BROAD BAN ON CONVERSION THERAPY THREATENS GOOD MENTAL HEALTH CARE

by a Blog Reader

Bans on conversion therapy aim to protect people from harmful practices. Yet when worded too broadly, as they are in Malta, they create fear. Therapists worry about prosecution for normal, helpful work. This chills legitimate exploration. 

Neutral exploratory therapy helps clients understand their feelings. It looks at trauma, mental health issues, family problems, and social influences. It has no fixed goal. It does not push change to straight or cis. Nor does it rush into affirmation or medical steps. Therapists explore what is really going on. Short sentences and open questions guide the client. This follows standard good practice in psychology. 

Such work increasingly faces risks. Broad laws can label normal talk therapy as “conversion”. Clinicians pull back. They avoid gender-distressed young people. This leaves distressed children without proper care.

Four important frameworks show the problem.

In the UK, the Cass Review called for holistic assessment and psychotherapy to be provided first. It warned that broad bans could scare therapists away from exploratory talks. Dr Hilary Cass’ exact words in speaking in evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s health committee in May 2024 were: “I don’t know how we get that balance right of protecting people from conversion therapy and not frightening therapists who are just doing their job and having an appropriate exploratory conversation with a young person.” 

Sweden, Finland and Norway have moved to cautious approaches. They limit medical interventions for minors. They stress psychosocial support and careful exploration. However, broad conversion bans in Europe make these evidence-based shifts harder to implement. Therapists fear they could be accused of illegal practice. 

Therapy First and similar groups promote psychotherapy as the starting point. They stress neutrality. Yet broad laws create legal worry. This limits their ability to train and support clinicians. 

In the United States, recent health perspectives back exploratory methods for comorbidities. Yet broad bans in liberal states risk the same chilling effect. Professionals step back from complex cases. 

These examples matter. Good therapy needs space to work without fear of court.

Malta offers a clear warning. Experts in therapy, medicine or law did not design its broad ban on conversion therapy.

Broad bans sound simple. In practice, they harm the careful, neutral care that many people need. As a new parliament takes shape, Maltese policymakers should draw clear lines. Protect against real abuse. But create space for effective therapy to help clients seeking care.