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Mar 21, 2026
The Real Success Rate of Conversion Therapy: What Medical Research Tells Christian Families
No credible scientific study has ever demonstrated that conversion therapy reliably changes who a person is attracted to or how they see themselves.
Quick Takeaways
No credible scientific study has ever demonstrated that conversion therapy reliably changes who a person is attracted to or how they see themselves.
A federal judge ruled it fraudulent to advertise "success statistics" for conversion therapy because, in his words, "there is no factual basis for calculating such statistics."
Research published in JAMA Pediatrics estimates that conversion therapy costs families nearly $98,000 per child in downstream harms over a lifetime.
Kids who go through these practices are significantly more likely to experience depression and suicidal thoughts, not relief.
Loving your child well and honoring your faith are not in conflict. Families who stay connected with their kids see better outcomes across every measure that matters.
When a child begins seeing themselves differently, the fear a parent feels is real. The love behind that fear is real, too. So when someone offers a solution, it makes sense that parents want to believe it will work.
But here is what the medical record actually shows: conversion therapy does not work. Not sometimes, not for most people. The scientific literature contains no credible evidence that these practices reliably change who a child is attracted to or how they see themselves. That is not an opinion. It is the conclusion of every major medical and psychiatric organization in the United States.
And a court of law has said as much.
What the Courts Found
In Ferguson v. JONAH, a landmark 2015 New Jersey jury verdict, the judge ruled that it is fraudulent to offer "success statistics" for conversion therapy because "there is no factual basis for calculating such statistics." The court permanently shut down the organization and ordered it to pay $72,400 to the families it had defrauded.
The judge went further, excluding expert witnesses who claimed conversion therapy works and writing that the theory underlying those claims was "outdated and refuted," comparing it to the long-disproven idea that the earth is flat.
When the legal system calls something a fraud, parents deserve to know.
What Medical Research Found
A peer-reviewed study published in JAMA Pediatrics put real numbers to what families are actually purchasing. Researchers found that conversion therapy costs an estimated $97,985 per child in lifetime downstream harms, including costs associated with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal crises. Across the country, those harms add up to $9.23 billion in total annual economic burden.
Kids who go through these practices show dramatically worse outcomes than those who do not. Compared to minors with no conversion attempts, those subjected to these practices showed rates of depression at 65% versus 27%, and suicide attempts at 58% versus 39%.
These are not side effects. These are the results. To understand what these practices actually involve, see our full breakdown of conversion therapy explained.
Why the "Success Stories" Don't Hold Up
Providers who market conversion therapy often point to testimonials. But research on those accounts consistently finds that reported changes in attraction are temporary, self-reported, and frequently reversed. Dr. Robert Spitzer, whose 2003 study was once cited as evidence that change was possible, later publicly retracted his conclusions, saying his methodology was flawed and that he had been used by advocates to promote something his data did not actually support.
No reputable, peer-reviewed study has replicated lasting change. The anecdotes parents encounter online are marketing, not medicine.
What Families Actually Gain From These Programs
Many approaches used in conversion therapy do something else parents rarely anticipate: they blame the parent. Practitioners frequently tell families that same-sex attraction or a child seeing themselves differently stems from faulty parenting. Mothers are told they were too close. Fathers are told they were too distant.
Families pay to be told they failed their child. And then they watch their relationships fracture under the weight of that accusation.
One mother described it plainly: "He was just a really good salesman. He told me he had therapies that would work, that would change him. When asked why I joined the lawsuit, my answer was simple: he lied."
What Actually Helps
Research is consistent on this point: children whose parents stay engaged, loving, and present fare significantly better. Youth who experienced parent-initiated conversion attempts were more than twice as likely to attempt suicide (48%) compared to peers whose parents maintained connection without attempting to change them (22%), according to research cited in JAMA Pediatrics.
The path forward is not a program. It is a relationship.
What does conversion therapy actually accomplish? A court said it cannot deliver what it promises. The medical literature says the harms are measurable and severe. And the families who have been through it often describe the same outcome: a child in worse shape and a relationship harder to repair.
Loving your child and being faithful to your values are not in conflict. But paying for something that has never been shown to work, while the evidence of harm mounts, is a choice families deserve to make with full information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does conversion therapy actually work? No credible peer-reviewed research has demonstrated that conversion therapy reliably changes who a child is attracted to or how they see themselves. Every major medical and psychiatric organization in the United States has concluded these practices do not produce the outcomes providers claim.
What are the risks of conversion therapy for minors? Research published in JAMA Pediatrics found that minors who undergo these practices show depression rates of 65% compared to 27% among those with no conversion attempts, and suicide attempt rates of 58% compared to 39%. The same study estimated $97,985 in lifetime downstream costs per child exposed.
Has a court ever ruled on whether conversion therapy works? Yes. In Ferguson v. JONAH, a New Jersey judge ruled in 2015 that offering "success statistics" for conversion therapy is fraudulent because "there is no factual basis for calculating such statistics." The organization was permanently shut down and ordered to pay restitution.
What do Christian families usually experience after conversion therapy? Families frequently report strained relationships, increased emotional distance from their children, and significant financial loss. Many describe being told their parenting caused their child's same-sex attraction, which added guilt without producing any of the promised results.
What should Christian parents do instead of conversion therapy? Research consistently shows that children with connected, supportive parents experience better long-term outcomes across every measured category. Maintaining an open relationship with your child, finding a faith community that can offer genuine pastoral support, and consulting licensed mental health professionals who do not practice conversion methods are all approaches backed by evidence.
Recent posts
Mar 21, 2026
Mar 21, 2026
The Real Success Rate of Conversion Therapy: What Medical Research Tells Christian Families
No credible scientific study has ever demonstrated that conversion therapy reliably changes who a person is attracted to or how they see themselves.
Quick Takeaways
No credible scientific study has ever demonstrated that conversion therapy reliably changes who a person is attracted to or how they see themselves.
A federal judge ruled it fraudulent to advertise "success statistics" for conversion therapy because, in his words, "there is no factual basis for calculating such statistics."
Research published in JAMA Pediatrics estimates that conversion therapy costs families nearly $98,000 per child in downstream harms over a lifetime.
Kids who go through these practices are significantly more likely to experience depression and suicidal thoughts, not relief.
Loving your child well and honoring your faith are not in conflict. Families who stay connected with their kids see better outcomes across every measure that matters.
When a child begins seeing themselves differently, the fear a parent feels is real. The love behind that fear is real, too. So when someone offers a solution, it makes sense that parents want to believe it will work.
But here is what the medical record actually shows: conversion therapy does not work. Not sometimes, not for most people. The scientific literature contains no credible evidence that these practices reliably change who a child is attracted to or how they see themselves. That is not an opinion. It is the conclusion of every major medical and psychiatric organization in the United States.
And a court of law has said as much.
What the Courts Found
In Ferguson v. JONAH, a landmark 2015 New Jersey jury verdict, the judge ruled that it is fraudulent to offer "success statistics" for conversion therapy because "there is no factual basis for calculating such statistics." The court permanently shut down the organization and ordered it to pay $72,400 to the families it had defrauded.
The judge went further, excluding expert witnesses who claimed conversion therapy works and writing that the theory underlying those claims was "outdated and refuted," comparing it to the long-disproven idea that the earth is flat.
When the legal system calls something a fraud, parents deserve to know.
What Medical Research Found
A peer-reviewed study published in JAMA Pediatrics put real numbers to what families are actually purchasing. Researchers found that conversion therapy costs an estimated $97,985 per child in lifetime downstream harms, including costs associated with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal crises. Across the country, those harms add up to $9.23 billion in total annual economic burden.
Kids who go through these practices show dramatically worse outcomes than those who do not. Compared to minors with no conversion attempts, those subjected to these practices showed rates of depression at 65% versus 27%, and suicide attempts at 58% versus 39%.
These are not side effects. These are the results. To understand what these practices actually involve, see our full breakdown of conversion therapy explained.
Why the "Success Stories" Don't Hold Up
Providers who market conversion therapy often point to testimonials. But research on those accounts consistently finds that reported changes in attraction are temporary, self-reported, and frequently reversed. Dr. Robert Spitzer, whose 2003 study was once cited as evidence that change was possible, later publicly retracted his conclusions, saying his methodology was flawed and that he had been used by advocates to promote something his data did not actually support.
No reputable, peer-reviewed study has replicated lasting change. The anecdotes parents encounter online are marketing, not medicine.
What Families Actually Gain From These Programs
Many approaches used in conversion therapy do something else parents rarely anticipate: they blame the parent. Practitioners frequently tell families that same-sex attraction or a child seeing themselves differently stems from faulty parenting. Mothers are told they were too close. Fathers are told they were too distant.
Families pay to be told they failed their child. And then they watch their relationships fracture under the weight of that accusation.
One mother described it plainly: "He was just a really good salesman. He told me he had therapies that would work, that would change him. When asked why I joined the lawsuit, my answer was simple: he lied."
What Actually Helps
Research is consistent on this point: children whose parents stay engaged, loving, and present fare significantly better. Youth who experienced parent-initiated conversion attempts were more than twice as likely to attempt suicide (48%) compared to peers whose parents maintained connection without attempting to change them (22%), according to research cited in JAMA Pediatrics.
The path forward is not a program. It is a relationship.
What does conversion therapy actually accomplish? A court said it cannot deliver what it promises. The medical literature says the harms are measurable and severe. And the families who have been through it often describe the same outcome: a child in worse shape and a relationship harder to repair.
Loving your child and being faithful to your values are not in conflict. But paying for something that has never been shown to work, while the evidence of harm mounts, is a choice families deserve to make with full information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does conversion therapy actually work? No credible peer-reviewed research has demonstrated that conversion therapy reliably changes who a child is attracted to or how they see themselves. Every major medical and psychiatric organization in the United States has concluded these practices do not produce the outcomes providers claim.
What are the risks of conversion therapy for minors? Research published in JAMA Pediatrics found that minors who undergo these practices show depression rates of 65% compared to 27% among those with no conversion attempts, and suicide attempt rates of 58% compared to 39%. The same study estimated $97,985 in lifetime downstream costs per child exposed.
Has a court ever ruled on whether conversion therapy works? Yes. In Ferguson v. JONAH, a New Jersey judge ruled in 2015 that offering "success statistics" for conversion therapy is fraudulent because "there is no factual basis for calculating such statistics." The organization was permanently shut down and ordered to pay restitution.
What do Christian families usually experience after conversion therapy? Families frequently report strained relationships, increased emotional distance from their children, and significant financial loss. Many describe being told their parenting caused their child's same-sex attraction, which added guilt without producing any of the promised results.
What should Christian parents do instead of conversion therapy? Research consistently shows that children with connected, supportive parents experience better long-term outcomes across every measured category. Maintaining an open relationship with your child, finding a faith community that can offer genuine pastoral support, and consulting licensed mental health professionals who do not practice conversion methods are all approaches backed by evidence.
Recent posts
Mar 21, 2026
Mar 21, 2026
The Real Success Rate of Conversion Therapy: What Medical Research Tells Christian Families
No credible scientific study has ever demonstrated that conversion therapy reliably changes who a person is attracted to or how they see themselves.
Quick Takeaways
No credible scientific study has ever demonstrated that conversion therapy reliably changes who a person is attracted to or how they see themselves.
A federal judge ruled it fraudulent to advertise "success statistics" for conversion therapy because, in his words, "there is no factual basis for calculating such statistics."
Research published in JAMA Pediatrics estimates that conversion therapy costs families nearly $98,000 per child in downstream harms over a lifetime.
Kids who go through these practices are significantly more likely to experience depression and suicidal thoughts, not relief.
Loving your child well and honoring your faith are not in conflict. Families who stay connected with their kids see better outcomes across every measure that matters.
When a child begins seeing themselves differently, the fear a parent feels is real. The love behind that fear is real, too. So when someone offers a solution, it makes sense that parents want to believe it will work.
But here is what the medical record actually shows: conversion therapy does not work. Not sometimes, not for most people. The scientific literature contains no credible evidence that these practices reliably change who a child is attracted to or how they see themselves. That is not an opinion. It is the conclusion of every major medical and psychiatric organization in the United States.
And a court of law has said as much.
What the Courts Found
In Ferguson v. JONAH, a landmark 2015 New Jersey jury verdict, the judge ruled that it is fraudulent to offer "success statistics" for conversion therapy because "there is no factual basis for calculating such statistics." The court permanently shut down the organization and ordered it to pay $72,400 to the families it had defrauded.
The judge went further, excluding expert witnesses who claimed conversion therapy works and writing that the theory underlying those claims was "outdated and refuted," comparing it to the long-disproven idea that the earth is flat.
When the legal system calls something a fraud, parents deserve to know.
What Medical Research Found
A peer-reviewed study published in JAMA Pediatrics put real numbers to what families are actually purchasing. Researchers found that conversion therapy costs an estimated $97,985 per child in lifetime downstream harms, including costs associated with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal crises. Across the country, those harms add up to $9.23 billion in total annual economic burden.
Kids who go through these practices show dramatically worse outcomes than those who do not. Compared to minors with no conversion attempts, those subjected to these practices showed rates of depression at 65% versus 27%, and suicide attempts at 58% versus 39%.
These are not side effects. These are the results. To understand what these practices actually involve, see our full breakdown of conversion therapy explained.
Why the "Success Stories" Don't Hold Up
Providers who market conversion therapy often point to testimonials. But research on those accounts consistently finds that reported changes in attraction are temporary, self-reported, and frequently reversed. Dr. Robert Spitzer, whose 2003 study was once cited as evidence that change was possible, later publicly retracted his conclusions, saying his methodology was flawed and that he had been used by advocates to promote something his data did not actually support.
No reputable, peer-reviewed study has replicated lasting change. The anecdotes parents encounter online are marketing, not medicine.
What Families Actually Gain From These Programs
Many approaches used in conversion therapy do something else parents rarely anticipate: they blame the parent. Practitioners frequently tell families that same-sex attraction or a child seeing themselves differently stems from faulty parenting. Mothers are told they were too close. Fathers are told they were too distant.
Families pay to be told they failed their child. And then they watch their relationships fracture under the weight of that accusation.
One mother described it plainly: "He was just a really good salesman. He told me he had therapies that would work, that would change him. When asked why I joined the lawsuit, my answer was simple: he lied."
What Actually Helps
Research is consistent on this point: children whose parents stay engaged, loving, and present fare significantly better. Youth who experienced parent-initiated conversion attempts were more than twice as likely to attempt suicide (48%) compared to peers whose parents maintained connection without attempting to change them (22%), according to research cited in JAMA Pediatrics.
The path forward is not a program. It is a relationship.
What does conversion therapy actually accomplish? A court said it cannot deliver what it promises. The medical literature says the harms are measurable and severe. And the families who have been through it often describe the same outcome: a child in worse shape and a relationship harder to repair.
Loving your child and being faithful to your values are not in conflict. But paying for something that has never been shown to work, while the evidence of harm mounts, is a choice families deserve to make with full information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does conversion therapy actually work? No credible peer-reviewed research has demonstrated that conversion therapy reliably changes who a child is attracted to or how they see themselves. Every major medical and psychiatric organization in the United States has concluded these practices do not produce the outcomes providers claim.
What are the risks of conversion therapy for minors? Research published in JAMA Pediatrics found that minors who undergo these practices show depression rates of 65% compared to 27% among those with no conversion attempts, and suicide attempt rates of 58% compared to 39%. The same study estimated $97,985 in lifetime downstream costs per child exposed.
Has a court ever ruled on whether conversion therapy works? Yes. In Ferguson v. JONAH, a New Jersey judge ruled in 2015 that offering "success statistics" for conversion therapy is fraudulent because "there is no factual basis for calculating such statistics." The organization was permanently shut down and ordered to pay restitution.
What do Christian families usually experience after conversion therapy? Families frequently report strained relationships, increased emotional distance from their children, and significant financial loss. Many describe being told their parenting caused their child's same-sex attraction, which added guilt without producing any of the promised results.
What should Christian parents do instead of conversion therapy? Research consistently shows that children with connected, supportive parents experience better long-term outcomes across every measured category. Maintaining an open relationship with your child, finding a faith community that can offer genuine pastoral support, and consulting licensed mental health professionals who do not practice conversion methods are all approaches backed by evidence.