The purpose of this article is to review the literature on group therapies for homosexuals who report distress concerning their experience of same-sex attraction. There are a number of methodological limitations to the research published between the 1950s and 1970s, and it is misleading to present this research as decisive evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. In addition, various contemporary professional and religion-based paraprofessional groups have been designed to bring about change of orientation, but few provide outcome data to support their claims of successful change. Psychologists should not dismiss these studies and programs as irrelevant to those who experience same-sex attraction and seek change, but they are challenged to design interventions and collaborate with existing programs to demonstrate efficacy and to clarify precisely what various interventions, programs, and support groups can accomplish.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
2.
BeukenkampC. (1960). Phantom patricide. Archives of General Psychiatry, 3, 282–288.
3.
BelferP. L., MunozL. S., SchachterJ., & LevenduskyP. G. (1995). Cognitive-behavioral group psychotherapy for agoraphobia and panic disorder. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 45, 185–206.
4.
BergnerM. (1995). Setting love in order: Hope and healing for the homosexual.Grand Rapids, MI: Baker.
5.
BieberT. (1974). Group and individual psychotherapy with male homosexuals. Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis, 2, 255–260.
6.
BirkL. (1974). Group psychotherapy for men who are homosexual. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 1, 29–52.
7.
BirkL. (1980). The myth of classical homosexuality: Views of a behavioral psychotherapist. In MarmorJ. (Ed.), Homosexual behavior: A modern reappraisal (pp. 376–390). New York: Basic Books.
8.
ColemanE. (1982). Changing approaches to the treatment of homosexuality: A review. In PaulW., & WeinrichJ. D. (Eds.), Homosexuality: Social, psychological, and biological issues (pp. 81–88). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
9.
ComiskeyA. (1989). Pursuing sexual wholeness.Lake Mary, FL: Creation House.
10.
ConsiglioW. (1991). Homosexual no more: Practical strategies for Christians overcoming homosexuality.Wheaton, IL: Victor.
11.
ConsiglioW. (1993). Doing therapy in an alien culture with Christians who are overcoming homosexuality. Journal of Pastoral Counseling, 28, 66–95.
12.
CoviL. (1972). A group psychotherapy approach to the treatment of neurotic symptoms in male and female patients of homosexual preference. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 20, 176–180.
13.
DallasJ. (1991). Desires in conflict: Answering the struggle for sexual identity.Eugene, OR: Harvest House.
14.
EliasbergW. C. (1954). Group treatment of homosexuals on probation. Group Psychotherapy, 7, 218–226.
15.
EmrickC., ToniganJ. S., MontgomeryH., & LittleL. (1993). Alcoholics Anonymous: What is currently known? In McCradyB. S., & MillerW. R. (Ed.), Research on Alcoholics Anonymous: Opportunities and alternatives (pp. 41–76). New Brunswick, NJ: Alcohol Research Documentation, Rutgers—The State University of New Jersey.
16.
FinneyJ. C. (1960). Homosexuality treated by combined therapy. Journal of the Society of Therapists, 6, 27–34.
17.
HaddenS. B. (1958). Treatment of homosexuality in individual and group psychotherapy. American Journal of Psychiatry, 114, 810–815.
18.
HaddenS. B. (1966a). Group psychotherapy of male homosexuals. Current Psychiatric Therapies, 6, 177–186.
19.
HaddenS. B. (1966b). Treatment of male homosexuals in groups. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 16, 13–22.
20.
HaddenS. B. (1971). Group therapy for homosexuals. Medical Aspects of Human Sexuality, 5, 116–127.
21.
HaldemanD. C. (1994). The practice and ethics of sexual orientation conversion therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 221–227.
22.
HarryJ. (1990). A probability sample of gay males. Journal of Homosexuality, 19, 89–104.
23.
HarveyJ. F. (1987). The homosexual person: New thinking in pastoral care.San Francisco, CA: Ignatius.
24.
JohnsgardK. W., & SchumacherR. M. (1970). The experience of intimacy in group psychotherapy with male homosexuals. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 7, 173–176.
25.
JonesS. L., & YarhouseM. A. (1997). Science and the ecclesiastical homosexuality debates. Christian Scholar's Review, 26, 446–477.
26.
LenihanG. (1985). The therapeutic gay support group: A call for professional involvement. Psychotherapy, 22, 729–2739.
27.
LitmanR. E. (1961). Psychotherapy of a homosexual man in a heterosexual group. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 11, 440–448.
28.
MacIntoshH. (1995). Attitudes and experiences of psychoanalysts in analyzing homosexual patients. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 42, 1183–1207.
29.
McConaghyN. (1969). Subjective and penile plethysmograph responses following aversion-relief and apomorphine aversion therapy for homosexual impulses. British Journal of Psychiatry, 115, 723–730.
30.
McConaghyN. (1970). Subjective and penile plethysmograph responses to aversion therapy for homosexuality: A follow-up study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 117, 555–560.
31.
McConaghyN. (1976). Is a homosexual orientation irreversible?British Journal of Psychiatry, 129, 556–563.
32.
McConaghyN. (1990). Sexual deviation. In BellackA. S., HersenM., & KazdinA. E. (Eds.), International Handbook of Behavior Modification and Therapy (2nd ed., pp. 565–580). New York: Plenum Press.
33.
MintzE. E. (1966). Overt male homosexuals in combined group and individual treatment. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 30, 193–198.
34.
MoberlyE. R. (1983). Homosexuality: A new Christian ethic.Cambridge: James Clarke & Co.
35.
MorinS. F. (1991). Removing the stigma: Lesbian and gay affirmative counseling. The Counseling Psychologist, 19, 245–247.
36.
MunzerJ. (1965). Treatment of the homosexual in group psychotherapy. Topical Problems of Psychotherapy, 5, 164–169.
37.
NicolosiJ. (1991). Reparative therapy of male homosexuality: A new clinical approach.Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.
38.
NicolosiJ. (1993). Healing homosexuality: Case stories of reparative therapy.Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.
39.
NoblerH. (1972). Group therapy with male homosexuals. Comparative Group Studies, 3, 161–178.
40.
PillardR. C. (1992). Psychotherapeutic treatment for the invisible minority. In PaulW., WeinrichJ. D., GonsiorekJ. C., & HotvedtM. E. (Eds.), Homosexuality: Social, psychological, and biological issues (pp. 99–114). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
41.
PittmanF. S., & DeYoungC. D. (1971). The treatment of homosexuals in heterogeneous groups. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 21, 62–73.
42.
RekersG. A. (1995). Assessment and treatment methods for gender identity disorder and transvestism. In RekersG. A. (Ed.), Handbook of child and adolescent sexual problems (pp. 272–289). New York: Lexington Books.
43.
RekersG. A., KilgusM., & RowenA. (1990). Long-term effects of treatment for gender identity disorder of childhood. Journal of Psychology and Human Sexuality, 3, 121–153.
44.
RogersC., RobackH., McKeeE., & CalhounD. (1976). Group psychotherapy with homosexuals: A review. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 26, 3–27.
45.
SatinoverJ. (1996). Homosexuality and the politics of truth.Grand Rapids, MI: Baker.
46.
ShafranskeE. (Ed.). (1996). Religion and the clinical practice of psychology.Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Press.
47.
ShannonJ. W., & WoodsW. J. (1991). Affirmative psychotherapy for gay men. The Counseling Psychologist, 19, 197–215.
48.
SingerM., & FischerR. (1967). Group psychotherapy of male homosexuals by a male and female co-therapy team. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 17, 44–52.
49.
SmithA., & BassinA. (1959). Overt male homosexuals in combined group and individual treatment. Journal of Social Therapy, 5, 225–232.
50.
StoneW. N., SchengberJ., & SeifriedF. S. (1965). The treatment of a homosexual woman in a mixed group. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 16, 425–432.
51.
TruaxR. A., MoellerW. S., & TourneyG. (1970). The medical approach to male homosexuality. Journal of the Iowa Medical Society, 60, 397–403.
52.
TruaxR. A., & TourneyG. (1971). Male homosexuals in group psychotherapy. Diseases of the Nervous System, 32, 707–711.
53.
van den AardwegG. J. M. (1986). On the origins and treatment of homosexuality.New York: Praeger.
54.
YarhouseM. A. (1998). When clients seek treatment for same-sex attraction: Ethical issues in the “right to choose” debate. Psychotherapy, 35, 248–259.
55.
YarhouseM. A., & JonesS. L. (1997). The homosexual client. In SandersR. (ED.), Christian counseling ethics (pp. 139–160). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
