Official Statement: NCCA on the Supreme Court Decision in Chiles v. Salazar |
| The North Carolina Counseling Association (NCCA) is closely monitoring the implications of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Chiles v. Salazar, which struck down Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for minors. The Court’s ruling classifies “talk therapy” as protected speech rather than strictly professional conduct, asserting that the government cannot restrict a counselor’s communications based on viewpoint.
Our Position The NCCA remains steadfast in our commitment to the ACA Code of Ethics and the principle of “Do No Harm.” While the Supreme Court has redefined the legal boundaries of “talk therapy” under the First Amendment, our professional standards are governed by clinical efficacy, the welfare of our clients, and the ethical mandate to provide affirming, evidence-based care. We recognize the complexities this ruling introduces to state-level regulation and the potential for confusion among practitioners. Our priority is to ensure that North Carolina counselors are equipped to navigate this changing legal landscape while maintaining the highest ethical standards for our diverse client populations. “The legal definition of speech may have shifted, but our ethical duty to provide safe, competent, and evidence-based mental health services remains unchanged.” Member Resources & Guidance To assist our members in understanding how this federal ruling interacts with North Carolina state laws and licensing board (NCBLCMHC) regulations, we have compiled the following:
NCCA will continue to monitor developments from the NCBLCMHC and the North Carolina General Assembly and will update these resources as new guidance becomes available. Resources ACA Position on Conversion Therapy ACA Statement on Supreme Court Ruling ACES also released a statement sent to emails of registered members. Additionally, for more opportunities to get involved in advocacy with ACA, please see |