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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8/2/19  1:05 pm
Commenter: Brent Keilen

No Government Punishment for Counselors
 

Please do not punish licensed counselors for helping patients overcome their unwanted sexual feelings. Government should not restrict counseling because it affirms biological realities concerning male and female. This intrusion would be an unreasonable limitation of freedom. While government boards are labeling this practice as “conversion therapy” it would be more accurate to to call it “biological affirmation counseling” based on science. To indicate that biologically-affirming counseling does not work is an insult to the many people who have shared publicly that this type of counseling has helped them personally overcome feelings and attractions they did not want. People should be free to choose the counselors they want, and counselors should have the ability to share freely without the threat of government punishment. 

 

CommentID: 74852