To Whom It May Concern:

Why is it only okay for counseling only to go one way (i.e., affirming gender dysphoria or same-sex attraction)? If adults or children want counseling to help them deal with unwanted same-sex attraction or unwanted feelings, why is that anybody else's business? Many thousands of people have gone through this type of counseling, and they say it works. Why would you want to take away that option from people?

Obviously, any type of treatment like shock therapy or anything else like that would be inhumane--and that DOES NOT happen in these counseling sessions in the 21st Century, though that misconception is brought up time and again to justify counseling bans. And aren't things like shock treatment already illegal? If counselors are abusing people in any way, don't we already have laws on the books to deal with that? Wouldn't they lose their license?

Many times (not all times, but many), children and adults deal with various sexual attractions because they were abused. If counselors are not allowed to get to the root of issues because of political/ideological biases manifested in onerous policies, people will ultimately be harmed. Children will potentially remain in abusive situations, and the perpetrators will get away with the harm they've done. It's pretty commonsense. Again, abuse is not the cause of every situation, but it does account for SOME situations. 

When it comes to counseling for adults, it's unconscionable that policymakers would take away something that an adult wants to do. Please don't go down this route.

Thank you,

Amy