That VACP recommends the following as related to “conversion therapy” or engaging in sexual orientation change efforts:

• Significant research by both the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association substantiate that “conversion therapy” should be prohibited in that it has the potential to be harmful to patients. 

• “Conversion therapy” or efforts to change a persons sexual orientation” shall mean any practice or treatment that seeks to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender.

• "Conversion therapy" does not include counseling that provides assistance to a person undergoing gender transition, or counseling that provides acceptance, support, and understanding of a person or facilitates a person's coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including sexual-orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, as long as such counseling does not seek to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity.

• “Conversion therapy” should be considered as a violation standards practice in that rendering such services is considered as having real potential  of  jeopardizing the health and well being of patients.

• Above should be promptly adopted, as an emergency regulation if possible, and that this this regulatory policy be adopted so that it applies to any person licensed by a regulatory Board of the Virginia Department of Health Professions who performs counseling as part of their training, including those professions licensed by the Boards of Psychology, Counseling, Nurses and Medicine (meaning all such Boards would adopt such.)

• The Virginia Board of Psychology proceed immediately with the promulgation of such regulation as to set an example for other Boars under the Department.