Who Should Decide The Goals of LGBT Therapy - Client or State

Free speech in therapy has already been restricted — but that may be about to change. A US Supreme Court case, Chiles v. Salazar, is challenging laws that limit what therapists and clients are allowed to talk about in the therapy room. While these laws are often framed as bans on “conversion therapy,” the deeper issue is far more fundamental.

Who gets to decide the goal of therapy? In this episode, we unpack how current laws prevent LGBT therapy clients from freely choosing the support they want, even when that support is requested voluntarily. This case isn’t about forcing outcomes — it’s about whether the state should be allowed to pre-determine which conversations are permitted, and which are forbidden.

At the heart of the discussion is a simple but profound question: Should therapy be client-led, or state-controlled?