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Richard A. Cohen

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Richard A. Cohen
Born1952 (age 71–72)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Alma materBoston University
Antioch University
SpouseJae Sook Cohen (1980–present)
Children3
For other people with the same name, see Richard Cohen (disambiguation).

Richard A. Cohen (born 1952) is a Christian psychotherapist and author associated with the ex-gay movement. He is a co-founder of Positive Approaches to Healthy Sexuality (previously Positive Alternatives to Homosexuality)[1] which offers discredited conversion therapy practices purporting to change a person from homosexual to heterosexual.[2][3][4] In 2002, Cohen was expelled from the American Counseling Association for multiple violations.[5][6]

He is author of Alfie's Home, a children's book which depicts homosexuality as a reversible condition.[7] He gained media attention after demonstrating his ex-gay touch therapy on The Daily Show, which included cuddling with men and beating a pillow.[8][9]

Biography

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Cohen was born into a Jewish family in Philadelphia. During adolescence, Cohen reportedly spent "years in intensive psychiatric treatment unsuccessfully trying to become straight".[2]

Cohen identified as gay during his undergraduate years at Boston University. He sought counseling for his unwanted same-sex attractions. He became an evangelical Christian, and later joined the Unification Church.[2]

In 1980, Cohen married Jae Sook, a South Korean woman, and in 1995, Cohen and his family left the Unification Church.[2][9] Cohen had affairs with men, often leaving his wife and children for long periods of time.[4]

According to The Washington Post, Cohen he "overcame homosexuality" in 1987 through an "intense but platonic relationship" with a straight man who "gave me the warmth of my daddy's love."[2]

Cohen received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Boston University and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from Antioch University.[2]

He is author of Alfie's Home, a children's book which depicts homosexuality as a reversible condition.[7] He served as the president of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX), a group which promoted reparative therapy.[6]

Expulsion from the ACA

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In 2002, Cohen was expelled from the American Counseling Association (ACA) for violating its policies on advertising, engaging in dual relationships involving clients and counselors, and compromising client welfare.[5][6] He did not appeal the ACA decision.[2]

Media appearances

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Cohen was interviewed by Jason Jones on the March 19, 2007, episode of The Daily Show.[10] He gained media attention for demonstrating cuddling with men and hitting pillows as a method for curing homosexuality.[10][8] After the appearance, PFOX scrubbed mention of Cohen's name from its website.[6]

Cohen was on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on June 28, 2006, was interviewed on The Rachel Maddow Show on December 8, 2009,[11] and was on The Michelangelo Signorile Show on the Sirius radio network on April 17, 2010.

Selected works

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  1. Coming Out Straight, Oakhill Press, Winchester, VA, 2000, ISBN 978-1-886939-41-7 *
  2. Gay Children, Straight Parents, 2007, InterVarsity Press, ISBN 978-0-8308-3437-2 *
  3. Being Gay: Nature, Nurture or Both? PATH Press, 2020, ISBN 978-1-7338469-2-9 *
  4. Understanding Our LGBTQ+ Loved Ones, 2022, PATH Press, ISBN 978-1-7338469-8-1 *
  5. Healing Humanity: Time, Touch & Talk, 2018, TTT Press, USA, ISBN 978-1-7338469-6-7 *
  6. A Therapist’s Guide: Assisting Our LGBTQ+ Loved Ones, 2024, PATH Press, ISBN 979-8987026090

* Published and reviewed in multiple languages

References

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  1. ^ "PATH". March 2, 2015. Archived from the original on March 2, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Boodman, Sandra G. (August 16, 2005). "A Conversion Therapist's Unusual Odyssey". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  3. ^ "Richard Cohen's Cynical Makeover". Falls Church News-Press. April 17, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Besen, Wayne R. (2003). Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-gay Myth. Psychology Press. pp. 164–167. ISBN 978-1-56023-446-3.
  5. ^ a b "Notification of Results Letter". Archived from the original on January 3, 2007. Retrieved January 3, 2007., American Counseling Association. Retrieved July 4, 2007.
  6. ^ a b c d Potok, Mark (2016). "Quacks: 'Conversion Therapists,' the Anti-LGBT Right, and the Demonization of Homosexuality" (PDF). Southern Poverty Law Center. pp. 40–41.
  7. ^ a b Blue, Miranda (February 1, 2013). "Will the Supreme Court read the most horrific children's book of all time?". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Cuddling the gay away". Salon.com. August 2, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Richard Cohen". GLAAD. July 28, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  10. ^ a b "The Daily Show with Trevor Noah". March 19, 2007.
  11. ^ "'The Rachel Maddow Show' for Tuesday, December 8, 2009". NBC News. December 9, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
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