The Journal of Human Sexuality

We appreciate the effort by @HHSGov in putting together their report Comprehensive Review of Medical Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Gender Dysphoria. This mirrors and affirms the work we've been doing for nearly 20 years. We are the experts you've been looking for. David Pickup @davidpickupmft is our President.

 

Below is only a brief summary from the most recent volumes of the Journal of Human Sexuality showing how we have been faithful to the truth research and effective therapy related to sexual orientation and gender identity. Visit www.journalofhumansexuality.com for access to our journals and articles. Visit www.therapeuticchoice.com for more information about The Alliance.

 

This article is presented as a headline summarizing findings from the HHS Report, with a quote from the report, followed by quotes from the Journal of Human Sexuality showing we have been reporting faithfully to these truths.

 

1. Report: Psychotherapy Should Be First-Line for GD
   "Psychotherapy is a noninvasive alternative to endocrine and surgical interventions for the treatment of pediatric gender dysphoria."
   
   "Psychotherapy for adolescents with GD is a well-suited intervention, as it is intended to help patients develop self-understanding, engage with emotional vulnerability, and build practical strategies for managing distress.”
   
   JHS Volume 11 (2020):
   "Psychotherapy for unwanted SSA or GD is a right that must be protected for clients seeking congruence with their values."
    

2. Report: Exploration-Oriented Therapy Is Not "Conversion Therapy"
   "Exploratory psychotherapies are mischaracterized as conversion therapy, creating a chilling effect on valid clinical care."
   
   JHS Volume 13 (2022)
   "It is unethical and unjust to prohibit individuals from pursuing therapy that aligns with their deeply held values. Therapy bans foreclose options for clients who are seeking personal congruence, not coercion."
   
   "Recent outcome studies on sexual attraction fluidity therapy demonstrate meaningful reductions in unwanted same-sex attractions and increases in opposite-sex attractions, as well as improvements in psychological well-being" 
   
   "The APA’s [2021] resolution relies upon seriously flawed logic, treating SOCE as unchanged and unimproved over the past six decades... As such, readers of the APA report would walk away with unequivocal, one-sided, and misguided information about SOCE." 
   
   "Haldeman’s APA book critiques past unethical types of interventions, admitting that ‘more recent’ forms of SOCE are not included in the critiques"
   
   JHS Volume 8 (2017)
   "SAFE-T (Sexual Attraction Fluidity Exploration in Therapy) is a client-centered model grounded in informed consent and ethical care—not coercion."
    

3. Report: No Evidence That Medical Transition Reduces Suicide
   "There is no evidence that pediatric medical transition reduces the incidence of suicide."
   
   JHS Volume 13 (2022):
   “SOCE experience was found to have no statistically discernible effect on risk of suicide... the risk is no different than for those who did not experience SOCE.”
    

4. Report: Medical Community Suppresses Dissent
   "Medical and mental health associations have suppressed dissent and stifled debate… clinicians feel compelled to self-censor."
   
   JHS Volume 13 (2022):
   "Activist-led definitions of harm stifle professional discourse and serve as ideological gatekeeping rather than quality control"
    

5. Report: No Credible Justification for “Affirmation Only” Model
   "No independent association between gender dysphoria and suicidality has been found… affirmation-only models are unsupported by strong evidence."
   
   JHS Volume 13 (2022):
   "Sexual orientation and gender identity are not immutable. The APA’s essentialist view is more ideological than scientific."
    

6. Report: Regret After Transition Is Real and Understudied
   "Some patients report profound regret after undergoing invasive, life-changing medical interventions… but regret alone is not being tracked or studied sufficiently."
   
   JHS Volume 11 (2020):
   "The narrative that regret is ‘vanishingly rare’ is unsubstantiated. Studies show a growing need to examine outcomes and long-term psychological impact."
    

7. Report: Existing Data on Transition Outcomes Are Low-Quality
   "Evidence for the effectiveness of pediatric medical transition is very uncertain."
   
   JHS Volume 11 (2020):
   "Most claims of harm or benefit are not derived from representative, methodologically rigorous samples."
    

8. Report: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Are Not Fixed
   "Many youth who experience GD do not persist into adulthood. Most children resolve GD naturally."
   
   JHS Volume 13 (2022):
   "Sexual orientation is multidimensional and partially mutable. Longitudinal data affirm that change—particularly identity and behavior—is possible."
   
   JHS Volume 11 (2020):
   “Most children (upwards of 85%) with gender dysphoria will eventually identify with their biological sex if allowed to develop naturally.”
    

9. Report: Professional Societies Misrepresent Consensus
   "Apparent professional consensus is driven by a few advocacy-aligned committees, not majority member support."
   
   JHS Volume 13 (2022):
   "The APA and others claim consensus while disregarding dissenting views and overstating the risks of therapy."
    

10. Report: Attachment-Based Therapy and DBT Are Effective
    "Family-based interventions and DBT show strong evidence in addressing self-harm and comorbid conditions in youth with GD."
    
    JHS Volume 11 (2020):
    "CBT, psychodynamic therapy, and family systems therapy have longstanding efficacy for treating emotional and identity conflicts, including SSA and GD."