Oh how the field of hypnotherapy has changed in the last 40 years, and how lucky I feel to live in a part of the world where we accept people and are welcoming of fellow humans regardless of their sexuality… At least, it is law to offer equal rights and though I appreciate some may not find it to be absolutely as they wish just yet, most of the people I encounter in my circles are welcoming of others regardless of their sexuality… Why am I saying this?
Upon my arrival at my office yesterday, I received an email from someone asking if I ever used hypnosis to “help my clients cure homosexuality.”
I had to re-read it.
I answered professionally and politely and stated that for ethical, moral and professional reasons, I do not use hypnosis for this sort of thing, I stated that there was not enough evidence to support such an application of hypnosis and that me having such beliefs would hinder any potential therapeutic gain – my own level of understanding on this matter is probably not as comprehensive as I’d like either. I’d need to know a lot more about the matter in order to feel qualified to work with someone for such an issue.
That said, there is much misinformation and soul searching for some people with certain backgrounds, cultures, eras and so on… And may not want to accept who and how they are… Though I’d say that there are many other professionals (as well as members of the gay community) better suited to help them deal with the reality of being homosexual.
The email did include a research reference that is really what I wanted to write about today, so the author of the email had clearly been explored to some extent:
This article by Peter Roper was originally published in September 1963 in the Journal of the National Medical Association. You can read and download the entire article if you wish.
Despite being published in the 60s, some might think it reads like something from the dark ages. It states that in the past the reason hypnosis was not deemed appropriate for treating homosexuality was because hypnosis;
1) tends to make male homosexuals more passive; 2) tends to further infantile regression and dependency; 3) tends to further homosexual attachments between hypnotist and patient; and 4) tends to lessen the patient’s feelings of responsibility.
As Meares stated the position, “The passive male homosexual enjoys the hypnotic trance and obtains erotic satisfaction in the intensity of hypnotic rapport with the therapist.”‘ Such a patient, in Meares’ opinion, may report improvement in his homosexual condition in order to mislead the therapist into continuing the hypno-therapy which affords him erotic satisfaction.
This is disturbing, isn’t it? Though is not untypical of the thought process of the day in psychiatric circles whereby homosexuality had been considered a mental illness in some quarters.
The author contests that in light of this, the best way to use hypnosis to cure homosexuality is to ensure that full-on emotions are employed:
The homosexual patient must come to feel resentment, disgust and aversion to invert practices and he himself come to consciously reject homosexuality, as well as develop positive heterosexual feelings and desires.
The author decides then that aversion is the way forward and explains his reasons that homosexuals should be treated with aversion to overcome their homosexuality:
Pavlov has demonstrated how conditioned reflexes can be established and how reactivity can be so intensified that a slight stimulus can produce a marked and quite complex response.
It is known that the phenomenon of hypnosis resembles a conditioned response in that the subject becomes increasingly susceptible to hypnotic induction (phenomenon of “dressage”). It is similarly possible to “sensitize” and accelerate conditioned response by means of hypnosis. In the case of alcoholism and nicotinism, the author developed procedures whereby the odor or taste of an alcoholic beverage or of cigarette tobacco would be sufficient to trigger a marked aversion reaction.
It was found possible to condition in patients under hypnosis such an aversion to these substances that even the thought or the word “alcohol” or “tobacco” could elicit feelings of revulsion. [… cut…]
The author’s decision to experiment with hypnosis in attempting to create aversion reactions was based on a number of considerations. First and foremost, it was felt that one of the greatest weaknesses of treatment in the non-hypnotised state is that resistance to suggestion and conditioning is often overwhelming. It appeared likely that the aversion and disgust reaction could be prolonged and intensified if a conditioned reflex reaction could be established in the subconscious mind of the patient (you regular readers of this blog will know that many corners of the scientific world tend to refute the existence of a subconscious mind) and, furthermore, that in order for this aversion to occur and be fixated it must be established beyond the reach of conscious resistances and ego defenses. Furthermore, the conditioned association and aversion reaction is more prolonged because of post-hypnotic amnesia.
The author found that the aversion response could in addition be made more intense and lasting to the patient because of the greatly increased state of suggestibility, concentration, affectivity and reactivity of the individual in the hypnotic state.
It seemed preferable to be able to create a conditioned aversion reaction so that the patient not only experiences immediate revulsion on physical contact with a homosexual but also comes to anticipate such contact with feelings of disgust, displeasure and dread.
There is a lot I personally struggle with here, simply because of the need for evidence base to support these notions and also perhaps because the ideological climate of therapy fields at the time was different to that of today. Rather unusually, the article makes recommendations for the most appalling smells to use with the aversion – including urine!
So our esteemed academic author promotes hypnosis due to its ability to enhance the effectiveness of aversion therapy… Well, I suppose it is better than suggesting the clients go to Religious Camps to ‘Pray The gay Away’ as Butters had to do in one episode of South Park!
I have researched far and wide for other related works and can find virtually no documented evidence or people to support this use of hypnosis outside of extremist groups using misinformation to promote radicalism.
If you google the subject, one of the first things that comes up is a page where someone asked if hypnosis can be used this way here on Yahoo questions… And there is a torrent of replies stating that homosexuality is not something that can be ‘cured.’ Again, I do not know enough about this subject to comment on such – I have had compelling arguments offered up for a wide number of theories since I originally wrote this article (it has been edited a couple of times since it was first written back in 2010).
If you look at this page at wikipedia about Conversion therapy (therapy to convert homosexual or bisexual people into hetrosexual), it shows that Freud attempted to use psychoanalysis to help cure homosexuality… Though even psychoanalysis is suggested as being impotent according to Roper’s article about aversion! The wikipedia entry states that Freud’s own work was influenced by;
Eugen Steinach, a Viennese endocrinologist who transplanted testicles from straight men into gay men in attempts to change their sexual orientation,
What, what, what??!!
Despite this seemingly ludicrous notion, there is a huge amount of publication and research and approaches that have been employed with the aim of overcoming homosexuality.
The majority of gay friends I have and most gay people I have met, suggest it is the way they are and that they were born that way and learn to live their life accordingly (though not always without difficulty). There are others though who believe and state opposing perspectives.
Such beliefs are likely to influence and effect the application of therapy interventions. Likewise, if the therapist is invested in such beliefs that is likely to influence the effects of the therapy too.
I hope that my response to the email enquiry I got helped the individual to find the right information, the right way forward and to help deal with their query in a useful way. I think there are far better qualified individuals and probably far better interventions and approaches to help this person than myself. Though the small amount of literature on this subject that is in the public domain is curious to say the least.
Come on Adam I expected you to ‘cure’ my height – I hate being short 🙂
Cure suggests that heterosexuality is “correct” and homosexuality is “wrong” and is therefore absolutely the wrong concept to be used.
However, I don’t think it’s necessarily beyond the realm of possibility to change who one is attracted to.
I have found that the people that I am attracted to changes as I change. People who I once found intensely attractive, I now find to be fairly average or plain, and vice versa.
As with all hypnotic interventions, it is unlikely to be successful if the client is being coerced (“My son wants you to cure him of being gay”, “My wife wants you to make her lose weight”, “My boyfriend wants you to make him more courageous”).
When someone genuinely comes to me and asks for help with losing weight, it is generally because there is a mismatch between their imagined ideal and their reality. I can help them to change their imagined ideal (and so become more comfortable with who they are), or I can help them to sculpt their reality (and bring themselves closer to where they would like to be)
Equally, if someone comes to me and asks for help with being straight, it’s likely that there is a similar mismatch. I can help them to become more comfortable with who they are, or I can meet them at their map of the world, try to understand their motivations for the change and, perhaps, give them some useful techniques that may provide the result they desire.
Surely, if I choose to reject clients who seek to change their sexuality, without first taking the time to understand their context and motivations, I am making a judgement that their existing sexuality is “correct” and that they just need to deal with it, aren’t I?
I don’t think that this will be much of an issue though. If I understand correctly, this is the first such enquiry that Adam has had, and he’s a pretty big hypnotherapist (and ginger, but that’s not important right now). I suspect that the majority of LGBT people, having known that they were “different” for so long, have already become comfortable with who they are (just like gingers). And, I suspect that it’s generally other people who have problems accepting it (oh, bugger).
Andy, I loved reading that, thank you 🙂
Are you a hypnotherapist btw?
I love your attitude!
(Sorry that was to Andy)
“I don’t think that this will be much of an issue though. If I understand correctly, this is the first such enquiry that Adam has had, and he’s a pretty big hypnotherapist (and ginger, but that’s not important right now). I suspect that the majority of LGBT people, having known that they were “different” for so long, have already become comfortable with who they are (just like gingers). And, I suspect that it’s generally other people who have problems accepting it (oh, bugger).”
Yes, Adam is a big star in the hypnotherapy world and one many can learn heaps from. But that doesn’t make this a non issue. The majority of LGBT people have already become comfortable with who they are? Can we really be sure of that enough to make a sweeping assumption about it? Have any of us become “comfortable” with who we are yet?
What about a young Christian man who happens to be gay? His connection with the divine quite possibly speaks the truth to him about how okay it is to be him. After all, as I used to annoy certain bishops by stating over and over again: what kind of divine being discriminates like that or at all? Do not mistake the word of God for the word of men. The notion that a divine being loves everyone equally but somehow frowns upon men sleeping with other men is a big sack of nonsense. They are divine beings and are not, one would imagine, sat there reading Cosmo discussing the merits of sexuality of the mortals.
And yet, the church he finds himself in is a church of men. It may be a house of God but men built it and men run it and men are vulnerable to insecurities, doubts and ridiculously motivated prejudices and…in this case…the misreading and false interpretation of one single passage in the bible. That Christian guy is gonna be in a lot of internal conflict and face a lot of external conflict. He cannot deny the calling of his God. Yet he cannot deny the calling of his heart either. Were I in such a situation, I’m not sure I would automatically make the leap to go on a long process of healing and becoming more comfortable with who I am. I can’t say I wouldn’t try and take the easy way out, seek out some sort of bonkers quick fix idea and then come to the church with the whole: “I’ve been cured by therapy stuff…”
Such internal conflicts are not uncommon. I’m Pagan and straight. The feminine divine is…well…divine so even something small as “accidentally” catching a glimpse of a woman’s legs” and thinking: “wow, she’s got nice legs” can set off a chain reaction of thought whether I wonder whether such lust filled thoughts are acceptable given that the full manifestation of the female divine is technically speaking, my God and I just accidentally looked at an aspect of that divine as if she were defined by how shapely her legs were.
Now, some say I overthink things just a tad and yes, okay, I do. But it is interesting nonetheless.
Given that part of the human condition is the search for the self, the notion that any group of people have somehow “already become comfortable with who they are” doesn’t quite sit so well. If the sexuality were to be perceived as a fault or flaw…well…we’re all familiar with how we easily seek out ways to remove, reduce or cover up our supposed “flaws”.
So much I could write here as always! The ‘gay’ jokes still seem to be going around in schools. What a great way to programme collective unconscious ….not. I did not realise how much this influenced me until I happened to work with a team of people where I was in the minority as a ‘heterosexual’. I loved those guys and girls and have so many happy memories. I remember listenening to some American preacher on the radio a few years back and thinking- this guy has something special, his message is very powerful- unusual in itself because so many such people tend to send me to sleep. I later found out that the preacher was a man by the name of The Right Reverand Gene Robinson- the first openly gay, non-celibate priest to be ordained a bishop in a major Christian denomination. Reports from the UK describe how Robinson has received death threats, had to wear bulletproof vests, and needed protection since his election and ordination. How powerful is such social conditioning. Long may such courageous indivdiduals walk the face of our Earth. As for the religious side of this- that’s between him and his God and those two alone. And as for all this ‘coming out’ rubbish, don’t even get me started! If someone can breath for more than 3 minutes aided or nor not, then I am interested in them as a fellow human being. Breathing aside, there is a huge amount to be learnt also from our late ancestors and how they led their lives. Why are people so obseessed with labels I wonder?
Interesting caveat article/mention related to ‘conversion’ therapy for homosexuals here at the Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/8275159/Conversion-therapy-for-homosexuals-is-unethical.html
Can u get hypnotised not to “cure” being gay but to help with fear of others finding out if u were gay ?
Hello Tracy, hypnotherapy certainly can help with overcoming fears of a wide type and kind. Get in touch with me directly and I’ll happily explain in more depth.
Hello Adam,
Your website has given me a wealth of information but I have a question, can hypnotherapy find the “cause” of homosexuality as my parents want to know and they think by sending me to take it they can find out “why I’m gay”.
Hello Shelley,
I don’t think this would be a good application of hypnosis, no. There are many far better ways for loving parents to learn to accept their daughter’s homosexuality. To find out ‘why’ – they could simply ask you, no? If they do not get the answers they want, then they ought to seek out the services of a therapist, not you.
I don’t advocate the use of hypnosis for exploring root causes for any issue to be honest – you can read my opinions on using hypnosis for regression all over this blog – it is not always accurate, lacks evidence base and runs the risk of other issues such as retraumatisation.
Most importantly, I wish you much luck and happiness going forward.
Best wishes, Adam.
Hi Adam,
I would like to engage your services to hypnotize my dad to become gay so he can understand me better. It would also help if he could be taught how to become a Buddhist instead of a Christian as I’m a Buddhist myself and we will be able to get along better if he becomes one too. Also, he complains a lot about my cooking and does not eat the green vegetables at all. Can hypnotherapy change him into a vegan?
Absolutely Jason,
Send me his contact details and we’ll convert/coerce your Dad into being a Gay Buddhist vegan in no time….
I have found that my homosexuality (and have also found similar patterns in many others) is not something I was born with. However perhaps in many cases, unlike by me , it does seem kind of biological -I am not them so I do not know- You are not me so you dont know…. I strongly believe in my core and found this to be the basis of modern day conversion therapy : My father abandoned me at an early age, my classmates bullied me for not playing sports, I grew taking care of my single mom too closely in a way that made relationship to woman boring and not intriguing. I started making erotic the connection to men because the connection was not available, I would think that if any hypnosis was to work it would start there. Lets face it due to PC you cant say this or even consider this, it would make your business vanish, psychologists now days face the same so no research can be unbiased . I don’t know if it could be changed, I am just saying if it could that would be the way to deal with it. I am jealous of guys ability to just accept the fact that they are gay, but I am even more jealous of the guys who could build an heterosexual life..Perhaps is the few of us who cant accept the fact that they are gay and continue to want change the ones who do not have a biological gay “gene” and the ones who always wanted to come out (never my case) were born like that..I have experienced changes in my sexuality due to this research but is there a going from grinder to tindr experience? I doubt it, is change possible yes but I doubt from gay to straight. Lets see if falling in love with either gender makes me more comfortable..I am pro gay marriage and I am not encouraging anyone to be forced to want to change this is my unique experience (and I share it with many others) The ex director of the APA (80’s) said he was successful at conversion therapy (talk therapy not crazy stuff you mentioned), many main stream therapists who I met on the first session kind of mistreated me for my views but later on each one of them accepted my view and my reasons for wanting a heterosexual confidence. So it is evident that political correctness is a strong factor in this equation and no gray areas are been allowed. I am happy to live in a society were I can be accepted and encouraged if I am gay, I wish I could also be accepted if I decide to take an unconventional approach (as long as Im honest to the involved parties) . A kid can change his body to adapt to his feelings, but as an adult I cant explore my feelings without bashing, that’s just crazy.
Thank you Tom, I really appreciate your candour and contribution to this.
Bet wishes to you, Adam.