Michigan Bans "Conversion Therapy" for Minors

Dan Hitz is the Executive Director of Reconciliation Ministries of Michigan, Inc., a member-ministry of Restored Hope Network. He is a licensed professional counselor, an ordained minister, and an EMDR trained, certified clinical trauma professional. Dan began his journey out of homosexuality after surrendering his life to Jesus Christ in 1984.

Michigan is set to become the 22nd state to ban “conversion therapy” for minors when the law takes effect in late October, 2023. As the director of Reconciliation Ministries, I have had multiple people ask me how this law will affect the ministry. This article will look at the law and respond to the question of how it will affect the ministry.

House Bill 4616 prohibits “mental health professionals” from practicing “conversion therapy” with minors. You can read HB 4616 on the Michigan Legislature by clicking here.

House Bill 4617 defines the term “conversion therapy” and adds it to Michigan’s mental health code. You can read HB 4617 on the Michigan Legislature website by clicking here. It defines conversion therapy as “any practice or treatment by a mental health professional that seeks to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including, but not limited to, efforts to change behavior or gender expression or to reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward an individual of the same gender.” The definition of a “mental health professional” according to Michigan’s mental health code includes licensed therapists such as a licensed professional counselor, social worker, marriage and family therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, and registered nurse.

It is unfortunate that Michigan’s conversion therapy ban forbids licensed therapists from helping minors overcome unwanted same-sex attraction, and forbids licensed therapists from helping minors work toward embracing their biological gender. The law clearly states that mental health professionals are only allowed to help minors embrace same-sex attraction and/or embrace a transgender identity. This law applies even if the minor states that he or she does not want to embrace his or her LGBTQ feelings, and attributes them to trauma endured during childhood sexual abuse.

We have looked at the misleading nature of the term “conversion therapy” in past newsletter articles such as “The Equality Act and Cancel Culture”. The effectiveness of change allowing therapy has been explored in the articles “The Truth About Counseling” and “What Does Research Conclude About Counseling for Unwanted Same-Sex Attraction or Gender Dysphoria?” These articles and more are available on the Reconciliation Ministries website at www.recmin.org/newsletter-archives.

In response to the question of how this will affect the work we do at Reconciliation Ministries, we will continue to explore our legal options and stand fast on the Word of God. We uphold the belief that God ordains physical sexual expression to be practiced exclusively within the marriage covenant between one biologically born male and one biologically born female.

Through the years, the number of minors that we have worked with has been a small percentage of our participants. We have only worked with minors under the conditions that the parents fully explain the focus and values of the ministry before the minor comes to the first session. We have only met with teens who were freely willing to come in and talk with us. We maintained a respectful atmosphere and invited anyone we work with to disagree with us, ask questions, and make their own decisions. There have been teens who have agreed with our convictions and those who have not. Through it all, biblical seeds have been planted and mutual respect has been maintained.

Reconciliation Ministries will continue to work with adults who seek change allowing therapy to overcome unwanted LGBTQ feelings. We will continue to work with minors experiencing heterosexual struggles, including pornography addiction and recovery from sexual abuse. While the conversion therapy ban applies to “mental health professionals”, it does not apply to “biblical discipleship”. We will work within the parameters of the law to provide the best biblical care possible to anyone seeking to align their sexuality with their Christian faith. Please pray for us as we uphold the calling the Lord has given us.

© 2023 Reconciliation Ministries of Michigan, Inc.