Sexuality and Gender
Laura Haynes, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
CA Psychologist Lic. # PSY5058
Retired from clinical practice
After more than 40 years of providing psychological services, Dr. Haynes has retired from clinical practice as of June 1, 2018. She is devoting more time to research-based advocacy for the freedoms and rights of people distressed by their same-sex attraction or discordant gender identity.
Dr. Haynes advocates internationally for their access to professional and pastoral counseling that decreases their distress, improves their psychological functioning, helps them live according to their preferences, beliefs, and values, and their sexual attraction or gender identity may or may not change. Many want counseling help to protect their marriage to the spouse they love and their family they love so they can go on being full-time Moms and Dads, or to live consistently with their religious faith they love that should be respected.
Dr. Haynes has served as an expert internationally for professional organizations, members in 7 parliaments including the parliament of the European Union, high courts including 2 national supreme courts resulting in being quoted multiple times in a favorable decision, United Nations delegates, and high-level government officials. People in over 80 nations and 20 languages have heard, read, or received research reviews from Dr. Haynes.
Here are a few of her titles:
Concise research summary on counseling for people distressed by their same-sex attraction or discordant gender identity:
IFTCC Science and Research Council. (4 Oct. 2025). IFTCC “Dear Legislator” Letter. With references: https://archive.iftcc.org/iftcc-dear-legislator-letter-with-references/. With link to references: https://archive.iftcc.org/iftcc-dear-legislator-letter-without-references/
International Foundation for Therapeutic and Counselling Choice and Laura Haynes, Ph.D., amici, submitted a brief to the Supreme Court of the United States. on 13 June 2025. Citation:
Brief of Amici Curiae International Foundation for Therapeutic and Counseling Choice, Chiles v. Salazar, et al., ___ U.S. ___ (2025) (No. 24-539).
The topic is: Colorado’s ban on counseling conversations for helping minors become more comfortable with their biological sex; the case for the counseling approach.
Haynes, L. (27 Feb. 2024). Belfast Charity Psychologist Warns World Health Organization Medical Gender Interventions That Include Hormones Do Not Improve Mental Health—and May Worsen It! https://iftcc.org/belfast-charity-psychologist-warns-world-health-organisation-medical-gender-interventions-that-include-hormones-do-not-improve-mental-health-and-may-worsen-it/
Expert Report on the Coalition Against Conversion Therapy Memorandum of Understanding on Conversion Therapy in the UK. (Book) https://iftcc.org/mou/
Presents research evidence that "born that way and can never change" is not true, that same-sex attraction and gender-sex conflict commonly change for many through life experience and may become manageable, decrease, or change--though not for all--through ethical, safe, non aversive, consensual counseling.
IFTCC archive of Dr. Haynes’ international writings including research-based submissions on behalf of the IFTCC to government bodies, members of parliaments, and high courts: https://archive.iftcc.org/?s=laura+haynes&et_pb_searchform_submit=et_search_proccess&et_pb_include_posts=yes&et_pb_include_pages=yes