Apology: from the Association of Psychotherapists Aotearoa New Zealand (APANZ) to Takatapui, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, (T/LGBTQIA+) Māhū, Vakasaluwalewa, Palopa, Fa’afine/Fa’atama, Akava’ine, Fakaleiti/Leiti, Fakafifine (MVPFAFF+) and other members of Rainbow Communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Date: 2 October 2025

Preamble

The Association of Psychotherapists Aotearoa New Zealand (APANZ) is a professional association of over 560 psychotherapy practitioners. APANZ today offers the formal apology below to members of Takatāpui, LGBTQIA+ and MVPFAFF+ Pasifika communities. Psychotherapy in this country has offered much that has been healing and helpful. However, in relation to people with diverse sexual orientation and gender diverse experiences, presentations, and identities, both historically and in contemporary times, we have also at times engaged in clinical practices, underpinned by pathologising clinical ideas, that have been harmful and painful for many members of rainbow communities.

As Juliet Perano, Co-chair of APANZ Rainbow Rōpū comments

“Psychotherapists in Aotearoa New Zealand have at times been a source of harm instead of healing for people from Rainbow communities; acknowledging this painful and persistent history is a vital step in reestablishing trust, the lifting of shame, and the restoration of lost mana.

For those of us who are patients, clients, students, or professionals, we hope this signals a future in which our identities are no longer questioned or pathologised. We look forward to a relationship with an Association that welcomes us with openness, values our experiences, and recognises the many contributions we bring to the profession and our wider communities.”

APANZ recognises how damaging some of our attitudes, assumptions and practices at times have been. Our clinical theories, and therefore our practices, have too often been informed by pathologising formulations of diverse sexual orientation and gender diverse experiences, presentations, and identities. And these harmful practices have played out in the context of a power differential in which health professionals are often related to and trusted as authority figures. As representatives of the governance of the psychotherapists’ Association in this country, we recognise that we have responsibility for the perspectives and clinical practices we enact. APANZ therefore offers the following apology to members of Takatapui, LGBTQIA+ and MVPFAFF+ Pasifika communities:

APANZ’s full statement of apology can be found at this link:

https://apanz.org.nz/apanz-formal-apology-to-rainbow-communities

APANZ Rainbow Rōpū Statement in relation to APANZ’s Apology can be found at this link:

https://apanz.org.nz/rainbow-ropu-statement-on-apanzs-apology-for-harms-to-members-of-rainbow-communities

Waka Oranga National Collective of Māori Psychotherapy Practitioners Statement in relation to APANZ’s Apology can be found at this link:

https://apanz.org.nz/waka-oranga-statement-to-t-lgbtqia-apology-2025

If this raises anything for you and you would like some support, please reach out to one of the following:

0800 OUTLINE (0800 688 5463)

Youthline – 0800 376 63

Lifeline – 0800 543 354

Need to Talk? Call or text 1737

https://www.tengakaukahukura.nz/rainbow-organisations

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