires opponents to demonstrate that no clients have benefited from such procedures or that any benefits are too costly in some objective way to be pursued even if they work. The available evidence supports the observation of many counselors — which many individuals with same-gender sexual orientation have been able to change through a variety of counseling approaches.”
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