Reparative Therapy

Dear Rev. Salmi,

You may not remember me, as I'm sure you have counselled hundreds of college students over the years, but I came to you for help in ridding me of my homosexuality. This would have been back in 1997 and 1998. I was a Tech student who just wasn't getting anywhere with curing myself through prayer and fasting and all the other recommendations. I realize now that you probably get a lot of nervous first-time students, so my anxiety about seeing a counsellor probably wasn't anything unusual for you. I do remember you and our sessions, though.

And I want to thank you for everything you have done for me. Thanks to you I am a better-adjusted gay man who is accepting of myself and dealing with depression fairly well. While this outcome was not a goal for either one of us, I believe it is the goal that God desired for me, and he used you to get me where I needed to be.

I especially appreciate how you took the time to get to know me as a whole person, not just as a wretched homosexual in need of cure. You saw that I had more pervasive deficiencies and prioritized the sessions. For me, that was the most impressive aspect of our time together. Our work on coping with depression, both recognizing it and recovering from it, has stuck with me, and I still use some of the methods you taught me.

While our time was cut short by my physical illness, I believe we accomplished exactly what God wanted us to accomplish. I am now able to speak to others about being gay, I view myself as a worthy person in my eyes and God's (without having to seek the approval of others), and I have a wonderful boyfriend and a group of male and female friends who love me for who I am and listen and support me. I would not have accomplished this without your help. I credit you among those who have helped save my life and I will be in your debt.

Thank you for making me the gay man that I am.

Joel