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23 feb 2026
Why Christian Medical Professionals Oppose Conversion Therapy: An Evidence-Based Approach
Every major medical and mental health organization in the United States opposes conversion therapy, calling it ineffective and harmful to minors.
Quick Takeaways
Every major medical and mental health organization in the United States opposes conversion therapy, calling it ineffective and harmful to minors.
Research published in JAMA Pediatrics found that the harms associated with conversion therapy generate an estimated $9.23 billion in annual economic costs to society.
Minors who experience conversion therapy are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to those who do not.
Conversion therapy has been ruled consumer fraud in a U.S. court of law. Any provider who promises to change a child's personal identity is making a promise no credible science supports.
Christian parents can seek genuine, faith-rooted support for their families without turning to practices that research shows consistently cause harm.
When a parent's faith and a child's wellbeing feel like they're pulling in opposite directions, the instinct to find a solution is natural and good. That love matters. What also matters is making sure the solutions being offered are real ones.
Conversion therapy is not a real solution. This is not a political opinion. It is the documented, evidence-based position of every major medical and mental health organization in the United States, from the American Medical Association to the American Academy of Pediatrics to the American Psychological Association. These groups have reviewed the research and reached the same conclusion independently: conversion therapy does not change who a child is attracted to or how they see themselves, and attempting to do so causes serious harm.
What the Research Actually Shows
The evidence against conversion therapy is consistent across decades of peer-reviewed study. Minors who undergo these practices are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to those who do not. When both a parent and a therapist or religious leader participated in the effort to change a child, the attempted suicide rate rose to 63 percent -- nearly triple that of peers who experienced no such intervention, according to research by Dr. Caitlin Ryan at San Francisco State University.
The American Psychological Association's 2009 task force review found no credible evidence that any form of conversion therapy produces lasting change in a person's attractions or sense of self. What the research did find: increased depression, deepened shame, loss of faith, damaged family relationships, and, in the most tragic cases, the loss of a child's life.
Conversion therapy by the numbers tells a sobering story. A 2022 economic analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics estimated the total societal cost of these practices at $9.23 billion annually, driven by downstream harms including substance abuse, depression treatment, hospitalizations, and lost productivity. Families absorb much of that cost -- in money, in grief, and in broken trust.
Why the Medical Consensus Is Not Anti-Faith
Some Christian parents approach medical consensus with reasonable skepticism, especially given ongoing cultural debates about children's health. That caution is understandable. But on this particular question, the evidence is not close.
Medical professionals who are themselves people of faith have reached the same conclusion as their secular counterparts: a child's personal identity cannot be changed through therapeutic pressure, and trying causes harm. This is not a religious disagreement dressed up in clinical language. It is the same evidence-based standard applied to any intervention -- does it work, and does it hurt?
What conversion therapy practitioners often sell to families is the illusion of a cure. Courts have agreed. The JONAH fraud ruling in New Jersey -- the first of its kind in the United States -- found that practitioners who promised to change clients' personal orientation engaged in consumer fraud. The promises were false. The harm was real.
What Good Pastoral and Family Support Actually Looks Like
There is a meaningful difference between conversion therapy and genuine pastoral or family-centered care. Conversion therapy focuses on changing who a child is. Sound pastoral support focuses on the relationship between a child and their family, between a family and their faith community, and between all of them and God.
Christian parents who want to walk this path with integrity can explore real stories from families who have navigated these questions without turning to practices research has discredited. They can also access a personalized intake questionnaire designed to help faith-guided families identify the right kind of support for their specific situation.
The goal of any good counselor, pastor, or physician should be the same: a child who is loved, safe, and still connected to their family. Any approach that makes that outcome less likely is not a solution. It is a problem.
FAQs
Why do medical organizations oppose conversion therapy? Every major U.S. medical and mental health organization opposes conversion therapy because decades of peer-reviewed research show it does not change a person's attractions or sense of self, and consistently produces serious harms, including depression, anxiety, and increased suicide risk. The opposition is evidence-based, not ideological.
Does conversion therapy work? No. There is no credible scientific evidence that conversion therapy produces lasting changes in a child's personal identity or who they are attracted to. The American Psychological Association reviewed the available research comprehensively in 2009 and found no reliable evidence of effectiveness. Providers who claim otherwise are making promises the science does not support.
What are the risks of conversion therapy for minors? Research shows minors who experience conversion therapy are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to those who do not. They also show higher rates of depression, anxiety, substance use, and estrangement from family and faith communities. A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study estimated the total annual societal cost of these harms at $9.23 billion.
Is conversion therapy a scam? A New Jersey court ruled that conversion therapy practitioners who promised to change clients' personal orientation engaged in consumer fraud. No credible science supports the claims these practitioners make, and the JONAH case established legal precedent recognizing this as fraudulent conduct.
What should Christian parents do instead of conversion therapy? Christian parents seeking support can pursue pastoral counseling that centers on family relationships, emotional safety, and scripture rather than pressure to change a child. The goal of sound faith-informed care is a family that stays together and a child who feels loved. Organizations and tools exist specifically to help families find that kind of support without turning to practices research has consistently discredited.
For more fact-based insights and information, visit the Conversion Therapy Explained page in our Education Hub.
Publicaciones recientes
23 feb 2026
23 feb 2026
Why Christian Medical Professionals Oppose Conversion Therapy: An Evidence-Based Approach
Every major medical and mental health organization in the United States opposes conversion therapy, calling it ineffective and harmful to minors.
Quick Takeaways
Every major medical and mental health organization in the United States opposes conversion therapy, calling it ineffective and harmful to minors.
Research published in JAMA Pediatrics found that the harms associated with conversion therapy generate an estimated $9.23 billion in annual economic costs to society.
Minors who experience conversion therapy are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to those who do not.
Conversion therapy has been ruled consumer fraud in a U.S. court of law. Any provider who promises to change a child's personal identity is making a promise no credible science supports.
Christian parents can seek genuine, faith-rooted support for their families without turning to practices that research shows consistently cause harm.
When a parent's faith and a child's wellbeing feel like they're pulling in opposite directions, the instinct to find a solution is natural and good. That love matters. What also matters is making sure the solutions being offered are real ones.
Conversion therapy is not a real solution. This is not a political opinion. It is the documented, evidence-based position of every major medical and mental health organization in the United States, from the American Medical Association to the American Academy of Pediatrics to the American Psychological Association. These groups have reviewed the research and reached the same conclusion independently: conversion therapy does not change who a child is attracted to or how they see themselves, and attempting to do so causes serious harm.
What the Research Actually Shows
The evidence against conversion therapy is consistent across decades of peer-reviewed study. Minors who undergo these practices are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to those who do not. When both a parent and a therapist or religious leader participated in the effort to change a child, the attempted suicide rate rose to 63 percent -- nearly triple that of peers who experienced no such intervention, according to research by Dr. Caitlin Ryan at San Francisco State University.
The American Psychological Association's 2009 task force review found no credible evidence that any form of conversion therapy produces lasting change in a person's attractions or sense of self. What the research did find: increased depression, deepened shame, loss of faith, damaged family relationships, and, in the most tragic cases, the loss of a child's life.
Conversion therapy by the numbers tells a sobering story. A 2022 economic analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics estimated the total societal cost of these practices at $9.23 billion annually, driven by downstream harms including substance abuse, depression treatment, hospitalizations, and lost productivity. Families absorb much of that cost -- in money, in grief, and in broken trust.
Why the Medical Consensus Is Not Anti-Faith
Some Christian parents approach medical consensus with reasonable skepticism, especially given ongoing cultural debates about children's health. That caution is understandable. But on this particular question, the evidence is not close.
Medical professionals who are themselves people of faith have reached the same conclusion as their secular counterparts: a child's personal identity cannot be changed through therapeutic pressure, and trying causes harm. This is not a religious disagreement dressed up in clinical language. It is the same evidence-based standard applied to any intervention -- does it work, and does it hurt?
What conversion therapy practitioners often sell to families is the illusion of a cure. Courts have agreed. The JONAH fraud ruling in New Jersey -- the first of its kind in the United States -- found that practitioners who promised to change clients' personal orientation engaged in consumer fraud. The promises were false. The harm was real.
What Good Pastoral and Family Support Actually Looks Like
There is a meaningful difference between conversion therapy and genuine pastoral or family-centered care. Conversion therapy focuses on changing who a child is. Sound pastoral support focuses on the relationship between a child and their family, between a family and their faith community, and between all of them and God.
Christian parents who want to walk this path with integrity can explore real stories from families who have navigated these questions without turning to practices research has discredited. They can also access a personalized intake questionnaire designed to help faith-guided families identify the right kind of support for their specific situation.
The goal of any good counselor, pastor, or physician should be the same: a child who is loved, safe, and still connected to their family. Any approach that makes that outcome less likely is not a solution. It is a problem.
FAQs
Why do medical organizations oppose conversion therapy? Every major U.S. medical and mental health organization opposes conversion therapy because decades of peer-reviewed research show it does not change a person's attractions or sense of self, and consistently produces serious harms, including depression, anxiety, and increased suicide risk. The opposition is evidence-based, not ideological.
Does conversion therapy work? No. There is no credible scientific evidence that conversion therapy produces lasting changes in a child's personal identity or who they are attracted to. The American Psychological Association reviewed the available research comprehensively in 2009 and found no reliable evidence of effectiveness. Providers who claim otherwise are making promises the science does not support.
What are the risks of conversion therapy for minors? Research shows minors who experience conversion therapy are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to those who do not. They also show higher rates of depression, anxiety, substance use, and estrangement from family and faith communities. A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study estimated the total annual societal cost of these harms at $9.23 billion.
Is conversion therapy a scam? A New Jersey court ruled that conversion therapy practitioners who promised to change clients' personal orientation engaged in consumer fraud. No credible science supports the claims these practitioners make, and the JONAH case established legal precedent recognizing this as fraudulent conduct.
What should Christian parents do instead of conversion therapy? Christian parents seeking support can pursue pastoral counseling that centers on family relationships, emotional safety, and scripture rather than pressure to change a child. The goal of sound faith-informed care is a family that stays together and a child who feels loved. Organizations and tools exist specifically to help families find that kind of support without turning to practices research has consistently discredited.
For more fact-based insights and information, visit the Conversion Therapy Explained page in our Education Hub.
Publicaciones recientes
23 feb 2026
23 feb 2026
Why Christian Medical Professionals Oppose Conversion Therapy: An Evidence-Based Approach
Every major medical and mental health organization in the United States opposes conversion therapy, calling it ineffective and harmful to minors.
Quick Takeaways
Every major medical and mental health organization in the United States opposes conversion therapy, calling it ineffective and harmful to minors.
Research published in JAMA Pediatrics found that the harms associated with conversion therapy generate an estimated $9.23 billion in annual economic costs to society.
Minors who experience conversion therapy are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to those who do not.
Conversion therapy has been ruled consumer fraud in a U.S. court of law. Any provider who promises to change a child's personal identity is making a promise no credible science supports.
Christian parents can seek genuine, faith-rooted support for their families without turning to practices that research shows consistently cause harm.
When a parent's faith and a child's wellbeing feel like they're pulling in opposite directions, the instinct to find a solution is natural and good. That love matters. What also matters is making sure the solutions being offered are real ones.
Conversion therapy is not a real solution. This is not a political opinion. It is the documented, evidence-based position of every major medical and mental health organization in the United States, from the American Medical Association to the American Academy of Pediatrics to the American Psychological Association. These groups have reviewed the research and reached the same conclusion independently: conversion therapy does not change who a child is attracted to or how they see themselves, and attempting to do so causes serious harm.
What the Research Actually Shows
The evidence against conversion therapy is consistent across decades of peer-reviewed study. Minors who undergo these practices are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to those who do not. When both a parent and a therapist or religious leader participated in the effort to change a child, the attempted suicide rate rose to 63 percent -- nearly triple that of peers who experienced no such intervention, according to research by Dr. Caitlin Ryan at San Francisco State University.
The American Psychological Association's 2009 task force review found no credible evidence that any form of conversion therapy produces lasting change in a person's attractions or sense of self. What the research did find: increased depression, deepened shame, loss of faith, damaged family relationships, and, in the most tragic cases, the loss of a child's life.
Conversion therapy by the numbers tells a sobering story. A 2022 economic analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics estimated the total societal cost of these practices at $9.23 billion annually, driven by downstream harms including substance abuse, depression treatment, hospitalizations, and lost productivity. Families absorb much of that cost -- in money, in grief, and in broken trust.
Why the Medical Consensus Is Not Anti-Faith
Some Christian parents approach medical consensus with reasonable skepticism, especially given ongoing cultural debates about children's health. That caution is understandable. But on this particular question, the evidence is not close.
Medical professionals who are themselves people of faith have reached the same conclusion as their secular counterparts: a child's personal identity cannot be changed through therapeutic pressure, and trying causes harm. This is not a religious disagreement dressed up in clinical language. It is the same evidence-based standard applied to any intervention -- does it work, and does it hurt?
What conversion therapy practitioners often sell to families is the illusion of a cure. Courts have agreed. The JONAH fraud ruling in New Jersey -- the first of its kind in the United States -- found that practitioners who promised to change clients' personal orientation engaged in consumer fraud. The promises were false. The harm was real.
What Good Pastoral and Family Support Actually Looks Like
There is a meaningful difference between conversion therapy and genuine pastoral or family-centered care. Conversion therapy focuses on changing who a child is. Sound pastoral support focuses on the relationship between a child and their family, between a family and their faith community, and between all of them and God.
Christian parents who want to walk this path with integrity can explore real stories from families who have navigated these questions without turning to practices research has discredited. They can also access a personalized intake questionnaire designed to help faith-guided families identify the right kind of support for their specific situation.
The goal of any good counselor, pastor, or physician should be the same: a child who is loved, safe, and still connected to their family. Any approach that makes that outcome less likely is not a solution. It is a problem.
FAQs
Why do medical organizations oppose conversion therapy? Every major U.S. medical and mental health organization opposes conversion therapy because decades of peer-reviewed research show it does not change a person's attractions or sense of self, and consistently produces serious harms, including depression, anxiety, and increased suicide risk. The opposition is evidence-based, not ideological.
Does conversion therapy work? No. There is no credible scientific evidence that conversion therapy produces lasting changes in a child's personal identity or who they are attracted to. The American Psychological Association reviewed the available research comprehensively in 2009 and found no reliable evidence of effectiveness. Providers who claim otherwise are making promises the science does not support.
What are the risks of conversion therapy for minors? Research shows minors who experience conversion therapy are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to those who do not. They also show higher rates of depression, anxiety, substance use, and estrangement from family and faith communities. A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study estimated the total annual societal cost of these harms at $9.23 billion.
Is conversion therapy a scam? A New Jersey court ruled that conversion therapy practitioners who promised to change clients' personal orientation engaged in consumer fraud. No credible science supports the claims these practitioners make, and the JONAH case established legal precedent recognizing this as fraudulent conduct.
What should Christian parents do instead of conversion therapy? Christian parents seeking support can pursue pastoral counseling that centers on family relationships, emotional safety, and scripture rather than pressure to change a child. The goal of sound faith-informed care is a family that stays together and a child who feels loved. Organizations and tools exist specifically to help families find that kind of support without turning to practices research has consistently discredited.
For more fact-based insights and information, visit the Conversion Therapy Explained page in our Education Hub.