Memorandum of understanding on conversion therapy
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is a joint document signed by over 25 health, counselling and psychotherapy organisations which aims to end the practice of conversion therapy in the UK.
Conversion therapy is the term for therapy that assumes certain sexual orientations or gender identities are inferior to others, and seeks to change or suppress them on that basis.
The 2017 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) makes it clear that conversion therapy in relation to gender identity and sexual orientation (including asexuality) is unethical, potentially harmful and is not supported by evidence. It updates the 2015 version released at the Department of Health, which focused exclusively on sexual orientation.
The MoU also intends to ensure that:
- the public are well informed about the risks of conversion therapy
- healthcare professionals and psychological therapists are aware of the ethical issues relating to conversion therapy
- new and existing psychological therapists are appropriately trained
- evidence into conversion therapy is kept under regular review
- professionals from across the health, care and psychological professions work together to achieve the above goals
Supporters
The MoU is signed by:
- Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
- Association for Family Therapy (AFT)
- Association of Christians in Counselling and Linked Professions
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
- British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP)
- British Association of Drama Therapists (BADTH)
- British Psychoanalytic Council (BPC)
- British Psychological Society (BPS)
- CliniQ
- College of Sex and Relationship Therapists (COSRT)
- Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council
- Gendered Intelligence
- GLADD (The Association of LGBT Doctors and Dentists)
- Mental Health Network – NHS Confederation
- Mind
- NHS England
- NHS Scotland
- NHS Wales
- Northern Ireland Humanists
- Psychological Professions Network
- Psychotherapy and Counselling Union (PCU)
- Relate
- Rethink Mental Illness
- Royal College of General Practitioners
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Spectra
- UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
It’s also endorsed by the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity, Centre for Mental Health, Place2be, and Stonewall.
