Former Republican congressman and clinical psychologist Dr. Tim Murphy told Newsmax on Tuesday that the Colorado case before the U.S. Supreme Court is not about conversion therapy but about protecting therapists’ First Amendment rights to discuss all aspects of a client’s concerns.
Appearing on “National Report,” Murphy said the case could have major implications for counselors and mental health professionals nationwide.
“Conversion therapy is not something people practice,” Murphy said. “The issue here is that Colorado — and about 20 other states — have laws that say therapists cannot explore” a client’s questions or discomfort about gender identity or sexual orientation “unless it’s in one direction.”
Murphy noted that under these laws, therapists are barred from helping clients who wish to reaffirm their biological sex or question a transition.
“The only thing the therapist is allowed to do in these states is to help that boy become gay, to help someone transition to another gender,” he said. “But if a client says, ‘I’m not comfortable with that; I want help to be who I am,’ Colorado law and others are saying that therapist is forbidden to help that client with their interests. So that is important.”
He criticized Colorado framing the argument before the Supreme Court on the viability of conversion therapy during Tuesday’s hearing.
“The attorneys for Colorado were citing studies from the 1980s claiming [conversion therapy] doesn’t work. I agree,” Murphy said.
Murphy described the law as an infringement on professional and personal freedom, arguing that it dictates what therapists can say rather than preventing harm.
“So in this case, the free speech question is absolutely paramount to allow that therapist to talk about what the client is asking them to do. And what’s happening in this case is Colorado is saying you are not allowed to do that,” Murphy said.
He also raised concerns about minors being encouraged toward irreversible medical interventions while lacking legal capacity to consent.
Children “can’t get a tattoo and ear piercing and drive a car, but we’re going to let them choose their gender,” Murphy said.
Murphy praised Kaley Chiles, the licensed counselor in Colorado who challenged the law.
“The key feature here for free speech is letting the client determine what they want help with. And not having the state say you cannot do that,” he said.
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