‘Conversion therapy’ ban *URGENT
The Government is currently conducting a consultation on ‘conversion therapy’, which closes on Friday 10 December. Members of the public are invited to respond.
There are realistic and significant concerns about the impacts of any ‘ban’ on the ability of parents to bring up their children in accordance with their beliefs, as well as in the course of normal interactions in schools between adults and children.
IFTCC recently held a symposium on the subject, “Is the Government Ban on “Conversion Therapy” Safe?”, and these sessions are (at the moment) available online: morning and afternoon. The International Federation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice supports providers of services to individuals seeking change of their unwanted relational and sexual behaviours, attractions and patterns.
CViE supporters may be interested in some of the following sessions:
Laura Haynes, “An overview of research in the field”: “Conversion therapy” is a pejorative, and not used by those who are trying to help. A better and more accurate description is “change-allowing therapy”. People have a right to therapy, and the reality is that change therapy saves lives – “People should be able to walk away from that which doesn’t work for them.”
Paul Sullins, “Correcting a false research narrative”: Pointing out the significant flaws in the study that the Government is relying on in its decision on this matter.
Christopher Rosik, “Are stigma and homophobia the primary cause of mental health distress for non-heterosexuals?”: Advocates of a ban theorize that societal stigma and prejudice causes stress to non-heterosexuals. This is not borne out by evidence, and any alleged hurt is often a produce of “rejection sensitivity”. The speaker pointed out the stark irony in facilitating radical transgender intervention while seeking to eradicate “change-exploring therapy”.
Carolyn Pela, “Sexual attraction fluidity exploration in therapy”: Therapeutic choice is vital for any person’s well-being. It is very rare for a government to limit the individuals’ ability to explore their own therapeutic aims – research shows that limiting client autonomy causes harm.
Other sessions : These included moving personal testimony from those who have left the homosexual lifestyle.
The symposium served as a enlightening insight behind the jargon into the reality of the benefits of helping people – real people with real struggles. Please consider responding to the consultation, here.
You can receive assistance in responding via guidance from the Christian Institute, here.
