Let’s be clear right from the start: just because something is legal does not make it ethical. And just because something is framed as “treatment” does not mean it is care.
Recent legal decisions around conversion therapy have left many in our community feeling angry, scared, and frankly, exhausted. If that’s you, you are not overreacting. You are responding to something that directly impacts safety, dignity, and mental health.
At Be BOLD Psychology and Consulting, we want to say this loudly and without hesitation: conversion therapy is harmful, unethical, and not something we will ever provide.
What Is Conversion Therapy, Really?
Conversion therapy, sometimes called “reparative therapy,” refers to practices that attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
It has been packaged in many ways over time, including:
- Talk therapy aimed at “correcting” identity
- Behavioral conditioning rooted in shame or fear
- Religious or spiritual interventions
- Family or community pressure framed as “support”
Here is the truth: there is no credible scientific evidence that conversion therapy works. None.
And here is something equally important to name clearly:
Conversion therapy has been rejected by every major medical and mental health association in the United States, including the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and American Medical Association.
As the APA states:
“Sexual orientation and gender identity are not mental disorders… Efforts to change these identities are not only ineffective, but they can also be harmful and stigmatizing.”
You can read the APA’s full position here: APA: The Evidence Against Conversion Therapy
Why Conversion Therapy Is So Harmful
Let’s pause and name what often gets minimized. Conversion therapy is not a neutral experience. It is often deeply traumatic.
A growing body of peer-reviewed research has consistently demonstrated harm, including:
- A 2020 study in JAMA Psychiatry found that exposure to conversion therapy was associated with significantly higher odds of lifetime suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among LGBTQ+ individuals
- Research published in the American Journal of Public Health showed increased rates of depression, substance use, and psychological distress among those subjected to sexual orientation change efforts
- The Trevor Project’s national surveys continue to find that LGBTQIA+ youth who experience or are threatened with conversion therapy are at substantially higher risk for suicide attempts
These are not small impacts. These are life-threatening outcomes.
Additional documented effects include:
- Anxiety and depression
- Internalized shame and self-hatred
- Disconnection from identity and community
- Complex trauma responses
If you’ve experienced this, your reactions make sense. Your nervous system adapted to survive something harmful. That is not a personal failure. That is a human response.
Legal Does Not Mean Ethical
Here is where things get nuanced and important. The Supreme Court’s decision focuses on state law. It does not override ethical standards set by licensing boards.
Translation?
Even if conversion therapy is not banned statewide in North Carolina, it is still considered unethical by major professional organizations and licensing boards.
That means:
- Clinicians can still face malpractice claims
- Ethics complaints can and should be filed
- Licensing boards can still take disciplinary action
This matters. Because accountability still exists. And your experiences deserve to be taken seriously.
As APA shared in their response to the Chiles V Salazar ruling:
“APA is unsettled that the Court would treat restrictions against ineffective and harmful treatments as a violation of a counselor’s speech rather than regulation of professional conduct… Our ethical standards are unchanged. Psychologists should continue to provide evidence-based care and avoid practices known to cause harm.”
Is it possible that board sanctions may eventually result in another lawsuit? Maybe. But in the meantime, therapists who engage in “therapeutic practices,” like conversion therapy, that are known to cause harm, are in direct violation of their ethical codes and should be, and will be, reported.
As Alex Sheldon, Executive Director of GLMA, stated in GLMA’s statement condemning the Supreme Court Ruling:
“This ruling does not change what clinicians know to be true: conversion therapy is not health care – it is a dangerous and discredited practice that violates the standards of health professions… Providers are trained to support patients’ well-being using evidence-based approaches, and there is broad medical consensus on the importance of affirming, patient-centered care. Legal interpretations of ‘free speech’ will never override the clinical responsibility to protect young people from harm.”
What Affirming Therapy Actually Looks Like
If conversion therapy is about changing who you are, affirming therapy is about helping you come home to yourself. At Be BOLD, our approach to care is rooted in affirmation, not erasure.
This includes:
- Supporting identity exploration without judgment
- Using correct names and pronouns consistently
- Processing trauma related to rejection, religion, or systemic harm
- Celebrating queer and trans joy, not just survival
- Helping you build self-trust and self-compassion
You deserve care that sees you, not “care” that tries to fix something that is not broken. If you are looking for support, our LGBTQIA+ affirming services can help! Learn more about our LGBTQIA+ Celebratory therapy in North Carolina here.
And for those navigating trauma related to past experiences, including conversion therapy, trauma-informed therapy matters – learn more about trauma therapy in Durham and North Carolina here!
If You’ve Experienced Conversion Therapy
Let’s talk directly to you for a moment. Maybe you were told something was wrong with you. Maybe you learned to hide parts of yourself to stay safe. Maybe you are still untangling what is yours versus what was imposed on you.
You are not broken. You were responding to an environment that could not hold you safely. The environment is the problem, not you. You deserve to be seen and celebrated, and that is what we do.
Healing might look like:
- Reconnecting with your identity at your own pace
- Unlearning shame that was never yours to carry
- Finding community that reflects and celebrates you
- Building a relationship with yourself rooted in trust
And you do not have to do that alone. Our LGBTQIA+ celebratory clinicians at Be BOLD Psychology and Consulting are well-equipped to help clients who have experienced abusive, painful, or unaffirming environments. We support clients who have experienced religious harm, are experiencing sociopolitical stressors, or family alienation. Reach out, we would love to help.
Our Commitment Moving Forward
We will continue to advocate. We will continue to affirm. We will continue to provide care that is ethical, evidence-based, and grounded in respect for who you are. We will continue to fight, and we will continue to hold accountable clinicians who are practicing outside of our ethical imperative to do no harm.
Because your identity is not a problem to solve. It is something to honor.
Ready to Work with an LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapist in North Carolina?
If you are ready to begin or continue your healing journey, we are here.
Request an appointment: https://beboldpsychnc.com/appointment-request/
Email: info@beboldpsychnc.com
Call or text: 919-525-1873
Browse our team: https://beboldpsychnc.com/therapists-in-north-carolina-and-virginia/
Whether you are processing past harm or seeking affirming support for the first time, you deserve care that meets you with respect, compassion, and truth.
