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
spacer
Previous Comment     Next Comment     Back to List of Comments
8/2/19  1:09 pm
Commenter: Concerned Parent

Counselors Right to Freedom of Conscious
 

As a parent of a 14 year old boy who feels that he is homosexual, I am not approaching this subject as a spectator. I am fully aware of the challenges that most kids face(as well as adults), separate from an identity crisis. Disallowing professionals a scope of treatment on any level is tyrannical when imposed by any government. Should a physician be restricted from offering nicotine patches to a smoker? Or offering a specified diet to a person who struggles with weight management? The need is ultimately irrelevant. Any government imposition on a trained professional's ability to provide a course of action that has been proven effective and deemed appropriate by both parties is an unwarranted overreach and unconstitutional based on their first amendment protections and their ethical duty to do no harm. If you pursue this regulation to restrict and coerce counselors, we will be forced to litigate, and we will win.

CommentID: 74855