Pennsylvania Code › Title 49 - PROFESSIONAL AND VOCATIONAL STANDARDS › Part I - DEPARTMENT OF STATE › Subpart A - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 47 - STATE BOARD OF SOCIAL WORKERS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILYTHERAPISTS AND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS › GENERAL PROVISIONS › Section 47.5 - Conversion therapy, sexual orientation change efforts and reparative therapy-statement of policy

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a)
Background.
Conversion therapy, also known as sexual
					 orientation change efforts or reparative therapy, poses critical health risks
					 to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and asexual
					 individuals, including suicidality, substance abuse, confusion, depression,
					 guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, shame, social withdrawal, stress,
					 disappointment, self-blame, decreased self-esteem and authenticity to others,
					 increased self-hatred, hostility and blame toward parents, feelings of anger
					 and betrayal, loss of friends and potential romantic partners, problems with
					 sexual and emotional intimacy, sexual dysfunction, high-risk sexual behaviors,
					 a feeling of being dehumanized and untrue to self, a loss of faith and a sense
					 of having wasted time and resources. Due to the lack of scientific evidence
					 supporting conversion therapy and the risk of harm to minors, the practice of
					 conversion therapy is strongly opposed by the American Academy of Child
					 Adolescent Psychiatry, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for
					 Marriage and Family Therapy, American College of Physicians, American Medical
					 Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychoanalytic
					 Association, American Psychological Association, National Association of Social
					 Workers, Pan American Health Organization and the World Psychiatric
					 Association.
(b)
Board
					 authority.
The Board has statutory authority to license, regulate and
					 discipline social workers, marriage and family therapists and professional
					 counselors. Under section 11(a)(2) and (3) of the act (63 P.S. §
												1911(a)(2) and (3)), the
					 Board is authorized to discipline a licensee for being guilty of immoral or
					 unprofessional conduct and for violating professional practice or conduct
					 standards adopted by the Board, including §§
											47.71,
					 48.71 and
					 49.71 (relating to codes of
					 ethical practice and professional conduct; code of ethical practice and
					 professional conduct; and code of ethical practice and professional
					 conduct).
(c)
Guidelines.
The following conversion therapy guidelines should
					 be considered by licensees to ensure compliance with the act and the Board's
					 regulations.
(1) Being lesbian, gay, bisexual,
					 transgender, queer/ questioning, intersex or asexual is not a disease,
					 disorder, illness, deficiency or shortcoming.
(2) Conversion therapy includes the following
					 conduct:
(i) A practice or treatment that
					 seeks to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender
					 identity.
(ii) An effort to change
					 the behavioral expression of an individual's sexual orientation, change gender
					 expression, or eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings
					 toward individuals of the same gender.
(3) Conversion therapy does not include a
					 practice or treatment that provides counseling for an individual undergoing
					 gender transition, counseling that provides acceptance, support, and
					 understanding, or the facilitation of coping, social support, and identity
					 exploration and development, including sexual orientation-neutral interventions
					 to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices. Conversion
					 therapy does not include a practice that does not seek to change sexual
					 orientation or gender identity.
(4)
					 In a disciplinary action brought against a licensee, the Board may find the use
					 of conversion therapy on an individual under 18 years of age to be unethical,
					 immoral and unprofessional conduct. A licensee who uses conversion therapy on
					 an individual under 18 years of age may be subject to discipline by the
					 Board.