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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8/7/19  10:07 pm
Commenter: Dr. Gregory S Rosenthal

Ban Conversation Therapy
 

As a professor and as an LGBTQ person myself, I urge you to ban the practice of conversion therapy. It is a harmful and tortuous practice that goes against the professional and ethical standards of counseling. Being LGBTQ is not a disorder, and the only appropriate role for counselors in the lives of LGBTQ youth is to help them live full, happy, successful lives as LGBTQ people. While some people think that this is an issue of parental rights, or a matter of faith, it is actually a form of abuse and discrimination and thus the role of the state is to protect those who would potentially be harmed by this awful practice.

CommentID: 75642