Counselors help guide their clients through some of their most personal, private struggles and hardships. It’s a relationship built on trust and honesty. Counselors are entrusted with deeply intimate matters.
The government has no business forcing itself into these conversations.
But in more than twenty states, government officials have created policies designed to silence counselors like Kaley Chiles. That’s why it was so important that Kaley stood at the U.S. Supreme Court in October 2025 to challenge the censorship law in her home state of Colorado.
And praise God, in an 8-1 decision, the Supreme Court condemned Colorado’s unconstitutional censorship.
Who is Kaley Chiles?
Kaley is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado. She is a committed Christian who seeks to live out her faith in every aspect of her life, including her work.
Kaley started her career working with clients who had experienced trauma. She has since branched out into other areas, including supporting clients experiencing issues such as addiction and personality disorders.
Her clients come to her with a variety of personal goals. Some seek freedom from sexual behaviors such as pornography use. Others wish to become more comfortable with their biological sex.
These are private, deeply intimate matters. Kaley has to build trust with her clients. Together, they fully explore their issues, and she seeks to help them achieve their goals.
Many of Kaley’s clients share her Christian faith. In fact, it’s often why they seek help from her, as opposed to other counselors with a secular worldview. They want counseling that is informed by and respects their common Christian convictions.
But the state of Colorado is trying to force its way into these private counselor-client conversations—all in violation of Kaley’s freedom of speech.
Colorado law tries to censor counselors who reject gender ideology
Colorado legislators passed a law in 2019 that targets the speech of counselors, specifically in private conversations with clients about gender identity.
The law bars licensed counselors from saying anything to clients under the age of 18 that “attempts or purports to change an individual’s … gender identity.”
Notably, the law only censors speech in one direction. The law enables counselors to “assist[]” anyone who is “undergoing gender transition.” So counselors may push young clients toward a gender identity different from their sex, which will often lead to harmful drugs and procedures.
But counselors are prohibited from helping clients find peace with their biological sex—even when that is the client’s personal goal.
The law threatens severe penalties for counselors who provide this help, including thousands of dollars in fines and even the loss of their license.
More than 20 states have passed similar laws targeting counselors’ speech, leaving Christian counselors like Kaley with few options: keep silent or face government punishment.
Children in Colorado can be counseled toward dangerous drugs and surgeries—but not the reverse
Colorado’s counseling law violates the free speech of counselors like Kaley, who are simply seeking to serve clients and live out their faith.
Kaley has been forced into censoring herself in conversations with clients out of fear of violating Colorado’s law. She has even had to decline help to some.
This undermines her basic First Amendment freedoms. And tragically, it pushes clients down a road of devastating harm.
Clients are not able to get the help or support that they need and desire when counselors can only say what the government thinks is right for their clients.
That means children in Colorado, and in other states with similar laws, can only receive a professional push toward experimental drugs and surgeries.
That’s not counseling—it’s coercion.
Instead of steering young, vulnerable kids down a path that leads to harmful, irreversible drugs and surgeries, children should have the opportunity to talk about their questions and get the emotional support they deserve and want.
U.S. Supreme Court ruling helps protect counselors nationwide
In 2022, an ADF Allied Attorney filed a lawsuit on Kaley’s behalf and asked a federal district court to halt Colorado’s unconstitutional law. But the court ruled against Kaley.
ADF attorneys then took the lead in the case, appealing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. Unfortunately, the 10th Circuit also ruled against Kaley, claiming that conversations in a counseling session are conduct rather than speech—and therefore are not protected by the First Amendment.
That’s why ADF attorneys asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. Thankfully, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed, and oral arguments were presented in October 2025.
Praise God, in March 2026, the Supreme Court gave a decisive win for free speech, families, and common sense, ruling 8-1 in favor of Kaley.
The Supreme Court affirmed that counseling conversations are speech and that states cannot unfairly silence certain viewpoints in the counseling room.
In response to the ruling, Kaley said, “When my young clients come to me for counsel, they often want to discuss issues of gender and sexuality. I look forward to being able to help them when they choose the goal of growing comfortable with their bodies. Counselors walking alongside these young people shouldn’t be limited to promoting state-approved goals like gender transition, which often leads to harmful drugs and surgeries. The Supreme Court’s ruling is a victory for counselors and, more importantly, kids and families everywhere.”
“Kids deserve real help affirming that their bodies are not a mistake and that they are wonderfully made. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today is a significant win for free speech, common sense, and families desperate to help their children,” said ADF Chief Legal Counsel Jim Campbell, who argued before the court in October. “States cannot silence voluntary conversations that help young people seeking to grow comfortable with their bodies.”
This Supreme Court win is monumental, as this precedent will help protect counselors from similarly unconstitutional laws in 20 states and over 100 localities across the U.S.
This massive win was only possible through God’s providence and you. Your generosity fuels critical cases like Kaley’s—and helps protects our country’s kids.
The outcome of Kaley’s case will positively impact any American seeking counseling, and your contributions helped make it possible.
Will you give today to help fuel more cases like Kaley’s and stand up for truth and freedom?
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