Federal court asked to protect compassionate counseling for kids struggling with their biological sex Michigan forces counselors to push children down the path of harmful, life-altering medical interventions

WASHINGTON – Catholic therapists were in federal appeals court today to protect their ability to provide compassionate, professional counseling to children struggling with their biological sex. In Catholic Charities v. Whitmer, Becket represents counselors who are challenging a Michigan law that bans them from helping children talk through the underlying causes of their discomfort, and instead requires counselors to assist children with a “gender transition”—a regime of drugs, hormones, and surgeries designed to make their bodies resemble the opposite sex. Becket is also supporting a faith-based counselor in Chiles v. Salazar, a parallel case that was heard by the Supreme Court earlier this month. 

Recent years have seen an explosion in the number of children who are struggling with their biological sex. Many of these children have been led down a path of “gender transition”—enduring a regime of drugs, hormones, and surgeries—which often results in profound regret and permanent health harms. The harms are so significant that 26 states and several European countries have banned or strictly limited medical gender transitions for children, advocating instead for compassionate counseling to alleviate their gender-related distress. Unfortunately, Michigan bans this compassionate approach, forcing therapists to turn away children and families or risk losing their licenses and suffering hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.   

“If a child came to me struggling with their biological sex, I would help them work through that distress with compassion, honesty, and respect for their dignity,” said Emily McJones, licensed therapist and owner of Little Flower Counseling. “That’s what my faith calls me to do—and what science supports. I want to support my clients’ goals, and families seek me out for my Catholic faith because they want a therapist who shares their worldview. The state is not only limiting me from practicing my faith but, more importantly, keeping me from supporting my clients to live in line with their faith. I pray the court blocks this law and protects counselors like me.” 

Emily McJones is a Catholic therapist in Lansing, Michigan, who counsels children and adults on a wide variety of life issues. Many of Emily’s clients share her Catholic faith, and some of those include young people seeking help to address discomfort they feel with their biological sex. To help these clients, Emily talks with them to address the underlying causes of their discomfort, alleviate their distress, and, if possible, help them embrace their bodies without resorting to irreversible, life-altering medical interventions. According to recent research, this cautious approach is often the best way to help children who experience such discomfort. But Michigan’s law bans this approach. After Emily and several other Catholic therapists filed a lawsuit to block the law last year, a federal district court left it in place. Now they are asking the Sixth Circuit to protect their right to help children accept their God-given bodies.  

“Children in Michigan deserve better than to be rushed into harmful, irreversible, life-altering medical interventions,” said Luke Goodrich, vice president and senior counsel at Becket. “But the state is threatening to do just that by punishing counselors who take a cautious, science-backed approach to helping kids experiencing gender-related distress. We’re asking the court to protect compassionate counseling and common sense.” 

A ruling is expected in the coming months. 

For more information or to arrange an interview with a Becket attorney, contact Ryan Colby at [email protected] or 202-349-7219.