Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Counseling
 
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4/9/19  5:31 pm
Commenter: Marsha Johnson

Allow clients with unwanted same sex feelings to get the help they want
 

When a child wants help with unwanted same sex feeling you are forbidding him or her from getting that help.  Do not punish licensed counselors for helping patients overcome their unwanted sexual feelings by affirming biological realities concerning males and females. Banning honest communication between therapist and client creates a blatant double standard whereby counselors would be free to help minor clients explore and possibly cultivate same-sex feelings or even to “change” their gender, while simultaneously prohibiting them from helping minor clients flee from unwanted same-sex attractions and embrace natural sexual expressions and/or their true gender.  Licensed counselors have a responsibility to speak honestly with their minor clients about life’s fundamental truths, and any state policies that compel them to repress those truths during counseling would lead to real ethical dilemmas, not to mention damage to those children. 

CommentID: 71065