Research consistently demonstrates that conversion therapy does not work for transgender people and is actively harmful. Evidence shows that gender identity is an inherent aspect of who someone is, not a condition that can or should be changed through therapeutic intervention.
Multiple studies and professional medical organisations worldwide have found that attempts to alter someone's gender identity through conversion therapy are not only ineffective but cause significant psychological harm. The World Health Organisation, American Psychological Association, and Royal College of Psychiatrists all oppose these practices, recognising that they increase rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among transgender individuals.
Guidelines from leading medical bodies emphasise that being transgender is a natural variation of human identity, not a mental health disorder requiring correction. Just as cisgender people cannot have their gender identity changed through therapy, neither can transgender people be made cisgender through any therapeutic process. Research indicates that affirmative approaches, which support individuals in living authentically according to their gender identity, lead to significantly better mental health outcomes.
Understanding that authentic gender identity is not something that needs to be fixed represents a crucial shift in how healthcare providers and society approach transgender experiences. Professional medical consensus supports helping transgender individuals access appropriate care and support rather than attempting to change who they fundamentally are.