The Damaging Truth About Conversion Therapy: What the Research Shows

Expansive Therapy

The Damaging Truth About Conversion Therapy: What the Research Shows

Conversion therapy, also known as “reparative therapy” or “sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts (SOGIECE)”, refers to psychological, spiritual, or behavioral practices intended to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Despite overwhelming scientific consensus against it, conversion therapy remains legal and practiced in many parts of the world, often targeting vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth.

The evidence is unequivocal: conversion therapy does not work, and it causes profound, lasting harm.

What Exactly Is Conversion Therapy?

Conversion therapy takes many forms—ranging from talk therapy and prayer groups to aversion techniques and even physical abuse. It is often:

Administered by licensed or unlicensed counselors, religious leaders, or family “interventionists”
Conducted on minors without their consent
Rooted in pseudoscience, religious dogma, or cultural stigma
Based on the false belief that LGBTQ+ identities are disorders, deviant, or “curable”

🔬 What the Research Shows: The Case Against Conversion Therapy

1. No Evidence of Effectiveness

A Cornell University review (2021) of 47 peer-reviewed studies found zero evidence that sexual orientation or gender identity can be changed through therapeutic intervention.
Instead, all studies documented significant negative psychological outcomes, including depression, anxiety, shame, and suicidality.

2. Increased Risk of Suicide and Mental Health Disorders

📌 JAMA Psychiatry (2020) – Blosnich et al.

LGBTQ individuals exposed to conversion therapy were more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide in their lifetime.
The risk was even higher for those subjected to these efforts in adolescence.

📌 The Trevor Project National Survey (2022)

13% of LGBTQ youth reported being subjected to conversion therapy.
Those who experienced it were:
- More than twice as likely to report a suicide attempt in the past year.
- Twice as likely to report symptoms of severe depression and anxiety.

3. Family Rejection and Long-Term Trauma

📌 Family Acceptance Project – Dr. Caitlin Ryan

LGBTQ youth experiencing family rejection, including conversion efforts, are:
- 8.4 times more likely to attempt suicide
- 5.9 times more likely to experience depression
- 3.4 times more likely to use illegal substances
Conversion therapy, often imposed by families, severely damages attachment and long-term self-worth.

“Rejecting behaviors, even if well-intended, deeply harm a child’s mental health and increase their risk for self-harm and early death.”
— Dr. Caitlin Ryan, Family Acceptance Project

4. Labelled as Torture by Human Rights Organizations

📌 UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (2020)

Declared that conversion therapy is “a practice of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment that may amount to torture.”
Called for a global ban, citing persistent use of conversion therapy in medical, religious, and cultural contexts across more than 60 countries.

“The profound suffering inflicted by conversion therapy cannot be overstated—it causes pain not healing.”
— UN Human Rights Council Report

5. Professional Consensus: It’s Psychological Abuse

More than 20 major medical and psychological organizations have denounced conversion therapy, including:

American Psychological Association
American Medical Association
American Academy of Pediatrics
World Health Organization
National Association of Social Workers

All conclude that:

LGBTQ+ identities are not disorders and do not require correction
Conversion therapy is ineffective, unethical, and often traumatizing
Practitioners who offer such treatment should face licensure revocation and legal consequences

6. Long-Term Harm: PTSD, Dissociation, and Lifelong Distress

According to research and survivor testimony gathered by the Born Perfect campaign (NCLR) and GLAAD:

Survivors frequently develop complex PTSD, disordered eating, sexual dysfunction, and dissociation.
Many describe deep mistrust of therapists and mental health providers after experiencing conversion efforts under the guise of professional care.
Years or decades later, survivors often need trauma-informed therapy to recover from the emotional and psychological abuse endured.

🚫 Coercion and Lack of Consent

A critical ethical failure of conversion therapy is the lack of true informed consent, particularly among:

Minors, who are often forced into therapy by parents or guardians
Individuals undergoing therapy under religious or community pressure
Clients who are misled about the goals or methods of the treatment

This undermines both clinical ethics and basic human rights.

✅ What Actually Helps LGBTQ+ People Thrive?

Research shows that affirming, identity-supportive therapy leads to:

Lower rates of depression and anxiety
Improved self-esteem and resilience
Reduced suicidal ideation
Stronger social support and community connection

Approaches that affirm LGBTQ+ identities—such as strength-based therapy, trauma-informed care, and minority stress counseling—are effective and ethical.

Final Word: Conversion Therapy Is Not Therapy. It Is Harm.

Every major medical body, every credible study, and the experiences of thousands of survivors say the same thing: conversion therapy causes deep psychological damage and must be eliminated.

If you or someone you know has been affected by conversion therapy:

You are not alone
You are not broken
There is healing, and there is hope
Finding affirming care and community is crucial

At Expansive Therapy, we are a 100% LGBTQ owned and focused therapy practice. We welcome LGBTQ folks of all identities, wherever you are on your journey. If you live in New York or California, feel free to email info@expansivetherapy.com to set up a free consultation with one of our therapists. Otherwise, please find some additional resources below.