Why Julia Sadusky Is Wrong about Reintegrative Therapy: A Rebuttal to Critics of Counseling for SSA

Originally posted on YouTube 3/3/25.
A couple months ago, Julia Sadusky, a well-known Catholic psychologist, made some videos criticizing Reintegrative Therapy and disparaging the legacy of Joseph Nicolosi, Sr, the founder of Reparative Therapy. Among her offenses, she attempts to pit Nicolosi, Jr. against his father, accuses the late Dr. Nicolosi of aversive techniques, accuses Reintegrative Therapists of being coercive and unethical, and she misrepresents the landmark Pela & Sutton longitudinal study of 75 men who experienced Reintegrative Therapy. As a student of the Nicolosis and a certified Reintegrative Therapist, I'm setting the record straight, using this opportunity to respond to a range of misconceptions about Nicolosi, so-called "conversion therapy," SAFE-T, Reparative Therapy, and Reintegrative Therapy.

#ReintegrativeTherapy #JuliaSadusky #Nicolosi #ReparativeTherapy #SAFETherapy #SexualAttractionFluidity #SideB #SexualityCounseling #SOCE #SexualOrientation #ExLGBT #ExGay #GayChristian #GayExTrad

References (Note: clips from other videos are used for commentary, and fall under Fair Use):
Sadusky's video "Why I Don't Do Reintegrative Therapy as a Catholic Therapist": https://youtu.be/_gZSRet4xR8?si=EsZRoAu_uhg8QlRk
Sadusky's interview on Gay (ex)Trad's "Intrinsically Ordered Podcast": https://youtu.be/NRyLzZUXwFY?si=zTi7wRTkAcG86t7n
Michael Gasparro's 1st interview with Lila Rose (discussing SSA and Theology of the Body): https://youtu.be/C103HB8jfdY?si=WRolEE_U9vZE4sA8
Gasparro's 2nd interview with Lila Rose (sexual abuse and SSA): https://youtu.be/13agkYxIf0k?si=EkM2QKZNyMDGNPSe
Becket Cook's interview with Nicolosi Jr: https://youtu.be/UJur1jDGlqE?si=2F_WxykCM8pwLhlP
Jones, S.L. & Yarhouse, M. A. (2009). Ex gays? An extended longitudinal study of attempted religiously mediated change in sexual orientation. Sexual Orientation & Faith Tradition Symposium, APA Convention.
Pela, C., & Sutton, P. (2021). Sexual attraction fluidity and well-being in men: A therapeutic outcome study. Journal of Human Sexuality, 12, 61-86. https://www.journalofhumansexuality.com/_files/ugd/ec16e9_d6b14c067ae64bf095bb19c4757e8ff9.pdf
Reintegrative Therapy Association: https://www.reintegrativetherapy.com

For more on this topic:
My interview with Carolyn Pela and Joe Nicolosi, Jr. on the Pela & Sutton study: https://youtu.be/y27zkkh3mgc
My response to Gregory Coles' criticisms of the study: https://youtu.be/iGkS9Eaf2Ok
What Happens in Reintegrative Therapy: https://youtu.be/4gz8NJKML9w
Proof You Can Change Sexual Arousal through Memory Reconsolidation | Nicolosi Jr. Interview: https://youtu.be/jwEd1KvaIYo
Results of Surveying LGB- and Non-LGB People with SSA: Christopher Rosik Interview: https://youtu.be/aFRvAsHkhpU
Sexuality Counseling in the Five Streams: https://youtu.be/noCsp2e2O8w

Timestamps:
01:28 Who is Julia Sadusky?
03:00 The videos she put out criticizing Reintegrative Therapy.
04:58 Preface to my response.
09:54 Misquoting us on the definition of “conversion therapy.”
12:43 Calling Nicolosi Sr’s Reparative Therapy “conversion therapy.”
14:50 Why “conversion therapy” is an inaccurate term.
18:46 Accurate terms to use.
20:45 Light switch vs. light dimmer analogy.
26:04 Blaming Nicolosi Sr. for all bad therapy experiences.
31:16 Explaining Nicolosi Sr. in his defense.
37:34 Accusing Nicolosi of aversive techniques.
39:15 Pitting Nicolosi Jr. against his father.
42:33 Michael Gasparro’s interview with Lila Rose.
43:49 Criticizing the developmental model of SSA etiology.
48:21 People with a low resolution understanding of Nicolosi’s theory.
52:54 RT’s bottom-up approach.
55:02 Why RT must dispute charges of aversion techniques.
57:54 Why RT instead of just plain trauma therapy?
01:04:11 Claiming RT teaches one must change SSA to be a faithful Christian.
01:05:47 The lack of scientific consensus on the cause of SSA.
01:07:20 Claiming there’s no scientific basis for the developmental theory.
01:09:47 Outlining the distinctions between Reparative and Reintegrative Therapy.
01:12:47 Claiming we assume there’s always trauma.
01:15:23 Insinuating clients can do EMDR only if they have PTSD.
01:18:43 Claiming we're unethical.
01:22:31 Questioning the research on sexuality change through therapy and ministry (misquoting the Jones & Yarhouse study).
01:27:42 Leaving out research.
01:33:55 Challenging how large-scale the Pela & Sutton study was.
01:35:42 Challenging the longitudinal design of the Pela & Sutton study.
01:41:27 Sadusky misrepresents the research.
01:44:07 Clarifying the aim of RT: change sexuality or just treat trauma?
01:50:16 Why RT is still justified even if the client doesn’t have PTSD symptoms.
01:55:42 Accusing Reintegrative Therapists of manipulation and lacking ethical, competent care.
01:59:07 RT uses orientation-neutral approaches.
02:00:32 RT is useful for when the client is ready to explore change.
02:02:00 Claiming RT causes harm.
02:04:08 How RT upholds and promotes the client’s dignity.
02:10:50 My final appeal.