Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation Change Efforts
Credits: 6 CE Credit Hours
Course Developed By: Alden Hori, PhD
Course Description: The American Psychological Association Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation conducted a systematic review of the peer-reviewed journal literature on sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE) and concluded that efforts to change sexual orientation are unlikely to be successful and involve some risk of harm, contrary to the claims of SOCE practitioners and advocates. Even though the research and clinical literature demonstrate that same-sex sexual and romantic attractions, feelings, and behaviors are normal and positive variations of human sexuality, regardless of sexual orientation identity, the task force concluded that the population that undergoes SOCE tends to have strongly conservative religious views that lead them to seek to change their sexual orientation. Thus, the appropriate application of affirmative therapeutic interventions for those who seek SOCE involves therapist acceptance, support, and understanding of clients and the facilitation of clients’ active coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, without imposing a specific sexual orientation identity outcome.
Course Developed By: Alden Hori, PhD
Dr. Hori earned a PhD in psychology from the University of California at Riverside. He was an Associate-In Professor and Research Assistant at the University of California at Riverside, where he supervised the completion of over 50 research projects in psychology. He is credited with three publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Content By: APA Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation, Prepared By: Judith M. Glassgold, PsyD, Lee Beckstead, PhD, Jack Drescher, MD, Beverly Greene, PhD, Robin Lin Miller, PhD, Roger L. Worthington, PhD, Clinton W. Anderson, PhD
Course Delivery: Online, Self-Paced
Course Description: The American Psychological Association Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation conducted a systematic review of the peer-reviewed journal literature on sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE) and concluded that efforts to change sexual orientation are unlikely to be successful and involve some risk of harm, contrary to the claims of SOCE practitioners and advocates. Even though the research and clinical literature demonstrate that same-sex sexual and romantic attractions, feelings, and behaviors are normal and positive variations of human sexuality, regardless of sexual orientation identity, the task force concluded that the population that undergoes SOCE tends to have strongly conservative religious views that lead them to seek to change their sexual orientation. Thus, the appropriate application of affirmative therapeutic interventions for those who seek SOCE involves therapist acceptance, support, and understanding of clients and the facilitation of clients’ active coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, without imposing a specific sexual orientation identity outcome.
Learning Objectives:
- Gain knowledge of the history of sexual orientation change efforts.
- Evaluate a systematic review of research on the efficacy of SOCE.
- Evaluate the research on adults who undergo sexual orientation change efforts.
- Delineate an appropriate application of affirmative therapeutic interventions for adults who seek SOCE.
- Evaluate the ethical concerns and decision making in psychotherapy with adults.
- Evaluate the intervention issues for children, adolescents, and their families in sexual orientation change efforts.
*This course is also part of Certified Treatment Specialist for Diverse Populations (CTSDP) certification program. Click here for more info!
Course Format:
Course materials can be downloaded or read online. To receive a certificate of completion, you must complete an online multiple-choice post-test with a score of 75% or better and complete an online course evaluation.
Approvals: