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A Supreme Court showdown is poised to answer a question that could reshape our field: is counseling regulated health care or “just speech”? We sit down with Dr. Chase Morgan-Swaney—assistant professor, clinician, and OCA president-elect—to break down Chiles v. Salazar, the research on SOGICE, and what a ruling could mean for minors, licensure boards, and everyday clinical practice.

We trace the legal core—speech versus professional conduct—and translate it into plain language for counselors, supervisors, educators, and allies. Dr. Morgan-Swaney explains why leading organizations like APA and ACA argue that therapy is evidence-based treatment, not casual conversation, and how decades of research tie identity-change efforts to heightened psychological distress and suicide risk in youth. We also dive into the patchwork of state and city protections, the realities in Ohio, and the practical steps clinicians can take now: audit informed consent and websites, clarify you don’t provide identity-change interventions, strengthen referral pathways, and ensure crisis resources for LGBTQ+ minors are easy to find.

You’ll hear how affirmative care can honor faith and culture without attempting identity change, how counselor education is preparing students for the broader implications of this case, and how OCA plans to coordinate guidance, training, and model language once a decision lands. The throughline is steady: protect clients with evidence-based standards, equip counselors with tools and supervision, and build coalitions that keep practice aligned with science and ethics—even in uncertain times.

If you value clear standards, safer care, and strong advocacy for LGBTQ+ youth, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review with your top takeaway—what’s the first change you’ll make in your informed consent or practice language?

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If you’re a counselor in Ohio and would like to get involved as part of production or as a guest, or know someone who might be interested, please email us at ohiocounselingconversations@gmail.com!

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Created by the OCA's Media, Public Relations, and Membership (MPRM) Committee & its Podcast Subcommittee

·Hosted by Victoria Frazier

·Pre-Production & Coordination by Marisa Cargill and Victoria Frazier

·Editing by Leah Wood & Marisa Cargill

·Original music selections by Elijah Satoru Wood