Charles William Socarides (January 24, 1922 – December 25, 2005) was an American psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, physician, educator and author.

He helped found the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH) in 1992 and worked extensively with the organization until his death.

He has been grouped with Irving Bieber and Lionel Ovesey as the main representatives of the U.S. psychoanalytical current that has been active in promoting analytical methods to 'cure' homosexuality.

[1] He wrote that male homosexuality typically develops in the first two years of life, during the pre-Oedipal stage of a boy's personality formation.

Socarides also spoke publicly about his opposition to the gay rights movement, which he believed would undermine societal gender roles and the family.