The U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Case on Conversion Therapy Ban

On March 9, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review Chiles v. Salazar to rule on the constitutionality of Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy during the 2025-2026 term. The case was filed by a licensed counselor in Colorado on the grounds that the law violates her First Amendment rights to free speech and to freely exercise her religion. The court will hear oral arguments in the fall of 2025 and will likely release an opinion in the early summer of 2026.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit rejected this challenge, ruling that Colorado enacted the law based on clear evidence of the harm caused by conversion therapy. Conversion therapy — practices aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity — has been unequivocally discredited by the medical and public health community. Leading organizations, including the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Psychiatric Association and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), have issued clear statements warning that conversion therapy is not evidence-based and poses serious health risks.

Extensive research confirms that conversion therapy is ineffective and harmful, significantly increasing the risks of depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide. Because of this overwhelming consensus, every major public health and medical organization opposes its use, and many states have passed laws banning the practice for minors to protect their well-being.

We are fully engaged in this issue and realize its impact will be far-reaching. This case has implications for professional licensing, public safety and ethical counseling practice. As always, we want to ensure that behavioral health professionals are equipped to respond. We will continue to update our resources and keep the community informed. In the meantime, you can:

• Stay Informed & Share Accurate Information – We are working along with organizations such as the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Lambda Legal and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) to track the case and will provide updates as they become available.
• Engage Licensing Boards & Professional Associations – If the Supreme Court weakens existing protections, state licensing boards and accrediting bodies will become critical enforcement mechanisms. Urge your state boards to reaffirm that conversion therapy violates evidence-based care standards and remains an unethical practice subject to licensure penalties.
• Support Legal Efforts – Organizations like Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) are preparing legal responses, including amicus briefs that behavioral health professionals can contribute to. These legal filings reinforce the scientific consensus and help courts recognize the professional consensus against conversion therapy.
• Strengthen Institutional Protections – Encourage state Medicaid programs, private insurers and accrediting bodies to issue formal guidance denying reimbursement and certification to organizations engaging in fraudulent therapy practices. Financial pressure can be a critical safeguard if the Supreme Court undermines direct bans.

Please reach out to our team with any additional questions at advocacy@counseling.org.