Joseph Nicolosi

Joseph Nicolosi
Born January 21, 1947
Occupation Psychologist

Joseph Nicolosi (born January 21, 1947) is an American clinical psychologist, founder and director of the Thomas Aquinas Psychological Clinic in Encino, California, and a founder and former president of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH).[1] Nicolosi has advocated and practiced reparative therapy, a practice that he claims can help people overcome or mitigate their homosexual desires and replace them with heterosexual ones.

Nicolosi has described his theories in Reparative Therapy of Male Homosexuality: A New Clinical Approach and three other books. Nicolosi proposes that homosexuality is often the product of a condition he describes as gender-identity deficit caused by an alienation from, and perceived rejection by, individuals of the subject's gender.[2] He holds a Ph.D. from the California School of Professional Psychology.

Repudiation of Nicolosi's Theories and Practices

• As far back as 1999 the National Association of Social Workers condemned conversion therapy in, declaring, “Sexual orientation conversion therapies assume that homosexual orientation is both pathological and freely chosen. No data demonstrate that reparative or conversion therapies are effective, and in fact they may be harmful."[3]
• In 2006 the American Psychiatric Association issued its own condemnation of reparative or conversion therapy as unethical since its claims to cure homosexuality remain without scientific substantiation.[3]
• Nicolosi practices in the state of California; As of Jan. 1, 2012, California law prohibits therapists from practicing conversion therapy on minors. With the passage of its Senate Bill 1172, it becomes the first state in the nation to adopt such a law (New Jersey being the second). Signing the legislation, California Governor Jerry Brown stated:

"These [sexual orientation conversion] practices have no basis in science or medicine and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery."[4]

NARTH

Nicolosi is a founding member of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) and was its president for some time. NARTH is a professional association that promotes the acceptance of conversion therapy, whose adherents purport successfully changing homosexuals into heterosexuals. He is an advisor to, and officer of, NARTH.[1][5]

See also

Publications

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "NARTH Officers". Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  2. ↑ Joseph Nicolosi, Ph.D., Reparative Therapy of Male Homosexuality, Rowman & Littlefield, 2004, ISBN 0-7657-0142-1
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jason Cianciotto and Sean Cahill (2006). Youth in the crosshairs: the third wave of ex-gay activism. New York: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute.
  4. ↑ "California ‘conversion’ therapy ban is important step for protecting LGBT youth". 2012-01-10.
  5. ↑ "NARTH Advisors". Retrieved 2010-05-10.

External links