What is Institute for Effective Therapy of Homosexuality mean? Richard A. Cohen (born 1952) is an American psychotherapist and author associated with the ex-gay movement. He is a co-founder of Positive Approaches to Healthy Sexuality (PATH), and the past director of the International Healing Foundation. Cohen's early work as an author and therapist was defined by his personal journey: identifying as a homosexual in adolescence, struggling early in his heterosexual marriage, finding personal and marital healing and with his wife, birthing and raising three children. This became the basis for his advocacy, writing and therapeutic practice with men and women with unwanted same-sex attraction, and ultimately all genders, orientations and relationship challenges.
Cohen maintains that gender orientation is a "human rights issue," and that the choice to either identify or seek change is an individual one, a position that has generated controversy. In 2002, Cohen was expelled from the American Counseling Association for multiple violations. Opponents claimed that Cohen practiced a form of "conversion therapy," which has been associated with coercion and labelled unethical. Cohen and PATH have publicly rejected conversion therapy, while insisting that "change is possible" and advocating for "equality, tolerance and diversity for all views of sexuality and gender identity."
Numerous medical institutions have warned that conversion therapy is ineffective and may be harmful, and that there is no evidence that sexual orientation can be changed by therapeutic treatments. In a 2000 position statement, the American Psychological Association (APA) opposed all clinical attempts to change an individual's sexual orientation, and stated that "…there are no scientifically rigorous outcome studies to determine either the actual efficacy or harm of 'reparative' treatments."
Cohen is also the author of Alfie's Home, a controversial children's book based upon Cohen's own experiences and written as a therapeutic and teaching tool, which refers to his personal experience of sexual abuse. Opponents claim that recent scientific research demonstrates that gender nonconformity may cause a child to be targeted for sexual abuse, rather than the other way around.
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