News

May 21, 2010

Political correctness could force some California psychologists and counselors out of business.

According to a state therapist identified only as "Betty," in wanting to be sensitive to the cause of homosexuals the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) -- the only professional organization for marriage in the state -- has started to infringe on the religious freedom of therapists and their clients.

"They're doing that...by basically coming out and saying that believing that homosexuality is outside of God's will or is a sin, any kind of belief like that in and of itself has been officially labeled as 'homophobic,'" Betty reports.

She adds that any professional violating that line of thinking could pay a price.

"Any therapist who doesn't feel comfortable providing therapy that affirms homosexuality in the counseling room and wishes to do a respectful referral of a client would be subject to discipline and potentially be open to a lawsuit or being fired," the California therapist laments.

The Association has also launched a campaign to ban therapies that help clients who have unwanted same-sex attractions, and it also aims to make it unethical for a therapist to help a client with a type of therapy he or she has sought out.

Betty says faith-based psychotherapists have formed their own group and made requests for the association to hear them out, but they have yet to receive a response.

Meanwhile, Pacific Justice Institute has offered free legal representation.