The psychotherapeutic treatment of male homosexuality

This paper discusses aspects of the aetiology and treatment of male homosexuality, a topic that has become quite controversial in recent years. The paper is based on material from the author's patients, and also notes the contributions of others. In spite of many reports of successful treatment outcomes, some people continue to deny such results. This paper confirms that such patients can indeed be understood and treated successfully. A possible aetiological factor that has not been mentioned before in the literature is discussed, namely, the abortion of a pregnancy caused by the male patient that may have led to his "coming out" or declaring his homosexuality. Three main conclusions are reached. First, that some people who have had homosexual fantasies, behaviors, or identified themselves as homosexual, can become comfortably and fulfillingly heterosexual with psychotherapeutic treatment. Second, that human sexuality is not rigidly compartmentalized into either hetero- or homosexuality but varies on a continuous spectrum, and is affected in any individual by psychodynamic influences. Third, that before "coming out," young people, especially teenagers, should have the opportunity to explore their sexual identity with a psychodynamically oriented psychotherapist.