The National Association for the Research and Therapy of Homosexual is no longer offering continuing education to therapists in the state of California, according to SFGate blogger Susan Davis.
Although some activists had tried to have NARTH‘s rights to provide continuing education revoked on the basis of its homophobic, pseudoscientific beliefs and practices, Davis reports the actual reason is unpaid fees to the California Board for Behavioral Science. In the article, she reveals, surprisingly, that the CBBS doesn’t have the ability to remove an organization from membership for erroneous scientific claims:
As it stands now, the BBS can’t reject a continuing education provider due to its philosophy or even the validity of its scientific claims, executive officer Kim Madsen says, and “that’s been a challenge.” Instead, as long as the provider “meets the requirements as set forth in current law, we have to accept them.” (Those requirements include providing direct or indirect patient care, having qualified instructors and submitting the appropriate applications and fees.)
At its September meeting, however, the BBS will be reviewing those laws and requirements and having a discussion about what Madsen describes as “long-identified deficiencies in the continuing education model.”
It’s about time these mental health boards and committees start requiring that scientific rigor be the standard by which to permit groups to practice with state or organizational approval. Psychology/social work/psychiatry, etc. are sciences and people who wish to spread their own religious beliefs or prejudice against groups should not receive professional validation. As a psychologist-in-training, I sometimes am amazed at how backward my field can be. In my personal opinion, professional organizations such as the American Psychological Association should require practitioners and members to disavow reparative therapy attempts in order to be part of the organization. This would not be discrimination against ex-gays, but the triumph of science over prejudice.
Great news, I suppose!
Perhaps I’m just a tad naive, but why is it that the APA just can’t, erm, put the smack-down on NARTH and all other junk science promoters?
They know that there’s a large amount of malpractice going on in the human sexuality department (“psychologists” and “psychiatrists” that are supposedly members of their association, no less), and all they do is periodically issue statements that advise against reparative/conversion therapy?
I almost feel like they’re not taking this issue seriously enough. If they know all the harm that is being done to thousands of vulnerable LGBT folk, why are they not stepping in to take legal action?
It is so upsetting to see that they’re letting NARTH, Exodus, and multiple other organizations continuously sell their snake oil products to the confused and scared.
And I’m tired of sitting powerlessly at my computer desk, wondering when the real professionals are going to take action.