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Conversion Therapy Is Not Banned in My State. What Protections Are Left?
No federal law prohibits "conversion therapy," so protection depends on where you live.
Living in a state without a "conversion therapy" ban does not leave your family unprotected. According to the Movement Advancement Project, 22 states and the District of Columbia prohibit the practice for minors, and the rest have partial limits, no law, or rules that block local bans. Licensing boards can still discipline providers for unethical or harmful conduct, and malpractice and consumer fraud claims remain available. A New Jersey jury found one provider liable for consumer fraud in 2015. Some cities and counties have their own ordinances. And no law takes away your role as the parent who decides who counsels your child.
Quick Takeaways
No federal law prohibits "conversion therapy," so protection depends on where you live.
Licensing boards can still discipline licensed providers, ban or no ban.
Malpractice and consumer fraud claims remain available after Chiles v. Salazar.
Some cities and counties have local ordinances, though some states block them.
Your strongest protection is your own role as a parent.
Where Things Stand
The Movement Advancement Project tracks these laws. It counts 22 states and the District of Columbia that prohibit "conversion therapy" for minors, 5 states with partial restrictions, 17 states with no law or policy, and 6 states where a law, budget, or court ruling blocks or discourages local bans. By its estimate, about 26 percent of minors ages 13 to 17 who are gay or transgender live in states with no law or policy at all. CT4F's state-by-state explainer shows where conversion therapy is banned.
As of early 2026, there is no federal law against "conversion therapy," and every state ban in force applies only to minors. The Supreme Court's 8-1 ruling in Chiles v. Salazar also means state bans on talk therapy now face a tougher legal test, as CT4F explains in Chiles v. Salazar, explained. CT4F tracks changes state by state in its statewide legal proceedings hub.
Protection One: Licensing Boards
A ban is not the only rule a licensed counselor follows. After the Chiles ruling, the National Center for Lesbian Rights noted that "licensing boards can still discipline providers who engage in unethical or harmful conduct."
Medical guidance gives boards a standard to weigh. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has found these practices "lack scientific credibility and clinical utility." CT4F explains why major medical associations oppose "conversion therapy" in its education library.
Protection Two: Consumer Fraud Law
"Conversion therapy" is a scam, and consumer protection laws still apply to anyone who sells a promised change. In 2015, a New Jersey jury found the provider JONAH liable for consumer fraud, a case CT4F covers in what Ferguson v. JONAH revealed.
Protection Three: Malpractice Claims
According to the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the Chiles decision left traditional malpractice claims intact, along with consumer fraud claims. Colorado went further: a law signed June 1, 2026 gives people harmed by these practices a path to legal action under existing medical malpractice law. Rules differ by state, so talk with an attorney where you live.
Protection Four: Local Ordinances
Some cities and counties have passed their own ordinances, even in states without a statewide ban. In Ohio, for example, the Movement Advancement Project lists ordinances in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. Others cannot. CT4F's guide to conversion therapy laws by state notes that Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee restrict or prohibit local bans.
Protection Five: You
State bans generally do not reach pastoral or religious counseling, and no ban decides who sits across from your child. You do. Families, not doctors, know what is best for their children. Ask any counselor which state license they hold and whether they will try to change who your child is attracted to or how they see themselves. CT4F's guide to whether "conversion therapy" is legal can help you weigh your options, and you can report a provider who crossed the line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is conversion therapy legal in my state?
It depends. The Movement Advancement Project counts 22 states and the District of Columbia that prohibit it for minors. Check where your state stands, since rules are changing after Chiles v. Salazar.
Is there a federal ban on conversion therapy?
No. As of early 2026, no federal law prohibits it, and every state ban in force applies only to minors.
What protections exist if my state has no ban?
Licensing boards can still discipline providers, malpractice and consumer fraud claims remain available, and some cities have local ordinances.
Can I sue a therapist who tried to change my child?
Possibly. Malpractice and consumer fraud claims remain available after Chiles v. Salazar. Rules vary, so speak with an attorney in your state.
Do conversion therapy bans apply to pastors?
Generally not. State bans cover licensed mental health providers, not pastoral or religious counseling.
Sources and Further Reading
Laws and Legal Claims
Medical Guidance
CT4F Resources for Families
Conversion Therapy Is Not Banned in My State. What Protections Are Left?
No federal law prohibits "conversion therapy," so protection depends on where you live.
Living in a state without a "conversion therapy" ban does not leave your family unprotected. According to the Movement Advancement Project, 22 states and the District of Columbia prohibit the practice for minors, and the rest have partial limits, no law, or rules that block local bans. Licensing boards can still discipline providers for unethical or harmful conduct, and malpractice and consumer fraud claims remain available. A New Jersey jury found one provider liable for consumer fraud in 2015. Some cities and counties have their own ordinances. And no law takes away your role as the parent who decides who counsels your child.
Quick Takeaways
No federal law prohibits "conversion therapy," so protection depends on where you live.
Licensing boards can still discipline licensed providers, ban or no ban.
Malpractice and consumer fraud claims remain available after Chiles v. Salazar.
Some cities and counties have local ordinances, though some states block them.
Your strongest protection is your own role as a parent.
Where Things Stand
The Movement Advancement Project tracks these laws. It counts 22 states and the District of Columbia that prohibit "conversion therapy" for minors, 5 states with partial restrictions, 17 states with no law or policy, and 6 states where a law, budget, or court ruling blocks or discourages local bans. By its estimate, about 26 percent of minors ages 13 to 17 who are gay or transgender live in states with no law or policy at all. CT4F's state-by-state explainer shows where conversion therapy is banned.
As of early 2026, there is no federal law against "conversion therapy," and every state ban in force applies only to minors. The Supreme Court's 8-1 ruling in Chiles v. Salazar also means state bans on talk therapy now face a tougher legal test, as CT4F explains in Chiles v. Salazar, explained. CT4F tracks changes state by state in its statewide legal proceedings hub.
Protection One: Licensing Boards
A ban is not the only rule a licensed counselor follows. After the Chiles ruling, the National Center for Lesbian Rights noted that "licensing boards can still discipline providers who engage in unethical or harmful conduct."
Medical guidance gives boards a standard to weigh. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has found these practices "lack scientific credibility and clinical utility." CT4F explains why major medical associations oppose "conversion therapy" in its education library.
Protection Two: Consumer Fraud Law
"Conversion therapy" is a scam, and consumer protection laws still apply to anyone who sells a promised change. In 2015, a New Jersey jury found the provider JONAH liable for consumer fraud, a case CT4F covers in what Ferguson v. JONAH revealed.
Protection Three: Malpractice Claims
According to the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the Chiles decision left traditional malpractice claims intact, along with consumer fraud claims. Colorado went further: a law signed June 1, 2026 gives people harmed by these practices a path to legal action under existing medical malpractice law. Rules differ by state, so talk with an attorney where you live.
Protection Four: Local Ordinances
Some cities and counties have passed their own ordinances, even in states without a statewide ban. In Ohio, for example, the Movement Advancement Project lists ordinances in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. Others cannot. CT4F's guide to conversion therapy laws by state notes that Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee restrict or prohibit local bans.
Protection Five: You
State bans generally do not reach pastoral or religious counseling, and no ban decides who sits across from your child. You do. Families, not doctors, know what is best for their children. Ask any counselor which state license they hold and whether they will try to change who your child is attracted to or how they see themselves. CT4F's guide to whether "conversion therapy" is legal can help you weigh your options, and you can report a provider who crossed the line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is conversion therapy legal in my state?
It depends. The Movement Advancement Project counts 22 states and the District of Columbia that prohibit it for minors. Check where your state stands, since rules are changing after Chiles v. Salazar.
Is there a federal ban on conversion therapy?
No. As of early 2026, no federal law prohibits it, and every state ban in force applies only to minors.
What protections exist if my state has no ban?
Licensing boards can still discipline providers, malpractice and consumer fraud claims remain available, and some cities have local ordinances.
Can I sue a therapist who tried to change my child?
Possibly. Malpractice and consumer fraud claims remain available after Chiles v. Salazar. Rules vary, so speak with an attorney in your state.
Do conversion therapy bans apply to pastors?
Generally not. State bans cover licensed mental health providers, not pastoral or religious counseling.
Sources and Further Reading
Laws and Legal Claims
Medical Guidance
CT4F Resources for Families
Conversion Therapy Is Not Banned in My State. What Protections Are Left?
No federal law prohibits "conversion therapy," so protection depends on where you live.
Living in a state without a "conversion therapy" ban does not leave your family unprotected. According to the Movement Advancement Project, 22 states and the District of Columbia prohibit the practice for minors, and the rest have partial limits, no law, or rules that block local bans. Licensing boards can still discipline providers for unethical or harmful conduct, and malpractice and consumer fraud claims remain available. A New Jersey jury found one provider liable for consumer fraud in 2015. Some cities and counties have their own ordinances. And no law takes away your role as the parent who decides who counsels your child.
Quick Takeaways
No federal law prohibits "conversion therapy," so protection depends on where you live.
Licensing boards can still discipline licensed providers, ban or no ban.
Malpractice and consumer fraud claims remain available after Chiles v. Salazar.
Some cities and counties have local ordinances, though some states block them.
Your strongest protection is your own role as a parent.
Where Things Stand
The Movement Advancement Project tracks these laws. It counts 22 states and the District of Columbia that prohibit "conversion therapy" for minors, 5 states with partial restrictions, 17 states with no law or policy, and 6 states where a law, budget, or court ruling blocks or discourages local bans. By its estimate, about 26 percent of minors ages 13 to 17 who are gay or transgender live in states with no law or policy at all. CT4F's state-by-state explainer shows where conversion therapy is banned.
As of early 2026, there is no federal law against "conversion therapy," and every state ban in force applies only to minors. The Supreme Court's 8-1 ruling in Chiles v. Salazar also means state bans on talk therapy now face a tougher legal test, as CT4F explains in Chiles v. Salazar, explained. CT4F tracks changes state by state in its statewide legal proceedings hub.
Protection One: Licensing Boards
A ban is not the only rule a licensed counselor follows. After the Chiles ruling, the National Center for Lesbian Rights noted that "licensing boards can still discipline providers who engage in unethical or harmful conduct."
Medical guidance gives boards a standard to weigh. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has found these practices "lack scientific credibility and clinical utility." CT4F explains why major medical associations oppose "conversion therapy" in its education library.
Protection Two: Consumer Fraud Law
"Conversion therapy" is a scam, and consumer protection laws still apply to anyone who sells a promised change. In 2015, a New Jersey jury found the provider JONAH liable for consumer fraud, a case CT4F covers in what Ferguson v. JONAH revealed.
Protection Three: Malpractice Claims
According to the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the Chiles decision left traditional malpractice claims intact, along with consumer fraud claims. Colorado went further: a law signed June 1, 2026 gives people harmed by these practices a path to legal action under existing medical malpractice law. Rules differ by state, so talk with an attorney where you live.
Protection Four: Local Ordinances
Some cities and counties have passed their own ordinances, even in states without a statewide ban. In Ohio, for example, the Movement Advancement Project lists ordinances in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. Others cannot. CT4F's guide to conversion therapy laws by state notes that Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee restrict or prohibit local bans.
Protection Five: You
State bans generally do not reach pastoral or religious counseling, and no ban decides who sits across from your child. You do. Families, not doctors, know what is best for their children. Ask any counselor which state license they hold and whether they will try to change who your child is attracted to or how they see themselves. CT4F's guide to whether "conversion therapy" is legal can help you weigh your options, and you can report a provider who crossed the line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is conversion therapy legal in my state?
It depends. The Movement Advancement Project counts 22 states and the District of Columbia that prohibit it for minors. Check where your state stands, since rules are changing after Chiles v. Salazar.
Is there a federal ban on conversion therapy?
No. As of early 2026, no federal law prohibits it, and every state ban in force applies only to minors.
What protections exist if my state has no ban?
Licensing boards can still discipline providers, malpractice and consumer fraud claims remain available, and some cities have local ordinances.
Can I sue a therapist who tried to change my child?
Possibly. Malpractice and consumer fraud claims remain available after Chiles v. Salazar. Rules vary, so speak with an attorney in your state.
Do conversion therapy bans apply to pastors?
Generally not. State bans cover licensed mental health providers, not pastoral or religious counseling.
Sources and Further Reading
Laws and Legal Claims
Medical Guidance
CT4F Resources for Families