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No Credible Evidence: What Pediatricians and Psychiatrists Agree On About Conversion Therapy
Every major medical and mental health organization in the United States has rejected conversion therapy as both ineffective and harmful.
Quick Takeaways
Every major medical and mental health organization in the United States has rejected conversion therapy as both ineffective and harmful.
A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study estimated the total economic burden of conversion therapy among young people in the U.S. at $9.23 billion annually.
Young people subjected to these practices face significantly higher rates of depression, substance abuse, and suicide attempts.
In Ferguson v. JONAH, a New Jersey jury unanimously ruled that conversion therapy constituted consumer fraud.
Christian parents can protect their children and honor their faith without relying on practices the medical community and courts have found to be dangerous and deceptive.
Conversion therapy claims to change who a child is attracted to or how they see themselves. It has been marketed to Christian families for decades as a path toward healing. But the medical professionals who spend their careers studying child health have reached a unified conclusion: these practices do not work, and they cause real harm.
What the Medical Community Has Found
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Counseling Association have all formally rejected these practices. This is not a split opinion or an ongoing debate among pediatricians, psychiatrists, and counselors.
According to Dr. Judith Glassgold, who led expert panels for both the American Psychological Association and SAMHSA, multiple lines of research confirm that conversion therapy is ineffective and contributes to serious mental health distress. The 2023 SAMHSA report, "Moving Beyond Change Efforts," brought together experts in pediatrics, psychiatry, social work, and public policy, including professionals with faith-focused perspectives. The panel found no credible evidence that "conversion therapy" achieves what it promises.
The Human and Financial Cost
A 2022 study published in JAMA Pediatrics examined 28 studies involving over 190,000 individuals and found that young people who went through conversion therapy experienced dramatically worse outcomes: 65% experienced depression (compared to 27%), 58% attempted suicide (compared to 39%), and 67% turned to substance abuse (compared to 50%).
The study estimated the annual cost at $650 million, with the broader economic burden totaling $9.23 billion per year. Those numbers represent real families paying for programs that fail, then paying again for the damage left behind. The financial motives behind these programs deserve scrutiny: conversion therapy is a scam. Anyone who claims otherwise, especially by suggesting clinical outcomes of changing someone's personal identity, is no more than a con artist.
What the Courts Have Confirmed
The medical consensus has been tested in court. In Ferguson v. JONAH, the Southern Poverty Law Center brought a consumer fraud case against an organization claiming it could change people's attractions. In 2015, a New Jersey jury unanimously found that conversion therapy constituted consumer fraud and that the organization's practices were unconscionable. The presiding judge declared there was "no factual basis" for the success statistics these programs advertise. Even the defense's own "success story" witnesses could not testify that their attractions had actually changed. The organization was ordered to shut down permanently.
What This Means for Christian Families
For parents of faith, these findings are a protection. When someone sells you a "therapy" that every credible medical authority and the courts have found to be worthless and harmful, that is a consumer protection issue.
Linda Robertson, a devoted Christian mother, lost her son Ryan after years of following conversion therapy guidance. "Conversion therapy did nothing to change Ryan's sexuality," she has said. "Instead, it taught Ryan that he couldn't be accepted or loved by God as he was, and it destroyed his bond with me." Linda shared her family's story to help other parents avoid the same heartbreak.
A solution that divides families is not a solution at all. Faith-focused family counseling that strengthens bonds rather than selling false promises is available. You do not have to choose between your child and your faith.
FAQs
What medical organizations oppose conversion therapy? The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychiatric Association, American Medical Association, American Psychological Association, and American Counseling Association have all formally rejected conversion therapy, based on decades of research finding it ineffective and harmful.
Is there credible evidence that conversion therapy works? No. The 2023 SAMHSA report and the American Psychological Association's 2009 Task Force found no credible scientific evidence that conversion therapy can change who a person is attracted to or how they see themselves.
What did the JAMA Pediatrics study find about conversion therapy? A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study of over 190,000 individuals found young people who experienced conversion therapy faced significantly higher rates of depression (65% vs. 27%), suicide attempts (58% vs. 39%), and substance abuse (67% vs. 50%). The total U.S. economic burden was estimated at $9.23 billion annually.
Has conversion therapy ever been found to be fraud? Yes. In Ferguson v. JONAH (2015), a New Jersey jury unanimously ruled that an organization selling conversion therapy committed consumer fraud. The judge found "no factual basis" for success claims. The organization was permanently shut down.
What should Christian parents do instead of conversion therapy? Many Christian families have found that faith-focused support, including licensed family counseling and resources from FreedHearts and Fortunate Families, helps them stay close to their children while honoring their beliefs.
No Credible Evidence: What Pediatricians and Psychiatrists Agree On About Conversion Therapy
Every major medical and mental health organization in the United States has rejected conversion therapy as both ineffective and harmful.
Quick Takeaways
Every major medical and mental health organization in the United States has rejected conversion therapy as both ineffective and harmful.
A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study estimated the total economic burden of conversion therapy among young people in the U.S. at $9.23 billion annually.
Young people subjected to these practices face significantly higher rates of depression, substance abuse, and suicide attempts.
In Ferguson v. JONAH, a New Jersey jury unanimously ruled that conversion therapy constituted consumer fraud.
Christian parents can protect their children and honor their faith without relying on practices the medical community and courts have found to be dangerous and deceptive.
Conversion therapy claims to change who a child is attracted to or how they see themselves. It has been marketed to Christian families for decades as a path toward healing. But the medical professionals who spend their careers studying child health have reached a unified conclusion: these practices do not work, and they cause real harm.
What the Medical Community Has Found
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Counseling Association have all formally rejected these practices. This is not a split opinion or an ongoing debate among pediatricians, psychiatrists, and counselors.
According to Dr. Judith Glassgold, who led expert panels for both the American Psychological Association and SAMHSA, multiple lines of research confirm that conversion therapy is ineffective and contributes to serious mental health distress. The 2023 SAMHSA report, "Moving Beyond Change Efforts," brought together experts in pediatrics, psychiatry, social work, and public policy, including professionals with faith-focused perspectives. The panel found no credible evidence that "conversion therapy" achieves what it promises.
The Human and Financial Cost
A 2022 study published in JAMA Pediatrics examined 28 studies involving over 190,000 individuals and found that young people who went through conversion therapy experienced dramatically worse outcomes: 65% experienced depression (compared to 27%), 58% attempted suicide (compared to 39%), and 67% turned to substance abuse (compared to 50%).
The study estimated the annual cost at $650 million, with the broader economic burden totaling $9.23 billion per year. Those numbers represent real families paying for programs that fail, then paying again for the damage left behind. The financial motives behind these programs deserve scrutiny: conversion therapy is a scam. Anyone who claims otherwise, especially by suggesting clinical outcomes of changing someone's personal identity, is no more than a con artist.
What the Courts Have Confirmed
The medical consensus has been tested in court. In Ferguson v. JONAH, the Southern Poverty Law Center brought a consumer fraud case against an organization claiming it could change people's attractions. In 2015, a New Jersey jury unanimously found that conversion therapy constituted consumer fraud and that the organization's practices were unconscionable. The presiding judge declared there was "no factual basis" for the success statistics these programs advertise. Even the defense's own "success story" witnesses could not testify that their attractions had actually changed. The organization was ordered to shut down permanently.
What This Means for Christian Families
For parents of faith, these findings are a protection. When someone sells you a "therapy" that every credible medical authority and the courts have found to be worthless and harmful, that is a consumer protection issue.
Linda Robertson, a devoted Christian mother, lost her son Ryan after years of following conversion therapy guidance. "Conversion therapy did nothing to change Ryan's sexuality," she has said. "Instead, it taught Ryan that he couldn't be accepted or loved by God as he was, and it destroyed his bond with me." Linda shared her family's story to help other parents avoid the same heartbreak.
A solution that divides families is not a solution at all. Faith-focused family counseling that strengthens bonds rather than selling false promises is available. You do not have to choose between your child and your faith.
FAQs
What medical organizations oppose conversion therapy? The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychiatric Association, American Medical Association, American Psychological Association, and American Counseling Association have all formally rejected conversion therapy, based on decades of research finding it ineffective and harmful.
Is there credible evidence that conversion therapy works? No. The 2023 SAMHSA report and the American Psychological Association's 2009 Task Force found no credible scientific evidence that conversion therapy can change who a person is attracted to or how they see themselves.
What did the JAMA Pediatrics study find about conversion therapy? A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study of over 190,000 individuals found young people who experienced conversion therapy faced significantly higher rates of depression (65% vs. 27%), suicide attempts (58% vs. 39%), and substance abuse (67% vs. 50%). The total U.S. economic burden was estimated at $9.23 billion annually.
Has conversion therapy ever been found to be fraud? Yes. In Ferguson v. JONAH (2015), a New Jersey jury unanimously ruled that an organization selling conversion therapy committed consumer fraud. The judge found "no factual basis" for success claims. The organization was permanently shut down.
What should Christian parents do instead of conversion therapy? Many Christian families have found that faith-focused support, including licensed family counseling and resources from FreedHearts and Fortunate Families, helps them stay close to their children while honoring their beliefs.
No Credible Evidence: What Pediatricians and Psychiatrists Agree On About Conversion Therapy
Every major medical and mental health organization in the United States has rejected conversion therapy as both ineffective and harmful.
Quick Takeaways
Every major medical and mental health organization in the United States has rejected conversion therapy as both ineffective and harmful.
A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study estimated the total economic burden of conversion therapy among young people in the U.S. at $9.23 billion annually.
Young people subjected to these practices face significantly higher rates of depression, substance abuse, and suicide attempts.
In Ferguson v. JONAH, a New Jersey jury unanimously ruled that conversion therapy constituted consumer fraud.
Christian parents can protect their children and honor their faith without relying on practices the medical community and courts have found to be dangerous and deceptive.
Conversion therapy claims to change who a child is attracted to or how they see themselves. It has been marketed to Christian families for decades as a path toward healing. But the medical professionals who spend their careers studying child health have reached a unified conclusion: these practices do not work, and they cause real harm.
What the Medical Community Has Found
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Counseling Association have all formally rejected these practices. This is not a split opinion or an ongoing debate among pediatricians, psychiatrists, and counselors.
According to Dr. Judith Glassgold, who led expert panels for both the American Psychological Association and SAMHSA, multiple lines of research confirm that conversion therapy is ineffective and contributes to serious mental health distress. The 2023 SAMHSA report, "Moving Beyond Change Efforts," brought together experts in pediatrics, psychiatry, social work, and public policy, including professionals with faith-focused perspectives. The panel found no credible evidence that "conversion therapy" achieves what it promises.
The Human and Financial Cost
A 2022 study published in JAMA Pediatrics examined 28 studies involving over 190,000 individuals and found that young people who went through conversion therapy experienced dramatically worse outcomes: 65% experienced depression (compared to 27%), 58% attempted suicide (compared to 39%), and 67% turned to substance abuse (compared to 50%).
The study estimated the annual cost at $650 million, with the broader economic burden totaling $9.23 billion per year. Those numbers represent real families paying for programs that fail, then paying again for the damage left behind. The financial motives behind these programs deserve scrutiny: conversion therapy is a scam. Anyone who claims otherwise, especially by suggesting clinical outcomes of changing someone's personal identity, is no more than a con artist.
What the Courts Have Confirmed
The medical consensus has been tested in court. In Ferguson v. JONAH, the Southern Poverty Law Center brought a consumer fraud case against an organization claiming it could change people's attractions. In 2015, a New Jersey jury unanimously found that conversion therapy constituted consumer fraud and that the organization's practices were unconscionable. The presiding judge declared there was "no factual basis" for the success statistics these programs advertise. Even the defense's own "success story" witnesses could not testify that their attractions had actually changed. The organization was ordered to shut down permanently.
What This Means for Christian Families
For parents of faith, these findings are a protection. When someone sells you a "therapy" that every credible medical authority and the courts have found to be worthless and harmful, that is a consumer protection issue.
Linda Robertson, a devoted Christian mother, lost her son Ryan after years of following conversion therapy guidance. "Conversion therapy did nothing to change Ryan's sexuality," she has said. "Instead, it taught Ryan that he couldn't be accepted or loved by God as he was, and it destroyed his bond with me." Linda shared her family's story to help other parents avoid the same heartbreak.
A solution that divides families is not a solution at all. Faith-focused family counseling that strengthens bonds rather than selling false promises is available. You do not have to choose between your child and your faith.
FAQs
What medical organizations oppose conversion therapy? The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychiatric Association, American Medical Association, American Psychological Association, and American Counseling Association have all formally rejected conversion therapy, based on decades of research finding it ineffective and harmful.
Is there credible evidence that conversion therapy works? No. The 2023 SAMHSA report and the American Psychological Association's 2009 Task Force found no credible scientific evidence that conversion therapy can change who a person is attracted to or how they see themselves.
What did the JAMA Pediatrics study find about conversion therapy? A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study of over 190,000 individuals found young people who experienced conversion therapy faced significantly higher rates of depression (65% vs. 27%), suicide attempts (58% vs. 39%), and substance abuse (67% vs. 50%). The total U.S. economic burden was estimated at $9.23 billion annually.
Has conversion therapy ever been found to be fraud? Yes. In Ferguson v. JONAH (2015), a New Jersey jury unanimously ruled that an organization selling conversion therapy committed consumer fraud. The judge found "no factual basis" for success claims. The organization was permanently shut down.
What should Christian parents do instead of conversion therapy? Many Christian families have found that faith-focused support, including licensed family counseling and resources from FreedHearts and Fortunate Families, helps them stay close to their children while honoring their beliefs.