astro
June 21, 2006, 2:09pm
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Christian psychotherapist Richard Cohen, board president of the ex-homosexual education and outreach organization known as Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX), is addressing criticism leveled against
certain therapy techniques he uses on clients with homosexual desires.
Cohen’s methods have raised some questions, however; and he has lately taken sharp criticism over a May 23 appearance on Cable News Network (CNN), in which he demonstrated a technique that involves cuddling a male client in his lap. Another of the unusual therapy techniques depicted involved a client hitting a pillow with a tennis racket while shouting the name of a parent or other individual who elicits painful childhood memories.
Cohen, who refers to himself as a reorientation therapist, explained the “holding therapy” exercise as a means of using “healthy touch” on clients, who very often were “touch deprived” as children. He says this technique is one of the most effective ways to help men and women leave homosexuality.
“They’re hungering for that intimacy and that bonding that they didn’t experience in primary relationships with parents and/or same-gender peers,” the psychotherapist asserts. “So what we have to provide then, in the Christian community, is really mentoring these men and women,” he says, “and a lot of them need healthy touch – hugging, holding, just palling around, buddying around.”
Cohen contends it was just such “healthy bonding” that helped to transform his own homosexuality into a healthy heterosexuality. However, a prominent mental health counselor who has acted as a spokesman for PFOX in the past is distancing himself from the group because of this and other therapy techniques of Cohen’s demonstrated on the segment of CNN’s “Paula Zahn Now” that aired last month.
Cohen, who refers to himself as a reorientation therapist, explained the “holding therapy” exercise as a means of using “healthy touch” on clients, who very often were “touch deprived” as children. He says this technique is one of the most effective ways to help men and women leave homosexuality.
“They’re hungering for that intimacy and that bonding that they didn’t experience in primary relationships with parents and/or same-gender peers,” the psychotherapist asserts. “So what we have to provide then, in the Christian community, is really mentoring these men and women,” he says, “and a lot of them need healthy touch – hugging, holding, just palling around, buddying around.”
Gaaaaaaaaay ! [/Francis Otterman]
“They’re hungering for that intimacy and that bonding that they didn’t experience in primary relationships with parents and/or same-gender peers,” the psychotherapist asserts. “So what we have to provide then, in the Christian community, is really mentoring these men and women,” he says, “and a lot of them need healthy touch – hugging, holding, just palling around, buddying around.”
Hmmmmm… and here I always thought the hugging, holding, palling and buddying around with same-gender peers was a part of this gay thing I got goin’ on. Or, is he saying that all this hugging, holding, etc. that I do with da squeeze is not because I’m gay, but because there’s a straight persone inside me yearning to be free? Now I’m confused. I mean, if I started hugging, holding etc. on females, would that mean I’m gayer than a debutante on holiday in Paris even though I started acting straight? Oh screw it! It’s just easier to stick to being queer. Ya just lost another one Cohen!
glee
June 21, 2006, 3:02pm
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Perhaps the gay community could help fundamentalist Christians become better people…
Is he burly? Cause then I’d be glad to do my part.
swampbear:
Hmmmmm… and here I always thought the hugging, holding, palling and buddying around with same-gender peers was a part of this gay thing I got goin’ on. Or, is he saying that all this hugging, holding, etc. that I do with da squeeze is not because I’m gay, but because there’s a straight persone inside me yearning to be free? Now I’m confused. I mean, if I started hugging, holding etc. on females, would that mean I’m gayer than a debutante on holiday in Paris even though I started acting straight? Oh screw it! It’s just easier to stick to being queer. Ya just lost another one Cohen!
… and what about all the straight men who spend a lot of time holding women? Shouldn’t they all be getting teh gay, too?
You know, if you’re going to choose to be in the closet, if it makes you happier, that’s okay, I guess, but at least shut the damn door…
Ummm…so the “formerly gay” Cohen likes to hold male clients on his lap and cuddle them…
Oh yeah, that sounds like a healthy therapeutic relationship :rolleyes:
Hmm, this could be interesting. Now I just have to convince that hot guy in the apartment down the hall from me that it’s just a therapy technique and he really should come over and…umm cuddle.
I’m a Christian who needs to be a better person… can I watch?
A tennis racquet and a pillow? Somebody’s sexuality is in grave peril here.
An “ex-gay”. And a Christian, whose name is Cohen?
Can’t this guy stick with anything?
Arrgggghhh, fuck that guy. (I’m hetero myself, so I’ll leave the literal fulfillment of that to some of the other people who’ve replied here ;))
And a bunch of other things I could and would say if this thread was in the Pit.
If you’re a burly Christian, you can even help with the “therapy”.
swampyluv, I’m pretty well skinny, but what if I put that pillow down my shirt and we turned down the lights?..
They’re all burly in the dark.
Well, I’m neither burly nor a christian…but I’m willing to assist with the group therapy.
Group “therapy” is the best!
irishgirl:
Ummm…so the “formerly gay” Cohen likes to hold male clients on his lap and cuddle them…
Oh yeah, that sounds like a healthy therapeutic relationship :rolleyes:
Hey, it makes him feel better.
Just to keep him straight and all that of course.