New York State Bans Conversion Therapy

New York State Bans Conversion Therapy

Conversion therapy is an unproven medical or mental health technique used to attempt to alter someone’s sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. This practice has been condemned by all major professional medical and mental health associations as harmful and ineffective.

It is founded on the idea that same-sex sexual orientation and transgender identities are caused by issues with childhood development, addiction, or spirituality. Essentially, it’s a form of psychological abuse.

Treatment typically combines pseudo-psychological and religious methods to alter a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. This could involve counseling, spiritual interventions, visualization, psychoanalysis, or masturbatory reconditioning.

Other psychiatric interventions that may be employed include electric shocks, hypnosis and acupuncture. Unfortunately, the treatments can have an adverse effect on patients’ mental wellbeing – especially those suffering from depression or anxiety.

Contrary to the widespread condemnation of conversion therapy by nearly every professional organization, some public and private institutions still provide this unproven treatment. These may include some hospitals, mental health facilities, non-religious health professionals or family members.

According to new regulations issued by the Office of Mental Health (OMH), mental health facilities licensed or funded in New York State cannot provide conversion therapy to minors. Furthermore, Medicaid coverage under New York State has been barred for such services as they do not prevent, diagnose, correct or cure recognized medical conditions.