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How to Report a Counselor Who Practiced Conversion Therapy on Your Child
If a counselor tries to change who your child is attracted to or how your child sees themselves, you can report it in more than one place.
If a counselor tries to change who your child is attracted to or how your child sees themselves, you can report it in more than one place. Start with the state licensing board that issued the counselor's license. Boards review complaints and can discipline a license. If the counselor belongs to a professional group such as the American Counseling Association, you can file an ethics complaint there too. If you paid for a promised result, your state attorney general or a private attorney may be able to help.
You can also share your experience anonymously with CT4F. Because the Supreme Court's 2026 ruling in Chiles v. Salazar changed how some state rules apply to talk therapy, describe exactly what the counselor said and did, and let the board decide which rules apply.
Quick Takeaways
The licensing board that issued the counselor's license is usually the first place to report.
Gather records, bills, messages, and a dated timeline before you file.
Professional associations can review ethics complaints against their members.
Paying for a promised change can be a consumer fraud issue, as a New Jersey jury found.
Reporting protects other families, not only your own.
First, Take Care of Your Child
Your child's well-being and your relationship come first. End the sessions and tell your child that the counseling is over and that your love has not changed. These practices can leave children with depression, anxiety, and trauma, as CT4F explains in the risks and harms of "conversion therapy". CT4F's guide to trauma-informed support after "conversion therapy" can help you find a counselor who will not try to change your child. A solution that divides families is not a solution at all.
Where to Report
The State Licensing Board
Licensed counselors, therapists, and social workers answer to a state board. In Colorado, for example, you can file a complaint online or by mail. If a board finds a violation, outcomes can include probation, fines, and suspension or revocation of a license. Boards cannot award money or bring criminal charges.
Professional Associations
Many counselors also belong to national groups with their own ethics codes. The American Counseling Association's Ethics Committee reviews complaints against active members, and the process starts with an email to ethics@counseling.org. Check the counselor's website or intake paperwork for memberships.
Consumer Protection and the Courts
"Conversion therapy" is a scam, and courts have treated it that way. In Ferguson v. JONAH, a New Jersey jury found a provider liable under the state's consumer fraud law in 2015. If you paid for a promised change, contact your state attorney general or a private attorney. In Colorado, a law signed on June 1, 2026 gives people harmed by these practices a way to seek legal action under existing medical malpractice laws.
Share Your Story with CT4F
You can report a provider anonymously to CT4F. Sharing what happened helps protect other families from the same harm.
What Chiles v. Salazar Changed
On March 31, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that Colorado's law, as applied to counselor Kaley Chiles's talk therapy, regulates speech based on viewpoint. It sent the case back to the lower courts. In simple terms, some state rules on talk therapy now face a tougher legal test. Licensing boards still oversee licensed professionals, so report what happened and let the board apply the rules. CT4F walks through the details in Chiles v. Salazar, explained.
What to Gather Before You Report
Records: As a parent, you can usually request your child's health records, though psychotherapy notes are excluded.
Bills and receipts: Every invoice, payment, and package price.
Messages: Emails, texts, intake forms, and handouts.
A timeline: Dates, what was said, and how your child responded.
CT4F's list of warning signs of "conversion therapy" can help you put words to what you saw.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I report a counselor for "conversion therapy"?
Yes. Start with the state board that licensed the counselor. Boards review complaints and can discipline a license.
Can I report a counselor anonymously?
Often. Colorado's licensing division accepts anonymous complaints but may dismiss one if it cannot reach you. CT4F also accepts anonymous reports.
Will the counselor see my complaint?
Usually. In Colorado, the licensee typically receives a copy of the complaint and the documents you submit.
Can a licensing board get my money back?
No. Colorado's licensing division says boards cannot award damages or resolve fee disputes. A private attorney or your attorney general may help.
Is "conversion therapy" still banned after Chiles v. Salazar?
The Court ruled that Colorado's law, as applied to counselor Kaley Chiles's talk therapy, regulates speech based on viewpoint, and sent the case back. Colorado has since passed a new law. Rules vary, so check your state.
Sources and Further Reading
Reporting and Records
American Counseling Association: ethics complaints against ACA members
National Association of Attorneys General: find your state attorney general
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: your right to your medical records
Law and Court Rulings
CT4F Resources for Families
Publicaciones recientes
How to Report a Counselor Who Practiced Conversion Therapy on Your Child
If a counselor tries to change who your child is attracted to or how your child sees themselves, you can report it in more than one place.
If a counselor tries to change who your child is attracted to or how your child sees themselves, you can report it in more than one place. Start with the state licensing board that issued the counselor's license. Boards review complaints and can discipline a license. If the counselor belongs to a professional group such as the American Counseling Association, you can file an ethics complaint there too. If you paid for a promised result, your state attorney general or a private attorney may be able to help.
You can also share your experience anonymously with CT4F. Because the Supreme Court's 2026 ruling in Chiles v. Salazar changed how some state rules apply to talk therapy, describe exactly what the counselor said and did, and let the board decide which rules apply.
Quick Takeaways
The licensing board that issued the counselor's license is usually the first place to report.
Gather records, bills, messages, and a dated timeline before you file.
Professional associations can review ethics complaints against their members.
Paying for a promised change can be a consumer fraud issue, as a New Jersey jury found.
Reporting protects other families, not only your own.
First, Take Care of Your Child
Your child's well-being and your relationship come first. End the sessions and tell your child that the counseling is over and that your love has not changed. These practices can leave children with depression, anxiety, and trauma, as CT4F explains in the risks and harms of "conversion therapy". CT4F's guide to trauma-informed support after "conversion therapy" can help you find a counselor who will not try to change your child. A solution that divides families is not a solution at all.
Where to Report
The State Licensing Board
Licensed counselors, therapists, and social workers answer to a state board. In Colorado, for example, you can file a complaint online or by mail. If a board finds a violation, outcomes can include probation, fines, and suspension or revocation of a license. Boards cannot award money or bring criminal charges.
Professional Associations
Many counselors also belong to national groups with their own ethics codes. The American Counseling Association's Ethics Committee reviews complaints against active members, and the process starts with an email to ethics@counseling.org. Check the counselor's website or intake paperwork for memberships.
Consumer Protection and the Courts
"Conversion therapy" is a scam, and courts have treated it that way. In Ferguson v. JONAH, a New Jersey jury found a provider liable under the state's consumer fraud law in 2015. If you paid for a promised change, contact your state attorney general or a private attorney. In Colorado, a law signed on June 1, 2026 gives people harmed by these practices a way to seek legal action under existing medical malpractice laws.
Share Your Story with CT4F
You can report a provider anonymously to CT4F. Sharing what happened helps protect other families from the same harm.
What Chiles v. Salazar Changed
On March 31, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that Colorado's law, as applied to counselor Kaley Chiles's talk therapy, regulates speech based on viewpoint. It sent the case back to the lower courts. In simple terms, some state rules on talk therapy now face a tougher legal test. Licensing boards still oversee licensed professionals, so report what happened and let the board apply the rules. CT4F walks through the details in Chiles v. Salazar, explained.
What to Gather Before You Report
Records: As a parent, you can usually request your child's health records, though psychotherapy notes are excluded.
Bills and receipts: Every invoice, payment, and package price.
Messages: Emails, texts, intake forms, and handouts.
A timeline: Dates, what was said, and how your child responded.
CT4F's list of warning signs of "conversion therapy" can help you put words to what you saw.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I report a counselor for "conversion therapy"?
Yes. Start with the state board that licensed the counselor. Boards review complaints and can discipline a license.
Can I report a counselor anonymously?
Often. Colorado's licensing division accepts anonymous complaints but may dismiss one if it cannot reach you. CT4F also accepts anonymous reports.
Will the counselor see my complaint?
Usually. In Colorado, the licensee typically receives a copy of the complaint and the documents you submit.
Can a licensing board get my money back?
No. Colorado's licensing division says boards cannot award damages or resolve fee disputes. A private attorney or your attorney general may help.
Is "conversion therapy" still banned after Chiles v. Salazar?
The Court ruled that Colorado's law, as applied to counselor Kaley Chiles's talk therapy, regulates speech based on viewpoint, and sent the case back. Colorado has since passed a new law. Rules vary, so check your state.
Sources and Further Reading
Reporting and Records
American Counseling Association: ethics complaints against ACA members
National Association of Attorneys General: find your state attorney general
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: your right to your medical records
Law and Court Rulings
CT4F Resources for Families
Publicaciones recientes
How to Report a Counselor Who Practiced Conversion Therapy on Your Child
If a counselor tries to change who your child is attracted to or how your child sees themselves, you can report it in more than one place.
If a counselor tries to change who your child is attracted to or how your child sees themselves, you can report it in more than one place. Start with the state licensing board that issued the counselor's license. Boards review complaints and can discipline a license. If the counselor belongs to a professional group such as the American Counseling Association, you can file an ethics complaint there too. If you paid for a promised result, your state attorney general or a private attorney may be able to help.
You can also share your experience anonymously with CT4F. Because the Supreme Court's 2026 ruling in Chiles v. Salazar changed how some state rules apply to talk therapy, describe exactly what the counselor said and did, and let the board decide which rules apply.
Quick Takeaways
The licensing board that issued the counselor's license is usually the first place to report.
Gather records, bills, messages, and a dated timeline before you file.
Professional associations can review ethics complaints against their members.
Paying for a promised change can be a consumer fraud issue, as a New Jersey jury found.
Reporting protects other families, not only your own.
First, Take Care of Your Child
Your child's well-being and your relationship come first. End the sessions and tell your child that the counseling is over and that your love has not changed. These practices can leave children with depression, anxiety, and trauma, as CT4F explains in the risks and harms of "conversion therapy". CT4F's guide to trauma-informed support after "conversion therapy" can help you find a counselor who will not try to change your child. A solution that divides families is not a solution at all.
Where to Report
The State Licensing Board
Licensed counselors, therapists, and social workers answer to a state board. In Colorado, for example, you can file a complaint online or by mail. If a board finds a violation, outcomes can include probation, fines, and suspension or revocation of a license. Boards cannot award money or bring criminal charges.
Professional Associations
Many counselors also belong to national groups with their own ethics codes. The American Counseling Association's Ethics Committee reviews complaints against active members, and the process starts with an email to ethics@counseling.org. Check the counselor's website or intake paperwork for memberships.
Consumer Protection and the Courts
"Conversion therapy" is a scam, and courts have treated it that way. In Ferguson v. JONAH, a New Jersey jury found a provider liable under the state's consumer fraud law in 2015. If you paid for a promised change, contact your state attorney general or a private attorney. In Colorado, a law signed on June 1, 2026 gives people harmed by these practices a way to seek legal action under existing medical malpractice laws.
Share Your Story with CT4F
You can report a provider anonymously to CT4F. Sharing what happened helps protect other families from the same harm.
What Chiles v. Salazar Changed
On March 31, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that Colorado's law, as applied to counselor Kaley Chiles's talk therapy, regulates speech based on viewpoint. It sent the case back to the lower courts. In simple terms, some state rules on talk therapy now face a tougher legal test. Licensing boards still oversee licensed professionals, so report what happened and let the board apply the rules. CT4F walks through the details in Chiles v. Salazar, explained.
What to Gather Before You Report
Records: As a parent, you can usually request your child's health records, though psychotherapy notes are excluded.
Bills and receipts: Every invoice, payment, and package price.
Messages: Emails, texts, intake forms, and handouts.
A timeline: Dates, what was said, and how your child responded.
CT4F's list of warning signs of "conversion therapy" can help you put words to what you saw.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I report a counselor for "conversion therapy"?
Yes. Start with the state board that licensed the counselor. Boards review complaints and can discipline a license.
Can I report a counselor anonymously?
Often. Colorado's licensing division accepts anonymous complaints but may dismiss one if it cannot reach you. CT4F also accepts anonymous reports.
Will the counselor see my complaint?
Usually. In Colorado, the licensee typically receives a copy of the complaint and the documents you submit.
Can a licensing board get my money back?
No. Colorado's licensing division says boards cannot award damages or resolve fee disputes. A private attorney or your attorney general may help.
Is "conversion therapy" still banned after Chiles v. Salazar?
The Court ruled that Colorado's law, as applied to counselor Kaley Chiles's talk therapy, regulates speech based on viewpoint, and sent the case back. Colorado has since passed a new law. Rules vary, so check your state.
Sources and Further Reading
Reporting and Records
American Counseling Association: ethics complaints against ACA members
National Association of Attorneys General: find your state attorney general
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: your right to your medical records
Law and Court Rulings
CT4F Resources for Families