These practices are known to be extremely dangerous and can lead to depression, decreased self-esteem, substance abuse, and even suicide attempts. This guidance protects young people from state-licensed therapists in Virginia who falsely claim to parents and youth that being LGBTQ is a mental illness, and therefore taking advantage of parents and harming vulnerable youth. Young people are in a state of development and should not be subjected to a false narrative of trying to be forced to be heteronormative and heterosexual through the medical community rejected "conversion therapy." I have seen the effects of this on someone in my life and it left a permanent scar forcing early retirement.