Sexual Change Therapy: Who Benefits and Why

The study looked at people who had tried to change their sexual attraction. It gathered answers from 183 adults, most of whom were men (70%) and a smaller group of women (30%). The researchers compared those who had done therapy aimed at altering same‑sex attraction with people who had not. They also checked how the therapy affected feelings of depression, self‑esteem, and other mental health issues. A key finding was that the therapy helped women more than men. About 88% of women who had high same‑sex attraction before therapy reported a big drop afterward, while only 39% of men showed the same shift. Women who went through therapy designed to change attraction saw a 96% success rate, though the statistical certainty was modest. For men, therapy aimed at changing attraction actually lowered the chance of a big reduction in same‑sex feelings. Interestingly, therapy that was not specifically about sexual orientation but still addressed other concerns helped both genders. In fact, almost all women who had any kind of therapy—whether or not it targeted attraction—showed a noticeable decrease in same‑sex feelings. Men also benefited, but to a lesser degree.

When looking at mental health, everyone reported less same‑sex behavior after therapy. Both men and women saw improvements in depression, self‑esteem, social life, and substance use. Women’s overall psychological gains were slightly higher than men’s. Therapy that targeted attraction gave a moderate boost to both groups, but it was especially strong for women’s depression and men’s self‑harm. People who had previously thought about suicide reported the biggest benefit from therapy. Their mental health scores improved more than those who had never considered self‑harm. The study suggests that excluding women from research on sexual change therapy may hide how helpful it can be. It also raises questions about the best ways to support people who want to change their sexual orientation, and it points to the need for more balanced studies that include both men and women.

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