Sexual orientation change efforts Heterosexuality

sexual orientation change efforts methods aim change sexual orientation, used try convert homosexual , bisexual people heterosexuality. scientists , mental health professionals not believe sexual orientation choice. there no studies of adequate scientific rigor conclude sexual orientation change efforts work change person s sexual orientation. efforts have been controversial due tensions between values held faith-based organizations, on 1 hand, , held lgbt rights organizations , professional , scientific organizations , other faith-based organizations, on other. longstanding consensus of behavioral , social sciences , health , mental health professions homosexuality per se normal , positive variation of human sexual orientation, , therefore not mental disorder.

no major mental health professional organization has sanctioned efforts change sexual orientation , virtually of them have adopted policy statements cautioning profession , public treatments purport change sexual orientation. these include american psychiatric association, american psychological association, american counseling association, national association of social workers in usa, royal college of psychiatrists, , australian psychological society. american psychological association states sexual orientation not choice can changed @ , , sexual orientation identity—not sexual orientation—appears change via psychotherapy, support groups, , life events. american psychiatric association says individuals maybe become aware @ different points in lives heterosexual, gay, lesbian, or bisexual . while opposing conversion therapy, encourage gay affirmative psychotherapy , encourages mental health professionals avoid misrepresenting efficacy of sexual orientation change efforts promoting or promising change in sexual orientation when providing assistance individuals distressed own or others sexual orientation , concludes benefits reported participants in sexual orientation change efforts can gained through approaches not attempt change sexual orientation . american psychological association , royal college of psychiatrists expressed concerns positions espoused narth not supported science , create environment in prejudice , discrimination can flourish.