Holding Firm in Affirming Care: Reflections on the Supreme Court Ruling on Colorado’s Conversion Therapy Ban
- Amanda Earle, MA, LAC, LPC, LMHC
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
Yesterday (March 31, 2026), the U.S. Supreme Court issued an 8–1 decision striking down Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for minors, finding that the law likely violated First Amendment protections related to free speech (Reuters).
This ruling will undoubtedly shape the legal landscape across the country and may affect similar protections in many states (NPR.org). It also reopens a painful and deeply personal conversation. For many of my clients, this is not theoretical. It is lived.
As both a practicing therapist and a part-time instructor in behavioral health for the State of Colorado, I find myself holding this moment in two spaces at once.
In the therapy room, I witness the long-term impact of harm.
In the classroom, I am responsible for helping future professionals understand the ethical, clinical, and human realities behind policies like these.
The Stories That Stay With Us
Over the years, I have had the privilege of working with older adults who were subjected to conversion therapy in childhood. Their stories often carry a common thread: confusion, shame, and a deep internalization that who they were was something to be fixed.
Many of these clients are now doing the courageous work of untangling decades of harm, grieving lost time, rebuilding identity, and learning to trust themselves again. What stands out most is not only the pain they endured, but the resilience they carry.
I also work with adults who are coming out later in life, individuals who, as children, felt the weight of cultural, familial, or religious pressures that made authenticity unsafe. Some are queer. Some are Trans. All are navigating what it means to finally live in alignment with themselves after years, sometimes decades, of silence.
Their journeys are not linear.
They are layered, complex, and deeply human.
In the classroom, these are not abstract case studies. While confidentiality is always maintained, the themes, patterns, and lived realities inform how I teach. Students are often surprised to learn how enduring the impact of early interventions can be, and how essential it is to approach identity with humility, curiosity, and care rather than assumption or agenda.
What We Know about Conversion Therapy
Conversion therapy has been widely discredited and is associated with significant mental health risks, particularly for LGBTQ+ youth.
The American Counseling Association Code of Ethics provides clear guidance:
“Counselors do not condone or engage in discrimination against prospective or current clients… based on… sexual orientation [or] gender identity” (C.5.).
“Counselors are aware of—and avoid imposing—their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors” (A.4.b.).
“Counselors respect the diversity of clients… including… sexual orientation [and] gender identity” (A.1.d.).
“The primary responsibility of counselors is to respect the dignity and promote the welfare of clients” (A.1.a.).
Taken together, these are not neutral statements. They establish an ethical foundation that prioritizes client autonomy, dignity, and protection from harm. Practices that attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity are fundamentally at odds with these principles.
The Colorado Counseling Association reflects and reinforces these same ethical commitments, opposing conversion therapy and supporting affirming, evidence-based care for LGBTQ+ individuals across the lifespan.
In my role as an instructor, I emphasize that ethics are lived. They show up in how we listen, how we conceptualize, and how we intervene. Students are encouraged to examine bias, understand harm, and develop approaches that center client autonomy and wellbeing.
As clinicians and educators, we are guided not only by evolving law, but by ethics, research, and the lived experiences of those we serve.
Affirming care is not about directing identity. It is about creating space for curiosity, exploration, autonomy, and self-trust.
Moving Forward with Integrity
Regardless of legal shifts, my commitment remains unchanged:
I will continue to provide queer-affirming care that centers the dignity and autonomy of each client.
I will continue to support clients in honoring what they feel, even when those feelings have long been silenced or dismissed.
I will continue to hold space for curiosity without agenda, especially for those exploring identity, relationships, and belonging.
I will continue, in the classroom, to prepare future behavioral health professionals to practice ethically, think critically, and lead with compassion.
For minors, it remains essential that care is grounded in ethical, evidence-based, and affirming practices. For adults, I will continue to encourage connection with trusted, affirming clinicians, professionals who prioritize safety, consent, and authenticity in their work.
A Final Reflection
Laws change. Court decisions shift. Cultural conversations evolve.
But the impact of being told, explicitly or implicitly, that you are not acceptable as you are can last a lifetime. And so, the work continues.
In therapy rooms and in classrooms.
In policy discussions and in everyday conversations.
In listening.
In affirming.
In teaching the next generation to do the same.
And in witnessing people come home to themselves.
Living Story Therapy, PLLC is proud to provide LGBTQIA+ affirming care to adult clients, while also supporting individuals and families in finding, vetting, and connecting with trusted affirming clinicians.
If you or a loved one are having difficulty accessing care, you are welcome to reach out for referral support. Please email Amanda at Amanda@livingstorytherapy.com to request assistance.