VA Board of Counseling shoul not punish licensed counselors for helping patients overcome their unwanted sexual feelings by affirming biological realities concerning males and females.  One of the more alarming aspects of the Guidance/regulations put forward is that it creates a blatant double standard whereby counselors would be free to help minor clients explore and possibly cultivate same-sex feelings or even to “change” their gender, while simultaneously prohibiting them from helping minor clients flee from unwanted same-sex attractions and embrace natural sexual expressions and/or their true gender.  The consequence of violating this policy could be the state-imposed loss of their professional license, and that is simply unacceptable.  Licensed counselors have a responsibility to speak honestly with their minor clients about life’s fundamental truths, and any state policies that compel them to repress those truths during counseling would lead to real ethical dilemmas, not to mention damage to those children.  Thank you, Ronald Ford