When your child comes to you with questions about their identity, every instinct tells you to protect them. You want to do the right thing. You want to honor your faith. And you want your family to come out stronger on the other side.
But in that vulnerable moment, it can be hard to know which path leads to healing and which leads to harm.
That’s exactly why Conversion Truth for Families was created. This free, faith-informed resource hub was built by and for parents who have walked this road before. It offers real stories, practical guides, and evidence-based information to help Christian families navigate these challenging conversations without compromising their values or their children’s well-being.
What Is Conversion Therapy, and Why Should Parents Be Concerned?
Conversion therapy refers to practices that attempt to change a young person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. While proponents sometimes frame these efforts as supportive counseling or “exploratory therapy,” decades of research have revealed serious risks that every parent deserves to know about.
According to a study published in JAMA Psychiatry, transgender individuals who were exposed to conversion therapy were more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide during their lifetime compared to peers who engaged in other types of therapy. For those subjected to these practices before age 10, the risk of lifetime suicide attempts was more than four times greater.
A peer-reviewed analysis found that conversion therapy increases the risk of attempting suicide by 17 percentage points among transgender adolescents, a 55% increase. The same study found that exposure to these practices more than doubled the risk of running away from home.
The American Medical Association has documented that among those subjected to conversion therapy, 42% reported having attempted suicide, compared to 5% of those not subjected to these practices.
Perhaps most striking: a JAMA Pediatrics study found that conversion therapy and its associated harms cost the United States an estimated $9.23 billion annually. This figure accounts for the downstream effects of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicide attempts.
Every major medical and mental health organization in the country, including the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association, has issued statements opposing conversion therapy for minors.
The Chiles v. Salazar Case: Why This Moment Matters
Right now, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case that could reshape how states protect children from unproven therapeutic practices.
Chiles v. Salazar challenges Colorado’s law prohibiting licensed mental health professionals from practicing conversion therapy on minors. The plaintiff, a licensed counselor, argues that the law violates her First Amendment rights. Colorado maintains that the law is a legitimate regulation designed to protect children from harmful practices.
As SCOTUSblog reports, the majority of the Court appeared skeptical of Colorado’s ban during oral arguments in October 2025. If the Court strikes down the law, similar protections in more than 20 states could be invalidated.
The Trevor Project notes that LGBTQ+ youth who experienced conversion therapy are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide and more than 2.5 times as likely to report multiple suicide attempts in the past year. These statistics underscore why child welfare advocates across the political spectrum are watching this case closely.
For parents, the outcome of this case makes it more important than ever to seek out trustworthy information before making decisions that could affect their child’s future.
How Conversion Truth for Families Helps Parents Navigate Difficult Decisions
Conversion Truth for Families offers a suite of resources specifically designed for faith-guided parents who want to protect both their children and their family bonds. Unlike some advocacy organizations, CT4F approaches these issues from a perspective that respects conservative Christian values while providing honest information about the documented risks of conversion practices.
Real Stories from Parents Who’ve Been There
One of the most powerful features of the CT4F website is its collection of parent testimonials. These aren’t abstract statistics. They’re stories from mothers, fathers, and grandparents who made decisions they later regretted, and those who found paths that preserved their families.
Brandon Boulware, a business lawyer, lifelong Missourian, and son of a Methodist minister, shares how he initially tried to change his daughter by forcing gender-specific clothes and activities. The turning point came when his daughter asked if she could go play with neighbors, “if I go inside and put on boy clothes.”
“My daughter was equating being good with being someone else,” Brandon realized. “I was teaching her to deny who she is.”
After Brandon and his wife stopped trying to suppress their daughter’s identity, the transformation was immediate. “I now have a confident, smiling, happy daughter,” he testified before Missouri lawmakers in a speech that went viral.
The Christian Family Companion Guide
For parents who need step-by-step guidance, CT4F offers The Christian Family Companion, a comprehensive four-part guide designed to walk families through the first critical year after a child shares their struggle.
The guide includes:
- Day-by-day guidance for the first 24 hours, first week, first month, and first year
- What to expect at each stage, both emotionally and practically
- Faith-rooted wisdom from parents who have navigated this journey
- Emotional regulation tools to help parents stay grounded during turbulent times
This resource was created with input from parents, grandparents, and guardians who understand the unique pressures that families of faith face when navigating these conversations.
Frequently Asked Questions for Faithful Families
The site’s FAQ section addresses common questions that Christian parents often hesitate to ask, including:
- Is conversion therapy safe if it’s just “talk therapy”?
- What about “exploratory psychotherapy”?
- Do major medical organizations still oppose conversion therapy?
- What does the research actually show?
As the FAQ page states: “The truth is simple: outside meddling will never bring a child closer to God or replace our job as parents. Healing starts at the kitchen table, in prayer, and in love that listens.”
Understanding the Legal Landscape
With the Supreme Court case pending, CT4F has created dedicated resources explaining Chiles v. Salazar in plain English. The site offers hearing date updates, parent checklists, and explanations of what different outcomes could mean for families.
As their analysis notes: “The law protects your family from fraud. From practitioners who profit off desperation. From techniques that research shows cause depression, suicidality, and family breakdowns.”
What the Research Says About Family Acceptance
While conversion therapy aims to change a child’s identity, research consistently shows that family acceptance is what actually protects children’s mental health.
The Family Acceptance Project, a research initiative that has studied diverse families, found that parental rejection, including efforts to change a child’s identity, dramatically increases the risk of depression, substance abuse, and suicidal behavior.
Conversely, families who practice acceptance, even while maintaining their personal faith convictions, see significantly better outcomes for their children’s mental health and well-being.
A 2022 JAMA Pediatrics study found that LGBTQ youth who receive family support have dramatically lower rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation compared to those who face rejection or conversion attempts.
The Economic Reality: Conversion Therapy as Consumer Fraud
Beyond the emotional and psychological harms, conversion therapy has been successfully challenged in court as consumer fraud.
In the landmark Ferguson v. JONAH case, a New Jersey jury found that a conversion therapy organization had committed fraud by making false promises to families. One mother testified that she “paid about $4,000 toward her son’s treatment only to watch him struggle with a roller coaster of emotions.”
The presiding judge ruled that “the theory that homosexuality is a disorder is not novel but, like the notion that the earth is flat and the sun revolves around it, instead is outdated and refuted.”
This legal precedent established that conversion therapy can be prosecuted as a deceptive business practice, giving families another avenue for accountability when practitioners make promises they cannot keep.
Making an Informed Decision
If you’re a parent or grandparent searching for answers, Conversion Truth for Families offers a starting point that doesn’t ask you to abandon your faith or your values. Instead, it provides the information you need to make decisions that protect both your child’s well-being and your family’s bond.
As the CT4F homepage states: “You don’t have to choose between your child and your faith. There is a safer, Christ-centered way forward.”
Before committing your family to any course of action, consider exploring the resources at CT4F. Read the stories of other parents. Review the research. And remember that the most important relationship in your child’s life is the one with you.
The path forward may not be simple, but it doesn’t have to be one you walk alone.