Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Counseling
 
chapter
Regulations Governing the Practice of Professional Counseling [18 VAC 115 ‑ 20]
Action Unprofessional conduct - conversion therapy
Stage NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 8/7/2019
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7/31/19  6:47 pm
Commenter: Deborah Hawkins

Please continue to implement regulations against conversion therapy for minors
 

Conversion therapy is 1. unethical as it doesn’t meet an acceptable standard of care; 2. no counselor could have received accredited training for it. 3. it is immensely harmful quackery. As a licensed family therapist, I have seen such "treatment" destroy a minor's self esteem and causing lasting damage to families. Professional regulations cannot free people from stigma imposed by religious bigots and homophobic parents. However, you can combat such stigma by banning licensed counselors from imposing CT on minors.

CommentID: 74657