Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Social Work
 
chapter
Regulations Governing the Practice of Social Work [18 VAC 140 ‑ 20]
Action Unprofessional conduct/practice of conversion therapy
Stage NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 8/7/2019
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7/31/19  6:48 pm
Commenter: Deborah Hawkins, LMFT

Please continue to implement regulations against conversion therapy for minors
 

Conversion therapy is 1. unethical as it doesn’t meet an acceptable standard of care; 2. no social worker could have received accredited training for it. 3. it is immensely harmful quackery. As a licensed family therapist, I have seen such "treatment" destroy a minor's self esteem and causing lasting damage to families. Professional regulations cannot free people from stigma imposed by religious bigots and homophobic parents. However, you can combat such stigma by banning social workers from imposing CT on minors.

CommentID: 74658