Healing from the Harm of Conversion Therapy

For those who have undergone conversion therapy, seeking assistance from a counselor can help address the harmful effects associated with the practice, while also providing a supportive environment to explore their identity.

Instead of trying to persuade a client to be anything, counselors can help them discover who they are by:

  • Building trust by providing a supporting and accepting environment.
  • Respecting how their religious, cultural and spiritual backgrounds serve them.
  • Normalizing what it means to be attracted to the same sex.
  • Debunking misconceptions and myths about sexual orientation or identity.
  • Counseling them through grief and loss.
  • Exploring their dreams and goals.
  • Helping them recognize their spiritual and sexual identities can exist together.  

Created by Counseling@Northwestern, Northwestern University’s online Master of Arts in Counseling Program