IFTCC | Policy
Practise and Ethical Guidelines Document (PEG)
Preamble
We emphasise that the IFTCC does not support aversive, coercive, or shaming treatments, however they are termed, and regardless of whoever applies them or wherever they are practised. We call upon our governments, local authorities, human rights, media institutions and religious organisations, to recognise that the right to self-determination is an established principle of international law, and therefore must include the right to shape and develop one’s own sexual identity, feelings and associated behaviours, and to receive support to do so. The IFTCC exists to protect and promote the rights and freedoms of individuals to seek or provide help to encourage congruous sexual identities, consistent with clients’ primary social, and/or religious values.
The following parameters may be a helpful introduction to the practice and ethical guidelines we hold to:
1. Discussions around the nature and extent of movement around sexual feelings and beliefs are influenced by a socio-political climate, especially in the western world that makes nonpartisan scientific inquiry into the issue of sexual fluidity, or so-called ‘sexual orientation’, very difficult to achieve. This is also hampered by the dominance of a monoculture wherein ‘advocacy science’ (that refuses ideological diversity and operates from only one received viewpoint), over unbiased ‘enquiry science’, irrespective of whether a researcher (and funder) is ‘progressive’ or ‘conservative’.
2. One of the most obvious concerns, irrespective of where a researcher stands on this issue, is the need to understand the nature of change, that is being promoted or opposed, and how this is influenced by conceptualisations of sexuality. Whether commentators are proponents of change, or opponents of change will depend on whether ‘change’ is seen in absolute, fixed terms, or along a continuum of fluidity.
3. Essentialists see sexuality as hard-wired, and sexuality as an unchangeable, innate characteristic. Constructivists are amenable to human sexuality moving according to a fluidity spectrum in the case of many individuals. Clearly essentialists and constructivists will have radically different opinions on the issue of change-allowing therapy approaches. Those with pessimistic views about change-allowing therapy, are likely to be essentialists promoting the idea that the only possibility for change must be categorical and 100% effective. Constructivists will understand change along a continuum, from effective, or even modest management, to a sense of some or significant change (in behaviours, attractions and or feelings) through to the exceptional case of categorical change. The IFTCC aligns itself to a more constructivist position.
4. In recognition of the socio-political conditions that influence language in the debate around sexuality, and to the question of therapeutic choice for those wishing to access change- allowing therapy and counselling, the IFTCC has adopted the notion of the Sexual Attraction Fluidity Exploration in Therapy (SAFE-T) protocol.
5. In its work on transgender issues, and training those supporting gender-confused clients, the IFTCC rejects medicalisation treatments for transgender and urges caution on transitioning protocols. This is a scientifically evidence-based approach as described in point 6 of the IFTCC Declaration ‘Conversion Therapy’ and Therapeutic Choice.
1) Worldview and Philosophical Perspective
We believe western secular cultures consistently fail to recognise and acknowledge the historical contribution of the Christian Gospel that has resulted in the Judeo-Christian values that underpin Western Civilization. Building on its Jewish heritage, Christian teaching espouses tolerance and acceptance of created human diversities, encourages enquiry research and critical thinking. Teachings central to the faith include the sacredness of male and female (gender) and their roles in family life revolving around fathers and mothers and children reflecting the prototype of the first human family. Christian culture has centralised the importance of healthy families and Christians generally deplore the destruction of marriage and family which is the stated goal of secular humanists such as the Gay Liberation Front (1971). Those espousing Judeo-Christian values or Christian Orthodoxy, generally reject progressivism that redefines the family, seeks to dissolve the immutability of gender and to normalise LGBT patterning. The IFTCC promotes the sacredness of these Judeo-Christian values as they relate to marriage, family and the human body.
2) What the IFTCC Stands For and Works Towards
The IFTCC Mission Statement indicates the worldview, anthropological perspective, nature of association, purpose, direction and aspirations of the organisation.
3) The Mission Statement of the IFTCC:
The International Foundation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice (IFTCC) is a multi-disciplinary organisation that exists to support dedicated providers of services to individuals seeking change of their unwanted relational and sexual behaviours, attractions and patterns. It works to preserve the rights of clients to access such services, and of providers to offer services. It advocates for scientific integrity and research objectivity. Its anthropological approach is based on a Judeo-Christian understanding of the body, marriage and the family. It aspires to being guided by professional standards of association and practice, with transparent accountability. Those supporting the IFTCC include both professional and pastoral-care practitioners, educators, and legal and community leaders from around the world concerned with the promotion of sexual health.
The Objects of Association of the IFTCC provide further detail of what the purpose of our association is, including the educational and training orientation of the work. It indicates that the IFTCC functions according to well established ethical principles and that it seeks to value collegiality, transparency and accountability. The organisation also seeks to develop cross- cultural competency, around family-centred values.
4) The Objects of Association of the IFTCC:
(a) The promotion of the rights and freedoms for individuals to seek, to offer, and to research professional psychotherapeutic, clinical, counselling and/or pastoral support to achieve client-centred goals of reducing, managing, or where possible, overcoming unwanted relational and sexual behaviours, feelings and attractions;
(b) The dissemination of accurate scientific and research information relevant to the field of practice, reflecting shared and transparent ethical premises and standards;
(c) Development of an international, self-regulating educative forum, offering professional and collegial support to those providing care to individuals with unwanted relational or sexual practices and attractions:
(d) The provision of continuing professional development (CPD) and basic information for those offering interventions or support to individuals with unwanted relational or sexual behaviours and attractions;
(e) Encouragement of accountable practices and research initiatives, utilizing recognized standards of accuracy, duty and care among practitioners and providers;
(f) Enhancement of understanding via cross- and inter-cultural competencies, and research initiatives that respect proven family-centered values.
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