Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Joseph Nicolosi (1947 - 2017)
Dear Friends,
Yesterday, Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, Reparative Therapy founder and one of three co-founders of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), died tragically due to complications from the flu.
Dr. Nicolosi was a pioneer in the therapeutic community for the treatment of men who experience unwanted same-sex attractions. Unlike those who came before him that approached therapy for homosexuality from a psychoanalytic perspective (which he was also clinical trained), Nicolosi's work was informed by a more psychodynamic approach that was later influenced by emotional/affect therapies for the treatment of trauma. Since 1980, Joseph founded and directed the Thomas Aquinas Psychological Clinic in Encino, California. At the age of 70, his clinicians maintained a case load of 135 clients per week and were in the midst of completing groundbreaking research on the outcomes of clients in treatment.
I had the pleasure of serving alongside Dr. Nicolosi in several different areas, most recently as an expert witness for the JONAH trial and a reviewer for a Catholic peer-reviewed scientific journal. I was also honored in 2011 as the first ever recipient of the Dr. Joseph Nicolosi award and scholarship for early career therapists by NARTH.
On a personal note, Dr. Nicolosi was a friend, mentor, and supporter of the work at the Institute for Healthy Families and Equality And Justice For All. Last night I exchanged several e-mails with his wife Linda, who expressed she and her husband's admiration for our therapeutic and advocacy work for clients and families struggling with sexual identity. My least meaningful interaction with Dr. Nicolosi was in August when he gave me feedback on one of the chapters of my upcoming book. Joe was enthusiastic about the concept of healthy attachment between parents and children, and his insights really shaped the way I was able to understand the scientific literature around the experience of male homosexuality. He was always eager to interact with young therapists, and was so approachable and willing to give of his time to educate and mentor the next generation.
When giants like Joseph Nicolosi leave this world too soon, one has to ask God, why? If you are reading this and have been impacted by the life and work of Joseph Nicolosi, would you reply with your reflection or a story of him? As we grieve as a community, my prayer is that together we can honor his life and work. I know this will be a tremendous blessing for his wife Linda, his son Joe Jr., his clinical staff, and all of his former and current clients that he leaves behind.
Let's remember and celebrate his legacy in the spirit that Joe would have liked - with laughter, courage, and unequivocal truth. Thanks Joe, for a life well-lived. You gave so much to all of us. You will be deeply missed.
Sincerely, |
