Understanding the Supreme Court Case on Conversion Therapy

A Colorado therapist is asking the Supreme Court to overturn laws banning conversion therapy. She argues that these restrictions prevent her from helping clients. Her case centers around free speech and the belief that therapists should explore all client goals, including reducing or eliminating what she calls “unwanted same-sex attraction.”

But after reading through the court filing, one question stands out: What exactly is the treatment she’s trying to provide? Despite the legal arguments, this question remains unanswered.

Watch: Therapist Reacts to the Supreme Court Filing

I read through the actual Supreme Court document, and something didn’t add up. The therapist claims she’s being censored, but she never clearly explains what she would do in a session.

Watch the breakdown below:

Conversion Therapy Supreme Court Case Explained

The therapist argues that current laws banning conversion therapy prevent her from fully helping clients. She believes these laws restrict her ability to engage in certain conversations and force her to “affirm” same-sex attraction. She claims that some clients come to therapy feeling a conflict between their sexuality and their religious or personal values.

She believes she should be allowed to help them reduce or eliminate those attractions. At face value, this sounds like a debate about client choice and therapist freedom. She just wants to help, right? But that’s not where the real issue lies.

The Question No One Is Answering

Throughout the filing, the proposed “treatment” is described using vague, high-level language about tackling “unwanted same-sex attraction” and doing work that "aligns with their values."

But there is no clear explanation of how the therapy works. What techniques are used? What is actually said in session? What therapeutic model guides the work? What mechanism is supposed to change sexual attraction? None of these questions are answered. In other words, there are goals—but no defined method. This is a task that a first-year graduate student could easily complete. So why can't this therapist?

Why This Matters in Therapy

In any legitimate, ethical form of therapy, a clinician should be able to clearly explain what approach they are using, why it works, and what the expected outcomes are. This isn’t just good practice—it’s clinical accountability. When a treatment cannot be clearly described, it raises a critical question: What is actually happening in the therapy room?

Does Conversion Therapy Actually Work?

No. There is no evidence-based therapy that can eliminate same-sex attraction or change a person’s sexual orientation. Major professional organizations—including the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association—have consistently concluded that conversion therapy is ineffective, unsupported by scientific evidence, and often harmful. This is not a controversial position within the field. It is the clinical consensus.

Therapy vs. Religious Guidance

At one point, the therapist references helping clients live in alignment with how the Bible defines relationships. To be clear, there is nothing inherently wrong with someone choosing to live according to their religious values. But that is not the same as therapy. Therapy is grounded in psychological science and evidence-based methods. Religious guidance is rooted in spiritual or theological beliefs. Both can be meaningful, but they are not interchangeable.

What Ethical Therapy Actually Looks Like

Ethical, evidence-based therapy does not aim to eliminate sexual orientation. Instead, it helps clients work through internal conflict, reduce shame, and make informed choices. For many clients, especially those who have been exposed to conversion therapy, this work can be deeply healing. If this is part of your story, you can learn more about my work with Conversion Therapy Survivors.

What This Case Means for Conversion Therapy Laws

This case is framed as a question of free speech in therapy. But when you look more closely, a different issue emerges: What exactly is being protected? If a therapist is advocating for the right to provide a treatment, they should be able to clearly explain what that treatment is. Without that clarity, the conversation shifts from "Are therapists being censored?” to: “Why can’t this treatment be clearly defined?”

Potential Consequences

This Supreme Court decision could have huge ramifications for LGBTQ clients. Based on the argument presented, this should be an easy decision for the court to make. The therapist in question has not, in my opinion, provided a compelling argument.

Navigating Your Journey

If you’re navigating questions about identity, sexuality, or past experiences with harmful frameworks, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

👉 Learn more about working with me.

👉 Explore how I practice affirmative therapy for gay men.

Conversion Therapy FAQs

Is conversion therapy legal?

Conversion therapy is banned for minors in many states, including California and Colorado, but laws vary by location.

Can therapy change sexual orientation?

No. There is no evidence-based therapy that can change a person’s sexual orientation.

What helps with unwanted same-sex attraction?

Therapy can help individuals explore identity, reduce distress, and navigate values—but not eliminate attraction.

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