Conversion therapy is a pseudoscientific and discredited practice that attempts to force LGBTQ+ individuals to change their sexual orientation or gender identity and instead identify as heterosexual or cisgender. Because it is now understood that sexual orientation is not a choice or something that can be changed, so-called conversion therapy—sometimes called reparative therapy, ex-gay therapy, or sexual reorientation therapy—is not only ineffective, it is often actively harmful. Research has co
Defining Conversion Therapy
Conversion Therapy is one of the most studied topics in modern psychology and mental health. At its core, conversion therapy involves a specific cluster of experiences — cognitive, emotional, and physical — that have been consistently identified across cultures and research populations.
Psychologists define conversion therapy using diagnostic criteria that have been refined over decades of clinical and empirical work. The core features include recognizable patterns that distinguish conversion therapy from related but distinct conditions.
Who Does Conversion Therapy Affect?
Conversion Therapy affects people across all demographics, though certain factors can increase vulnerability:
- Age: Can emerge at any life stage; some forms peak in specific age groups
- Biology: Genetic predisposition plays a role for many types of conversion therapy
- Environment: Life experiences, stress, and social factors contribute significantly
- Co-occurring conditions: Conversion Therapy often appears alongside other psychological conditions
The Spectrum of Conversion Therapy
Like most psychological phenomena, conversion therapy exists on a spectrum. Mild experiences are part of normal human life. The concern arises when conversion therapy is persistent, intense, and interferes with daily functioning — work, relationships, or basic self-care.
Clinicians assess severity by looking at duration (how long), frequency (how often), and impairment (how much it affects daily life).
What Causes Conversion Therapy?
So-called conversion therapy is arguably among the more shameful parts of psychology’s past. In the U.S., homosexuality was considered a mental illness until 1973; before that, many psychologists, psychoanalysts, and psychiatrists around the world openly shamed or attempted to convert their queer clients. The form of "treatment" varied; some practitioners used hypnosis or aversion therapy tactics—for example, pairing homosexual stimuli with electric shocks—to “correct” a patient’s orientation; faith-based treatment was also common and may have included prayer or even, in extreme cases, attempt
When to Seek Help
Consider professional support if conversion therapy:
- Persists for more than a few weeks
- Interferes with work, school, or relationships
- Causes significant distress
- Involves thoughts of self-harm
Getting Help for Conversion Therapy
So-called conversion therapy is arguably among the more shameful parts of psychology’s past. In the U.S., homosexuality was considered a mental illness until 1973; before that, many psychologists, psychoanalysts, and psychiatrists around the world openly shamed or attempted to convert their queer clients. The form of "treatment" varied; some practitioners used hypnosis or aversion therapy tactics—for example, pairing homosexual stimuli with electric shocks—to “correct” a patient’s orientation; faith-based treatment was also common and may have included prayer or even, in extreme cases, attempt