Parents are closest to their child’s challenges and they are in the best position to identify solutions and to make healthcare decisions involving the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of their child.  Under Virginia law, parents have the fundamental right to make decisions regarding the upbringing, education and care of their children.  An a priori ban on reparative therapy is a serious threat to the self determination of therapy clients in setting care goals.  This is diametrically opposed to a core principle of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.

I most strongly oppose regulatory interference in family/child therapy options, especially as this proposed course of action has been explicitly rejected by the Virginia Legislature twice within the past 3 years.