Undiscerning therapy ban

In June, Liz Truss MP confirmed that the government would press ahead with a ban on so-called gay conversion therapy ‘shortly’.

This term encompasses two entirely different categories of ‘therapy’. The first are the obviously abusive practices which people are often forced into by family or organisations. The second are regular ‘talking therapies’ that have been requested by individuals exploring unwanted desires they may have.

Individuals who have benefited from requesting talking therapies where they discuss all aspects of their lives, are concerned that a ban would not recognise the difference between being coerced into ‘conversion therapy’ (which may be abusive or degrading), and a simple request to talk with a counsellor. If regular talking therapies for people who are same sex attracted were banned, the situation could arise where a husband could be counselled for having unwanted thoughts about another woman, but not about another man.