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  8:32 pm
Commenter: Patricia Martin

Ban Conversion Therapy for minors
 

I support the ban or regulation of conversion therapy. Conversion Therapy causes long term mental health issues that in return causes those individuals to need more extensive therapy as they grow and transition into adulthood. Conversion Therapy seems more like a confusion tactic, to attempt to make these individuals feel ashamed of who they are. This therapy is based on the belief that being LGBTQ+ is wrong or an embarrassment. This therapy is in no way supportive or inspiring to these individuals. These children need acceptance from the outside world to be able to accept themselves We can not find ourselves and love ourselves, if we are constantly made to believe that we have to live up to some sort of scientific expectation. This conversion therapy appears to be structured like a mental health counseling, that is meant to convince individuals that their feelings aren't real and it leaves these people to suffer in silence and confusion. Homosexuality was declassified as a mental illness more than 45 years ago, so why now are we still attempting to treat it as one. Support this regulation. 

CommentID: 75574