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13 mar 2026
What the APA, AMA, and AAP Actually Say About Conversion Therapy, and Why It Matters for Christian Parents
Every major medical and mental health organization in the U.S., including the APA, AMA, and AAP, opposes conversion therapy.
Quick Takeaways
Every major medical and mental health organization in the U.S., including the APA, AMA, and AAP, opposes conversion therapy.
These groups agree that conversion therapy cannot change who a person is attracted to or how they see themselves, and that it causes serious harm.
A federal expert panel convened by SAMHSA confirmed these practices should never be used on children or teens.
Courts have ruled that selling conversion therapy constitutes consumer fraud.
Christian parents can protect their children and stay rooted in faith without turning to debunked, dangerous practices.
When your child comes to you with questions about who they are or who they're attracted to, you want to protect them. If someone tells you conversion therapy can help, it feels worth looking into.
But before any family invests time, money, or trust in these practices, there's something you should know: the most respected medical and mental health organizations in the country agree that conversion therapy doesn't work and puts children at risk. This isn't a political opinion. It's a medical consensus built over decades of research.
What Do These Organizations Actually Say?
The American Psychological Association (APA) conducted a comprehensive task force review in 2009 and found no credible evidence that conversion therapy changes who a person is attracted to. The APA concluded these practices are linked to serious harm, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has called for an end to these practices, noting they lack scientific support and carry real risks. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have all issued similar positions.
In total, over 20 professional organizations have rejected "conversion therapy," including the American Counseling Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Pan American Health Organization. Yet many parents still wonder: Does conversion therapy actually work? The research, and the organizations that study it, say no.
What Does the Research Show?
In 2023, SAMHSA published a landmark report called Moving Beyond Change Efforts, led by Dr. Judith Glassgold and a panel of experts in child development, family therapy, and faith-based care. Their conclusion was clear: these practices are harmful and should never be provided to children or teens. The panel found no research supporting the claim that "conversion therapy" benefits kids or families, and confirmed it is linked to increased risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts.
A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study found that minors subjected to these practices experienced dramatically higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal behavior compared to those who received supportive care. Yet families continue paying thousands of dollars for programs that every major medical organization has discredited, often without understanding the real cost of these programs to their child's well-being and their family's finances.
Why This Matters for Christian Families
As a parent of faith, you want what's best for your child. That instinct is good. But "conversion therapy" practitioners prey on that love, promising results they cannot deliver. In the 2015 case Ferguson v. JONAH, a New Jersey jury found a conversion therapy provider guilty of consumer fraud. The organization was shut down and its founder was barred from operating similar programs. While conversion therapy laws vary by state, the legal trend is clear: these practices are being recognized as fraudulent.
Linda Robertson, a Christian mother who followed the advice of conversion therapy proponents for six years, described how those practices destroyed her relationship with her son and contributed to his death. She speaks publicly so other parents don't have to learn this lesson the way she did.
You don't have to choose between your faith and your child's well-being. There are support resources for Christian parents navigating these questions with both conviction and compassion. Organizations like Fortunate Families and Lead with Love offer guidance grounded in scripture and science.
FAQs
What does the APA say about conversion therapy?
The APA concluded in its 2009 task force report that conversion therapy is not supported by credible evidence and is associated with serious harm, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The APA opposes these practices for any person.
Does the AMA support conversion therapy?
No. The AMA opposes "conversion therapy" and has called for laws banning its use on minors. The AMA considers these practices without scientific merit and potentially dangerous.
Has conversion therapy been ruled illegal?
In the 2015 case Ferguson v. JONAH, a New Jersey jury ruled that conversion therapy constitutes consumer fraud. Multiple states have also passed laws banning licensed professionals from using these practices on minors.
What does the AAP say about conversion therapy and children?
The AAP opposes conversion therapy and supports care that respects how a child sees themselves. Along with the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the AAP has stated there is no evidence supporting the premise that a child's personal identity needs to be changed.
Can Christian parents support their child without using conversion therapy?
Yes. Many Christian families have found faith-focused paths that keep their family together and protect their child. Organizations like Fortunate Families and Lead with Love provide resources for parents seeking guidance grounded in both scripture and science.
Publicaciones recientes
13 mar 2026
13 mar 2026
What the APA, AMA, and AAP Actually Say About Conversion Therapy, and Why It Matters for Christian Parents
Every major medical and mental health organization in the U.S., including the APA, AMA, and AAP, opposes conversion therapy.
Quick Takeaways
Every major medical and mental health organization in the U.S., including the APA, AMA, and AAP, opposes conversion therapy.
These groups agree that conversion therapy cannot change who a person is attracted to or how they see themselves, and that it causes serious harm.
A federal expert panel convened by SAMHSA confirmed these practices should never be used on children or teens.
Courts have ruled that selling conversion therapy constitutes consumer fraud.
Christian parents can protect their children and stay rooted in faith without turning to debunked, dangerous practices.
When your child comes to you with questions about who they are or who they're attracted to, you want to protect them. If someone tells you conversion therapy can help, it feels worth looking into.
But before any family invests time, money, or trust in these practices, there's something you should know: the most respected medical and mental health organizations in the country agree that conversion therapy doesn't work and puts children at risk. This isn't a political opinion. It's a medical consensus built over decades of research.
What Do These Organizations Actually Say?
The American Psychological Association (APA) conducted a comprehensive task force review in 2009 and found no credible evidence that conversion therapy changes who a person is attracted to. The APA concluded these practices are linked to serious harm, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has called for an end to these practices, noting they lack scientific support and carry real risks. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have all issued similar positions.
In total, over 20 professional organizations have rejected "conversion therapy," including the American Counseling Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Pan American Health Organization. Yet many parents still wonder: Does conversion therapy actually work? The research, and the organizations that study it, say no.
What Does the Research Show?
In 2023, SAMHSA published a landmark report called Moving Beyond Change Efforts, led by Dr. Judith Glassgold and a panel of experts in child development, family therapy, and faith-based care. Their conclusion was clear: these practices are harmful and should never be provided to children or teens. The panel found no research supporting the claim that "conversion therapy" benefits kids or families, and confirmed it is linked to increased risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts.
A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study found that minors subjected to these practices experienced dramatically higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal behavior compared to those who received supportive care. Yet families continue paying thousands of dollars for programs that every major medical organization has discredited, often without understanding the real cost of these programs to their child's well-being and their family's finances.
Why This Matters for Christian Families
As a parent of faith, you want what's best for your child. That instinct is good. But "conversion therapy" practitioners prey on that love, promising results they cannot deliver. In the 2015 case Ferguson v. JONAH, a New Jersey jury found a conversion therapy provider guilty of consumer fraud. The organization was shut down and its founder was barred from operating similar programs. While conversion therapy laws vary by state, the legal trend is clear: these practices are being recognized as fraudulent.
Linda Robertson, a Christian mother who followed the advice of conversion therapy proponents for six years, described how those practices destroyed her relationship with her son and contributed to his death. She speaks publicly so other parents don't have to learn this lesson the way she did.
You don't have to choose between your faith and your child's well-being. There are support resources for Christian parents navigating these questions with both conviction and compassion. Organizations like Fortunate Families and Lead with Love offer guidance grounded in scripture and science.
FAQs
What does the APA say about conversion therapy?
The APA concluded in its 2009 task force report that conversion therapy is not supported by credible evidence and is associated with serious harm, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The APA opposes these practices for any person.
Does the AMA support conversion therapy?
No. The AMA opposes "conversion therapy" and has called for laws banning its use on minors. The AMA considers these practices without scientific merit and potentially dangerous.
Has conversion therapy been ruled illegal?
In the 2015 case Ferguson v. JONAH, a New Jersey jury ruled that conversion therapy constitutes consumer fraud. Multiple states have also passed laws banning licensed professionals from using these practices on minors.
What does the AAP say about conversion therapy and children?
The AAP opposes conversion therapy and supports care that respects how a child sees themselves. Along with the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the AAP has stated there is no evidence supporting the premise that a child's personal identity needs to be changed.
Can Christian parents support their child without using conversion therapy?
Yes. Many Christian families have found faith-focused paths that keep their family together and protect their child. Organizations like Fortunate Families and Lead with Love provide resources for parents seeking guidance grounded in both scripture and science.
Publicaciones recientes
13 mar 2026
13 mar 2026
What the APA, AMA, and AAP Actually Say About Conversion Therapy, and Why It Matters for Christian Parents
Every major medical and mental health organization in the U.S., including the APA, AMA, and AAP, opposes conversion therapy.
Quick Takeaways
Every major medical and mental health organization in the U.S., including the APA, AMA, and AAP, opposes conversion therapy.
These groups agree that conversion therapy cannot change who a person is attracted to or how they see themselves, and that it causes serious harm.
A federal expert panel convened by SAMHSA confirmed these practices should never be used on children or teens.
Courts have ruled that selling conversion therapy constitutes consumer fraud.
Christian parents can protect their children and stay rooted in faith without turning to debunked, dangerous practices.
When your child comes to you with questions about who they are or who they're attracted to, you want to protect them. If someone tells you conversion therapy can help, it feels worth looking into.
But before any family invests time, money, or trust in these practices, there's something you should know: the most respected medical and mental health organizations in the country agree that conversion therapy doesn't work and puts children at risk. This isn't a political opinion. It's a medical consensus built over decades of research.
What Do These Organizations Actually Say?
The American Psychological Association (APA) conducted a comprehensive task force review in 2009 and found no credible evidence that conversion therapy changes who a person is attracted to. The APA concluded these practices are linked to serious harm, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has called for an end to these practices, noting they lack scientific support and carry real risks. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have all issued similar positions.
In total, over 20 professional organizations have rejected "conversion therapy," including the American Counseling Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and the Pan American Health Organization. Yet many parents still wonder: Does conversion therapy actually work? The research, and the organizations that study it, say no.
What Does the Research Show?
In 2023, SAMHSA published a landmark report called Moving Beyond Change Efforts, led by Dr. Judith Glassgold and a panel of experts in child development, family therapy, and faith-based care. Their conclusion was clear: these practices are harmful and should never be provided to children or teens. The panel found no research supporting the claim that "conversion therapy" benefits kids or families, and confirmed it is linked to increased risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts.
A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study found that minors subjected to these practices experienced dramatically higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal behavior compared to those who received supportive care. Yet families continue paying thousands of dollars for programs that every major medical organization has discredited, often without understanding the real cost of these programs to their child's well-being and their family's finances.
Why This Matters for Christian Families
As a parent of faith, you want what's best for your child. That instinct is good. But "conversion therapy" practitioners prey on that love, promising results they cannot deliver. In the 2015 case Ferguson v. JONAH, a New Jersey jury found a conversion therapy provider guilty of consumer fraud. The organization was shut down and its founder was barred from operating similar programs. While conversion therapy laws vary by state, the legal trend is clear: these practices are being recognized as fraudulent.
Linda Robertson, a Christian mother who followed the advice of conversion therapy proponents for six years, described how those practices destroyed her relationship with her son and contributed to his death. She speaks publicly so other parents don't have to learn this lesson the way she did.
You don't have to choose between your faith and your child's well-being. There are support resources for Christian parents navigating these questions with both conviction and compassion. Organizations like Fortunate Families and Lead with Love offer guidance grounded in scripture and science.
FAQs
What does the APA say about conversion therapy?
The APA concluded in its 2009 task force report that conversion therapy is not supported by credible evidence and is associated with serious harm, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The APA opposes these practices for any person.
Does the AMA support conversion therapy?
No. The AMA opposes "conversion therapy" and has called for laws banning its use on minors. The AMA considers these practices without scientific merit and potentially dangerous.
Has conversion therapy been ruled illegal?
In the 2015 case Ferguson v. JONAH, a New Jersey jury ruled that conversion therapy constitutes consumer fraud. Multiple states have also passed laws banning licensed professionals from using these practices on minors.
What does the AAP say about conversion therapy and children?
The AAP opposes conversion therapy and supports care that respects how a child sees themselves. Along with the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the AAP has stated there is no evidence supporting the premise that a child's personal identity needs to be changed.
Can Christian parents support their child without using conversion therapy?
Yes. Many Christian families have found faith-focused paths that keep their family together and protect their child. Organizations like Fortunate Families and Lead with Love provide resources for parents seeking guidance grounded in both scripture and science.