Experiences of Ex-Ex-Gay Individuals in Sexual Reorientation Therapy: Reasons for Seeking Treatment, Perceived Helpfulness and Harmfulness of Treatment, and Post-Treatment Identification

Abstract

Therapy meant to change someone's sexual orientation, or reorientation therapy, is still in practice despite statements from the major mental health organizations of its potential for harm. This qualitative study used an inductive content analysis strategy (Patton, 2002) to examine the experiences of thirty-eight individuals (31 males and seven females) who have been through a total of 113 episodes of reorientation therapy and currently identify as gay or lesbian. Religious beliefs were frequently cited as the reason for seeking reorientation therapy. Frequently endorsed themes of helpful components of reorientation therapy included connecting with others and feeling accepted. Harmful aspects of reorientation therapy included experiences of shame and negative impacts on mental health. Common reasons for identifying as LGB after the therapy included self-acceptance and coming to believe that sexual orientation change was not possible. The findings of this study were consistent with recommendations by the American Psychological Association Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation (2009), which concluded that helpful aspects of reorientation therapy could be achieved through affirmative treatment methods while avoiding potential harms that may be associated with reorientation therapy. Limitations of the findings, including a small, self-selected sample, are discussed.

Prevalence of Exposure to Sexual Orientation Change Efforts and Associated Sociodemographic Characteristics and Psychosocial Health Outcomes among Canadian Sexual Minority Men

“…1,4 More significantly, SOCE have been found to be associated with numerous negative health outcomes including self-hatred, depression, and suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. 1,2,8,9…”

Conversion therapies and access to transition-related healthcare in transgender people: a narrative systematic review

“…They echo previous claims for the pathological basis of same-sex sexual orientation. They were also similar to the practice of LGB conversion therapy from the 1960s to the 1980s in which psychodynamic and behaviour therapies were used 42. Here, however, there was no attempt in three of the included studies to explain how the therapy was carried out.…”

The scope and nature of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression change efforts: A systematic review protocol

“…Lifetime prevalence of SOGIECE exposure is highest among those born before 2000 (2, 7); however, at least 3-4% of SGM children and adolescents (born after 2000) are estimated to have been exposed to such practices (likely much higher, owing to the challenges in sampling and surveying youth currently/recently exposed to SOGIECE) (2, 4). Among US sexual minority populations, up to 60% of those exposed to SOGIECE report experiencing these change efforts in religious settings, while the remainder visited counselors (many unlicensed), psychologists, and psychiatrists (3)(4)(5). Among US gender minority populations, 35% report exposure to SOGIECE in religious settings, with the remainder of SOGIECE occurring in secular settings, including o ces of medical doctors and psychologists (7).…”

“…This de nition includes, but is not limited to, more formal practices of conversion therapy. SOGIECE settings include religious sites, private and unregulated counsellor's o ces, businesses, and licensed healthcare professional o ces, among others (3)(4)(5). Despite the increasing marginalization of professional-conducted SOGIECE in recent years, particularly for gender identity and expression change efforts, many healthcare professionals lack training and support to deliver gender-a rming care and may seek ways to deter their patients from transitioning from the gender aligned with their sex assigned at birth (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11).…”