conversion therapy

noun

plural conversion therapies

: the use of any of various methods (such as aversive stimulation or religious counseling) in an attempt to change a person's sexual orientation to heterosexual or to change a person's gender identity to correspond to the sex the person was identified as having at birth

Note: Conversion therapy is generally regarded as having no scientific basis and as being both ineffective and harmful.

Conversion therapy is both pointless and painful. At its best, it can inflict considerable psychological damage on a child without changing their sexual orientation or gender identity whatsoever. At its worst, it can lead to suicide …

—Samantha Allen

Momentum has been building in legislative sessions this spring for the bans, which prohibit state-licensed mental health professionals from practicing conversion therapy for anyone under 18.

—Susan Miller

called also reparative therapy

Examples of conversion therapy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Anthony is also shown meeting with psychologist Mildred Newman, who suggests conversion therapy. —Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Oct. 2025

Heather meets with David Matheson, a former Mormon who has been called the godfather of conversion therapy. —Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025

The charity's survey comes as Supreme Court justices decide whether to overturn a conversion therapy ban in Colorado. —Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025

Participants who were actually exposed to conversion therapy increased from 9% to 15% over one year. —Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for conversion therapy

• immunotherapy
• pharmacotherapy
• physiotherapy
• radiotherapy
• brachytherapy
• chemotherapy
• cryotherapy
• hydrotherapy
• hypnotherapy
• monotherapy
• phototherapy
• psychotherapy