Conversion Therapy 

IAHIP Position

IAHIP wishes to restate that efforts to try to change, manipulate or reverse sexual orientation and/or gender identity or expression through psychological therapies with different theoretical frameworks, are unethical under our Code of Ethics and Practice and potentially harmful.

In 2017, IAHIP and the other member bodies of the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP) fully endorsed the UK Council for Psychotherapy Memorandum of Understanding on Conversion Therapy.  The European Association for Psychotherapy also issued a Statement on Conversion Therapy in 2017

Psychotherapists have an ethical obligation to have adequate knowledge and understanding of gender, sexual and relationship diversity and to be free of any agenda that favours one gender identity or sexual orientation over any other.

Legislation in Ireland

IAHIP is internally reviewing the Prohibition of Conversion Therapies Bill 2018. Members can view the position paper here.