Jack Drescher

Jack Drescher (born 1951) is an American psychiatrist and psychoanalyst best known for his work on sexual orientation.

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Education and affiliations

Drescher earned his B.A. in Biology from Brooklyn College in 1972 and his M.D. from University of Michigan Medical School in 1980. After completing his internship in psychiatry at St. Vincent’s Hospital & Medical Center in 1981, he accepted a residency at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. In 1987 he became Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at SUNY Downstate. From 1988 to 1992 Drescher trained in Psychoanalysis at the William Alanson White Institute where he is presently a Training and Supervising Analyst. Since 2006 he has been Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor at New York University and is also a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at New York Medical College.

Drescher is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a member of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis, the American College of Psychiatrists and the New York Academy of Medicine. He is an elected member of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and the International Academy of Sex Research, and he is President-Elect the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry.

Ex-gays and conversion therapy

Drescher is an outspoken critic of the ex-gay movement and conversion therapy, calling it "questionable in its efficacy" and citing potential harms of therapy to suppress or change sexual orientation.[1] In addition to writing about the ethical concerns,[2] Drescher has likened attempts to suggest there is a professional debate about this to creationism: "You create the impression to the public as if there was a debate in the profession, which there is not."[3] Drescher was one of the major critics of work by Robert Spitzer claiming some gay people can alter their orientation.[4]

Selected publications

References

  1. ^ Associated Press (July 10, 2007). Psychologists to review stance on gays. USA Today
  2. ^ Drescher, Jack (2001). "Ethical Concerns Raised When Patients Seek to Change Same-Sex Attractions". Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy 5 (3/4): 183. Haworth Press.
  3. ^ Luo, Michael (February 12, 2007). Some Tormented by Homosexuality Look to a Controversial Therapy. New York Times
  4. ^ Duin, Julia (May 9, 2001). New psychiatric study says gays can alter orientation. Washington Times

External links