Consultation opens into conversion practices and GSRD guidelines
A 12-week consultation has opened on work to define conversion practices and set out good practice principles for psychological professionals working with gender, sexuality and relationship diversity (GSRD).
The work is being carried out by the Partnership of Counselling and Psychotherapy Bodies (PCPB), the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) and is led by an independent development team. All participating organisations are clear in their opposition to conversion practices.
The consultation opens on Tuesday 25 August 2026 and closes at midday on Tuesday 17 November 2026.
Draft materials are available to view in the resources section of the PCPB website, including a form to complete to submit your feedback. They are also available to download on the links below.
Working definition of conversion practices
What is being consulted on?
The consultation invites feedback on two draft outputs:
- a definition of conversion practices
- good practice principles for psychological professionals working with GSRD.
The work applies to psychological professionals working with adults and/or children.
The aim is to support ethical, safe and consistent practice across the psychological professions and to contribute to a clear, shared understanding of this work.
Who can respond?
The consultation is open to:
- members and registrants of the participating organisations
- other psychological professionals
- stakeholder organisations
- people with lived experience
- members of the public.
We welcome feedback from anyone with an interest in this area.
How the drafts have been developed
The drafts have been developed by an independent team, supported by:
- a group of practitioners from across the participating organisations
- a separate group of people with lived experience from communities
- a group of policy experts from across the PCPB partners.
This approach is intended to ensure that the work is informed by professional expertise, ethical considerations and lived experience.
The development team has also considered relevant evidence, existing professional guidance, policy developments and the draft legislation relating to conversion practices.
Why do we use the term ‘conversion practices’?
We use the term conversion practices rather than conversion therapy to avoid implying that these approaches are legitimate or ethical forms of therapeutic work.
For the purpose of this consultation, conversion practices are understood as practices that seek to change, suppress or direct a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
Safety, confidentiality and respectful engagement
We recognise that this is a sensitive and emotive area of work.
The names of individuals involved in developing the drafts will not be publicly released to protect their safety and wellbeing.
We ask everyone participating in the consultation to engage respectfully and to focus their feedback on the draft definition, the good practice principles and potential implications for practitioners, clients, service users and the wider public.
How will feedback be used?
All feedback submitted through the consultation will be reviewed and considered by the independent development team.
The team will identify key themes, consider areas of agreement and disagreement and make revisions where appropriate before the drafts undergo further review by the participating organisations.
What this consultation is not about
This consultation is not a complaints process and should not be used to raise concerns about individual practitioners, organisations or services. Any such concerns should be raised through the relevant organisation’s existing complaints or professional conduct procedures.
This consultation is also not a consultation on the draft government legislation relating to conversion practices, nor is it a substitute for any government or parliamentary process. However, the draft legislation and the wider policy context are considered by the development team as part of this work.
What happens next?
Following the close of the consultation, all responses will be reviewed and the draft materials revised as appropriate.
The final definition and good practice principles will then be considered by the participating organisations.
The definition will inform future policy work and the good practice principles will support participating organisations in updating expectations for members and registrants working with gender, sexuality and relationship diversity.
Further updates will be shared once the consultation has closed and the next stage of the work is underway.
