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

In a major case for its next term, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a First Amendment challenge to conversion therapy bans for LGBTQ+ minors. —Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 12 Mar. 2025

Colorado's law protecting young people from unscientific and cruel gay conversion therapy practices is humane, smart and appropriate. —Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025

The idea that there are only two genders often is taught in conversion therapy to promote heterosexual behaviors. —Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 18 Mar. 2025

The 10th Circuit said that the restriction on conversion therapy implicates speech solely as to the practice of mental health treatment, which can be licensed by the state. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 10 Mar. 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