Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Multiple Boards
Guidance Document Change: Consistent with the established position of the NASW, the Board considers “conversion therapy” or “sexual orientation change efforts” to be services that have the potential to be a danger to clients, especially minors. Thus, under regulations governing practitioners licensed or registered by the Board, practicing conversion therapy/sexual orientation change efforts with minors could result in a finding of misconduct and disciplinary action against the licensee or registrant.
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5/10/19  10:52 pm
Commenter: Marilyn S Breslow

Ban conversion "therapy"
 

Sexual orientation is innate -  not chosen.  Insisting  that people deny who they are and convert to another state of being is  unrealistic and may lead the person feeling like a failure that s/he didn't work hard enough to change.  Mental health is about helping people to live with self acceptance, discipline and resilience.  Counseling geared toward changing  an individual's sexuality is not mental health.

CommentID: 72128