conversion therapy what is it

Conversion therapy is a set of practices that try to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, usually to make them heterosexual or align with their sex assigned at birth. Major medical and mental health groups say it does not work and can cause serious psychological harm, including increased depression and suicide risk.

What it includes

It can take different forms, including talk-based counseling, religious interventions, or more coercive methods. Some descriptions include prayer, “reparative” counseling, aversion techniques, or other attempts to suppress LGBTQ identity.

Why it’s controversial

Supporters often frame it as helping someone change behavior or beliefs, but critics and medical experts describe it as harmful and discriminatory. The core problem is that it treats LGBTQ identity as something to fix rather than a normal part of human experience.

Current context

This issue is still being debated in law and politics. On March 31, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for minors, while medical organizations continued to say the practice is ineffective and dangerous.

TL;DR

Conversion therapy is an attempt to change LGBTQ identity, and it is widely rejected by health experts because it is ineffective and harmful.