address the diagnosis of a mental disorder. The mental health field has concluded that same-sex attraction is not a deficit and therefore homosexuality is not categorized as a psychiatric disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM).” The ACA will assist any parties in their efforts to ensure all Americans are protected from these dangerous and unethical mental health practices, and the association commended the White House for speaking out on this topic (ACA, 2015). AAMFT has also spoken out against the practice of conversion/reparative therapy. Like the ACA’s opinion on the topic, AAMFT’s policy, adopted in 2009 by their Board of Directors, states that homosexuality is not considered a disorder that requires treatment, so there is no basis for therapy. AAMFT advises members to conduct therapy based on the best research and clinical evidence available following their Code of Ethics. The following information was obtained from the 2015 AAMFT website, and reprinted on the 2023 website, and shows the commitment and action of the association to support same-sex couples: AAMFT has joined with the American Psychological Association and other mental health associations in filing briefs in federal court that support the right of same-sex couples to marry under state law. For example, on March 6, 2015, AAMFT, along with the Michigan Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, joined in a brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court that is in support of parties who are challenging laws in four states that deny the status of The following section summarizes case studies and includes legal judgements and rationales. This information should not be construed as legal reference material or guidance. Case Study: Reparative/Conversion Therapy During the third session of counseling, a 30-year-old client reported that he was gay and stated that he no longer wanted to follow this lifestyle. He wanted to participate in conversion therapy so that he no longer felt an attraction to men. His goal was to become attracted to a woman and have a traditional marriage with children. At the suggestion of a friend, the client read about reparative/conversion therapy and researched the approach on the Internet. Even after his research, he was convinced this is the route he wants to take. The counselor listened and asked questions in a clinically appropriate manner. The counselor informed the client that although she felt that she could be effective in counseling with him, she could not ethically engage in reparative/ conversion therapy and felt it would not be effective in reaching his desired goals. She explained that she could find no scientific evidence or support for the approach; she even consulted her association, who advised her that it was not a supported form of therapy. The client understood but indicated he was disappointed that the counselor could not help him through that type of counseling. He then asked for a referral to another counselor or therapist who would help him change his sexual orientation and reach his goals. Ethical question: Should the counselor make a referral for conversion therapy? Analysis The ACA Ethics Committee considered many factors and arrived at a consensus opinion that addressed several sections of the Code of Ethics and moral principles of practice presented in this scenario.
marriage to same-sex couples. The purpose of these briefs, known as an amicus brief, is to alert a court of issues relevant to the lawsuit that parties in the lawsuit might not adequately address. Many professional mental health associations file such briefs concerning issues of importance to their members. These briefs are written by individuals not involved in a legal case who have expertise to offer the court in support of a specific cause. The NBCC provides the following directives from their code in response to this topic: ● Counselors shall demonstrate multicultural counseling competence in practice. Counselors will not use counseling techniques or engage in any professional activities that discriminate against or show hostility toward individuals or groups based on gender, ethnicity, race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or any other legally prohibited basis (NBCC, 2023b). ● Counselor educators will practice cultural responsiveness in their teaching, and respect the cultural identity, values, sexual orientation, and gender identity, of their students (NBCC, 2023b). ● Sexual Orientation Change Content Restriction. The program content of continuing education providers cannot present or include information promoting Sexual Orientation Change Efforts as a therapeutic method (NBCC, 2017).
CASE STUDIES
Professionals should always seek the assistance of their professional association and consult employing agency legal counsel for any questions regarding ethical/legal issues.
They started with the basic goal of reparative/conversion therapy: to change an individual’s sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. Counselors who conduct this type of therapy view same-sex attraction and its behavior as abnormal, unnatural, or immoral. They also believe that a change, or a “cure,” can be achieved through the use of therapy. The belief that same-sex attraction and behavior is abnormal and in need of treatment is in opposition to the position taken by national mental health organizations, including the ACA, APA, and AAMFT. The ACA Governing Council resolution specifically noted that the ACA opposes the portrayals of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals as mentally ill due to their sexual orientation. This resolution supported dissemination of accurate information about sexual orientation, mental health, and appropriate interventions and instructed counselors to report research accurately and in a manner that minimizes the possibility that results may be misleading. The ACA found that the majority of the studies on this topic had been expository in nature and had no scientific evidence published in psychological peer-reviewed journals that stated the effectiveness of conversion therapy. They did not find any longitudinal studies conducted to follow the outcomes of those individuals who had engaged in this type of treatment. They concluded that research published in peer-reviewed counseling journals indicated that conversion therapy may harm clients. These findings bring several questions to the forefront:
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Book Code: PCUS1525
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