Gay conversion therapy

twoton

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Honest question: it's established that gay conversion therapy is fertile ground for all sorts of abuses.

Is there a similar concern that treatment for gender dysphoria could be similarly ripe for abuse?
 

windibundu

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The psychotherapeutic "cure" for gender dysphoria is for the patient to carefully think about what they are inside and then to allow them to express their inner self in a safe and validating environment. There was considerable controversy in including the diagnosis on the DSM V because the thought is that, really, there is nothing 'wrong' or, 'ill' about being transgendered. However, the problem is that in order for doctors to be able to bill insurance (for therapy and even things like hormones or surgery) there HAS to be a diagnosis- thus gender dysphoria remains from DSM IV.

This is in deep contrast to so-called 'therapies' for treating homosexual impulses, where the idea is to learn to suppress unwanted/socially unacceptable sexual drives. The problem from a modern mental health perspective is that homosexual drives are completely normal and healthy. No insurance I know of covers conversion therapy because it is proven to be harmful. Good therapy should always help pts find themselves, not bury who they are under a bushel-basket.

Having said that, all therapists have to be careful as their patients are often in a highly psychologically vulnerable state, and therapy can often be very emotionally difficult to get through.

TL:DR, To answer your question; No because gay conversion therapy is proven harmful, while appropriate therapy for gender dysphoria employs things like CBT and supportive psychotherapy, which are evidence based and proven likely to be helpful, not harmful.
 
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