I managed to last just ten minutes in a professional zoom meeting to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding on Conversion Therapy with a group who are opposed to this life-saving document, which bans conversion therapy by professional therapists when used with LGBT and Asexual clients.
I was a founder member of the Coalition against Conversion Therapy along with reps from almost all the leading psy, therapy and medical bodies and NHS England, Scotland and Wales!
I made just two comments in chat. When Bob Withers was being introduced, I reminded people he has recently been sanctioned by UKCP for professional misconduct.
My second comment was: “The MoU does NOT ban exploring someone’s uncertainty or ambivalence at accepting their gender or sexuality. Our role as a psychotherapist/counsellors is always to explore the client’s thoughts and feelings. However, the MoU means we need to work in an affirmative-exploratory way.”
I’m not sure why I was removed from this discussion!
Dominic Davies
Founder – Pink Therapy
23 Oct 2021
Pink Therapy Blog 
I’m on my second counselling course L3 but have already encounter many trainees & crucially tutors, who hold discriminatory attitudes & who do not support the ban. Needless to say it hasn’t felt safe to bring my whole self to these courses. I’m now wondering should I, a queer, disabled, transgender person, continue on to further study & so to qualify if I’m not going to be welcome in this profession.
We share your despair and it’s really NOT good enough. But there are a growing number of queer, disabled and trans therapists. These intersections are invaluable and you have a home and will be welcome when you find your ‘tribe’/people. We have a closed group (Therapists only) on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/143121662383294/ and a volunteer Mentors scheme https://pinktherapy.org/mentoring/
This document might be too late for you, but perhaps not for others https://pinktherapy.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2020-Choosing-a-course.pdf
Thanks I appreciate your reply & encouragement. If I make it through to the end of this course I will look at the mentoring scheme. I did look at the guidance for choosing a course & bear it in mind but course availability is so limited that trainees are often a captive audience. I can only hope that my presence encourages other trainees to take a more critical stance of course leaders & how material is delivered.
We hope so too!