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Conversion Therapy FAQs
Direct Answer: Conversion therapy raises urgent questions for parents because it sits at the intersection of faith, family, mental health, law, and a child’s wellbeing. The most important thing to know is that conversion therapy does not have credible evidence showing that it can change sexual orientation or gender identity, and major medical organizations warn that it can cause harm. Parents do not have to choose between faith and love. Safer alternatives focus on support, family connection, truthful information, and qualified counseling that does not promise to change a child’s identity.
Everything Faith-Guided Parents and Guardians Need to Know
UPDATED 4/1/2026
As a faith-guided parent or caretaker, hearing that a child you love identifies as transgender brings overwhelming emotions: confusion, fear, even anger. You worry about their soul, their safety, and what people at church or school might think. You wonder how you could honor your faith and protect your child at the same time.
You may have heard about conversion therapy, "reparative therapy," or “gender exploratory” programs. They promise to fix everything, “realign” a child’s identity through prayer or counseling.
Before making any decisions that could permanently harm your child and your family, we at Conversion Truth For Families urge you to be cautious.
On March 31, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled in Chiles v. Salazar that Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors, as applied to talk therapy, violates the First Amendment. That ruling has weakened state-level protections across the country, which means it's more important than ever for parents to understand the facts before trusting a stranger with their child's wellbeing.
This FAQ is written for anyone who loves their kids deeply but wants to make sure the help they seek won’t cause harm. Below, you’ll find clear answers grounded in the real stories of real families who’ve walked this painful road and come out the other side, as well as expertise from medical experts you can trust.
What is conversion therapy, and does it actually work?
How much does conversion therapy increase suicide risk?
What other mental health problems is conversion therapy linked to?
How much does conversion therapy cost?
Why do medical organizations oppose conversion therapy? Should we trust them?
What happens to family relationships after conversion therapy?
Is conversion therapy legal?
What alternatives to conversion therapy are there for faith-aligned parents?
What do people who’ve gone through conversion therapy say about their experiences?
Can therapists refuse to provide conversion therapy if parents request it?
How can parents distinguish between legitimate therapy and conversion therapy?
Conversion therapy preys on parental fear and sells false hope. Those who profit from it know better, and families deserve better.
The truth is simple: outside meddling will never bring a child closer to God or replace our job as parents. Healing starts at the kitchen table, in prayer, and in love that listens.
Parents don’t have to choose between faith and their child.
We encourage you to explore the free alternative resources on our site, connect with other families who have navigated this journey, and most importantly, to choose approaches that preserve your relationship with your child—because no parent should have to look back with regret, wishing they had chosen love over a false promise of change.
Your child needs you now more than ever, and with the right support and information, your family can emerge from this challenge stronger, closer, and more resilient.
Primary Sources & Further Reading
Conversion Therapy Definitions and Medical Consensus
American Psychological Association overview of the evidence against conversion therapy
SAMHSA report on ending conversion therapy and supporting LGBTQ youth
American Psychiatric Association position statement on conversion therapy and LGBTQ patients
American Medical Association issue brief on sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry policy statement on conversion therapy
Conversion Therapy, Suicide Risk, and Mental Health
The Trevor Project 2024 National Survey on LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health
The Trevor Project research brief on conversion therapy exposure and suicidal thoughts and behaviors
JAMA Psychiatry study on gender identity conversion efforts and psychological distress
Parent-initiated sexual orientation change efforts and young adult mental health outcomes
Stanford Medicine report on conversion practices linked to depression, PTSD, and suicidality
Legal Questions
Movement Advancement Project state-by-state conversion therapy law tracker
Cornell Legal Information Institute text of Chiles v. Salazar
Faith-Aligned Family Support
Family Acceptance Project family education and intervention resources
Family Acceptance Project research on family acceptance and LGBT adolescent health
Cornell What We Know review of family acceptance and rejection research