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TechnoratiAnd the Journey Into Manhood was designed to bring emotional healing to the individual whether they successfully come out of homosexual attractions or not.
"They come into the program wanting their homosexual feelings to diminish but also come to ... not feel distressed about it," Wyler said. "If you're at peace with your life and living the life you believe God wants you to, that to me is the bottom line."
The survey showed 93 percent of participants said Journey Into Manhood had a positive impact on their efforts to diminish same-sex attraction and/or increase opposite-sex attraction; 91 percent reported a decrease in distress, shame or self-condemnation; 83 percent said they feel more masculine, feel more peace in their lives, and are happier; 79 percent said they have less shame or guilt in their lives; 74 percent said they brought their behavior and feelings more in line with their values and beliefs; 65 percent said they have less lust; and 63 percent said they feel more connected to God/spirituality.
Wyler founded People Can Change in September 2000 and co-created Journey Into Manhood in 2002 with David Matheson, a therapist specializing in gender affirming therapy. Part of the reason they created the weekend program was in response to the opposition within the therapeutic community to programs helping people struggling with homosexual attractions.
"They (therapeutic community) have turned their back on those of us who seek change," Wyler said. "People mistakenly think it causes harm."
The American Psychological Association is currently revising its 10-year-old policy on counseling homosexuals after years of pressure from pro-gay groups that say such therapy is harmful. Some groups, most notably religious ones, have expressed concern that the revised policy, due out mid this year, may ban all reparative therapies and have called psychologists to respect religious commitments and allow those who are seeking change out of same-sex desires to be offered the help.
"There's a lot of evidence that change happens for at least some people," Wyler insisted. "So for therapists to suggest there is no evidence of change is idiocy.
"The pursuit of change can be a very positive experience when it's pursued in a healthy appropriate way."
Correction: Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008:
An article on Monday, Feb. 11, 2008, about a new survey of men who participated in a program to come out of same-sex attractions and reduce distress incorrectly reported that the men were queried twice. The Christian Post confirmed that this was not a longitudinal study but a survey that queried the men once, anywhere between six months and six years after their participation in the Journey Into Manhood.
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