Liberals Reveal 'Destructive Trends' in Mental Health Profession
The hidden politics of mental health associations are brought to light in what some call "the most important book of the decade."
Psychologists Rogers H. Wright and Nicholas A. Cummings, in the book they edited entitled, "Destructive Trends in Mental Health: The well-intentioned path to harm," included an expose' on the American Psychological Association's (APA) political—rather than clinical—bias. They don't hesitate to confront taboo subjects often left without representation within the organization.
A. Dean Byrd, clinical professor at Brigham Young University and the University of Utah, called it "The most important book of the decade, perhaps of the last several decades, in mental health."
It's important to note that Wright and Cummings are not writing from years of conservative platform building. Both have been highly visible in the leadership of the APA and are self-proclaimed progressives. That has not tempered their message.
"(P)sychology and mental health have veered away from scientific integrity and open inquiry, as well as from compassionate practice in which the welfare of the patient is paramount," Cummings writes. "Psychology, psychiatry, and social work have been captured by the ultraliberal agenda, much of which we agree with as citizens. However, we are alarmed with the damaging effect it is having on our science, our practice and our credibility."
The book uses top-notch mental-health professionals to lay the groundwork for change within the industry.
"Psychology needs a makeover," Wright explains. "Success in the psychotherapy realm does not necessarily qualify us as experts in the broad arena of human affairs. Many of our colleagues have the propensity to extrapolate nonjudgmental therapeutic techniques into a philosophy of human behavior, concluding with the ideal of a valueless, relativistic, nonjudgmental society."
Homosexuality and the APA
In 1973, another major mental health group, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of clinical disorders. Robert L. Spitzer of Columbia University, then a member of the Nomenclature Committee, argued for homosexuality's removal from the "Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)."
In "Destructive Trends," William T. O'Donohue and Christine E. Caselles explain that there is more to this removal than meets the eye.
"Psychiatry, which had previously defined homosexuality as a disease and diagnosed homosexuals as mentally ill," they write, "was considered a formidable but politically and strategically important obstacle in the struggles of homosexuals for social and political status."
They point out that homosexual activists often argue that "professional organizations don't see anything wrong with their behavior so why should Christians?"
A leading pro-homosexual Web site, 365gay.com, used the reasoning in a recent article about gay adoption.
"Among the national groups that support parenting by gay and lesbian people, are the American Medical Association, the Child Welfare League of America, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association and the North American Council on Adoptable Children," the staff wrote.
O'Donohue and Caselles put it plainly when they write, "(T)hese changes were produced by political rather than scientific factors . . . the revision represented the APA's surrender to political and social pressure, not new data or scientific theories regarding human sexuality."
Gay Therapy
There is a disturbing anti-therapy bias deeply rooted in the APA's upper echelon according to Wright. The bias has squelched some therapists' desire to help.
"(G)ay groups within the APA have repeatedly tried to persuade the association to adopt ethical standards that prohibit therapists from offering psychotherapeutic services . . . on the basis that such efforts are unsuccessful and harmful to the consumer," writes the former APA fellow. "Such efforts are especially troubling because they abrogate the patient's right to choose the therapist and determine the therapeutic goals. They also deny the reality of data demonstrating that psychotherapy can be effective in changing sexual preferences in patients who have a desire to do so."
An ironic twist of fate now has Spitzer, the former proponent of the homosexual agenda at the APA, on the opposing side the debate. Spitzer studied homosexuals who sought therapy. He found that individuals who were highly motivated to change their sexual orientation were able to do so through therapy. The self-proclaimed atheist put himself on the side of pro-family conservatives, at least in this one area, by being true to the facts. Spitzer has since been in a fight with former friends over his findings.
"I feel a little battle fatigue," he told Christianity Today in April. "Many of my colleagues were outraged."
Politically Correct
The fractured industry of mental health has pandered to specials interests for decades. Cummings and O'Donohue explain the decision to take homosexuality off the list of treatable aberrant conditions as an example of activism gone wrong.
"A political firestorm had been created by gay activists within psychiatry, with intense opposition to normalizing homosexuality coming from a few outspoken psychiatrists who were demonized and even threatened, rather than scientifically refuted," they write.
It is important to note Cummings believes the outcome of the removal was right, but that the mode of removal was wrong. Cummings is no right-wing panderer.
The lack of a strong, conservative voice within the APA has been detrimental according to contributor Richard Redding, associate professor of law at Villanova University.
"The lack of sociopolitical diversity in psychology may impede our ability to serve conservative clients. Psychology's manifestly liberal stance undermines its credibility," he wrote, and "may result in discrimination against conservative students and scholars."
Finding a Therapist
All is not lost. Dr. Bill Maier, vice president and psychologist in residence at Focus on the Family, said a contingent of conservative therapists does exist.
"It's wise for every individual who is seeking therapy for unwanted same-sex attraction to ask their prospective therapist a few questions beforehand," he explained. "Does that therapist believe, erroneously, that homosexuality is genetic, normal, natural and should be embraced? Has the therapist bought into the unscientific myth that homosexuality is permanent and unchangeable? If that's the case, I would advise the person to seek another therapist—one who is familiar with the greater body of research on homosexuality, and who conducts therapy based on the values and wishes of the client—not on some preconceived notion about what is 'best' for the client."
One organization that does just that is the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH).
"NARTH is committed to each client's dignity, autonomy and free agency," Maier said. "If an individual is struggling with same-sex attraction and does not wish to be gay, they have the right to pursue therapy that may offer them the hope of change. Gay activist organizations and 'gay-affirming' therapists would deny them that right. I would challenge the leadership of the APA and the other mental health organizations to re-evaluate their position statements and therapeutic recommendations on homosexuality. Are they committed to ethical, accurate scholarship and advancing human well-being, or simply to promoting the gay social agenda?"
This article originally reported on CitizenLink.org daily news
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