Conversion therapy is thriving in Arizona

"HEALTH COUNSELORS": According to data from the National Center for Lesbian Rights, licensed therapists make up only about a third of conversion therapists currently practicing in the United States. 

In Arizona, one organization has been tracking who they are.

Matthew Shurka, the co-founder of the Born Perfect program, which identifies conversion therapists, said his organization is tracking upwards of 90 people who practice the discredited treatment across the state. More than 60 of them are doing so without a license.

In partnership with KJZZ, listen to our story on how that's possible:

Without licenses, conversion therapists in Arizona operate with relative impunity.

A national organization is tracking more than 90 active conversion therapists in Arizona, majority dof whom do not have a license.

LOOKOUTJosephine Jaye McAuliffe (she/her)

LOOKOUT'S TAKE: This piece is the last in our series on conversion therapy across the Grand Canyon State.

We've uncovered how one counseling center, Family Strategies, in Mesa was started by and currently run by conversion therapists. We also looked at how the terminology has changed over the past few years in an attempt to bypass laws.

But probably the strongest story that didn't get as much hype, was that the board that oversees the licensing of these people has yet to do anything about it. After our reporting, the agency in charge, The Arizona Board of Behavioral Examiners, still had not taken action against the people LOOKOUT identified.

State regulators consider conversion therapy “unprofessional conduct,” but so far have not prevented it.

Despite local counselors advertising different kinds of conversion therapies online, no one has been investigated for it.

LOOKOUTJosephine Jaye McAuliffe (she/her)

We'll continue to keep an eye on this story, but if you or someone you know has experienced this, feel free to respond back to this email directly.

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