Ex-Gay Counselor Expelled from ACA

Richard Cohen is a "reparative therapist" who seems to specialize in helping gays become "ex-gay." He is president of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and the "ex-gay advisor" for Dr. Laura Schlessinger. He has also been "permanently expelled" by the American Counseling Association for serious ethical violations - back in 2003, not that any supporters of the ex-gay movement have admitted it.

Ex-Gay Watch has a report:

"The Right wing should be ashamed for promoting the work of a therapist who has been officially rebuked for egregious ethical lapses," said Wayne Besen, author of Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth. "That Cohen is the best the far right can find in support of their position that gay people can change underscores the quack-like pseudo-science that they rely on. It is time they end the charade and admit that reparative therapy is harmful and ineffective."  

The letter referred to Cohen's violations which included inappropriate behavior such as fostering dependent counseling relationships, not promoting the welfare of clients, engaging in actions that sought to meet his personal needs at the expense of clients, exploiting the trust and dependency of clients, unethically soliciting testimonials from clients and promoting products to clients in a manner that is deceptive.

Cohen has also been prominently featured on Larry King Live, The Ricki Lake Show, The Salley Jessy Raphael Show and 20/20. The sound bite he often uses on these shows is, "Born gay? No Way!" Reparative therapy is rejected by every mainstream medical and mental health organization in America.

This is a very interesting story. Cohen was expelled back in 2003, but he has been active since then and has apparently not mentioned it to his audiences. Is it honest for someone to promote themselves as a counselor and to promote their therapies despite having been expelled by their professional organization for serious ethical violations? Will members of the Christian Right continue to reference Cohen and his ideas despite this?

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