What Patrick Mangan failed to mention as he was using Cohen as one of his experts was that Cohen was permanently expelled from the American Counseling Association (ACA) for violations of six ethical codes. Although the specific violations were not specified, they corresponded to ACA codes of conduct toward clients, such as avoiding dual relationships or fostering dependent counseling ties.
"Of particular note is that Cohen's violations are self-serving, as he is accused of violating standard ethics of protecting his client from dual relationships, marketing purposes and testimonials" - Joe Kort, psychotherapist and author of "10 Smart Things Gay Men Can Do to Improve Their Lives."
One survivor of "ex-gay therapy" had this to say about Cohen's so-called therapy:
Cohen relies on a common reparative therapy theory: A child who doesn't form a healthy bond with his or her same-sex parent develops an "unhealthy" sexuality.
"Cohen's approach is to utilize 'holding therapy' as a way of repairing the bond and help a person transition from homosexuality to their 'inherent' heterosexuality."
"I found this basic concept to be very damaging to me," he said. "I was always 'sick' or 'broken' or in some other way inadequate as a human being. Because therapy always focused on my father and his supposed absence and bad parenting, my relationship with him suffered." - Rick, Fredonia, N.Y.,(last name be withheld)
From from being an innocuous treatment, "ex-gay"therapy can, and does, cause great harm to many. Many survivors say they wasted years of their lives, spent thousands of dollars and suffered mental duress as a result of attempting sexual orientation conversion. Some victims even spoke of attempts at suicide.
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