Background: We examined the experiences of incarcerated adolescent males (N = 29) who participated in a one-day meditation retreat and 10-week meditation programme. Method: Self-report surveys assessing mindfulness, self-regulation, impulsivity and stress; behavioural assessments; and focus group data were examined. Results: We observed significantly higher scores in self-regulation (p = .012) and psychometric markers demonstrated psychological enhancement. No behavioural change was observed. Six themes emerged: enhanced well-being, increased self-discipline, increased social cohesiveness, expanded self-awareness, resistance to meditation and future meditation practice. Conclusions: Early evidence suggests that meditation training for incarcerated youth is a feasible and promising intervention. Key Practitioner Message• This is the first published mixed-methods study on a meditation intervention for incarcerated youth • Key quantitative findings were that the meditation programme was associated with a significant increase in self-regulation but no behavioural change was observed • Themes identified from focus groups described benefits commonly attributed to meditation as well as challenges with meditation• Early evidence suggests that meditation interventions for incarcerated youth are feasible, not harmful and may provide benefit • While participating incarcerated youth overall reported positive experiences with the meditation programme, the long-term benefits remain unknown

Conversion therapies are any treatments, including individual talk therapy, behavioral (e.g. aversive stimuli), group therapy or milieu (e.g. “retreats or inpatient treatments” relying on all of the above methods) treatments, which attempt to change an individual's sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. However, these practices have been repudiated by major mental health organizations because of increasing evidence that they are ineffective and may cause harm to patients and their families who fail to change. At present, California, New Jersey, Oregon, Illinois, Vermont, Washington, D.C., and the Canadian Province of Ontario have passed legislation banning conversion therapy for minors and an increasing number of U.S. States are considering similar bans. In April 2015, the Obama administration also called for a ban on conversion therapies for minors. The growing trend toward banning conversion therapies creates challenges for licensing boards and ethics committees, most of which are unfamiliar with the issues raised by complaints against conversion therapists. This paper reviews the history of conversion therapy practices as well as clinical, ethical and research issues they raise. With this information, state licensing boards, ethics committees and other regulatory bodies will be better able to adjudicate complaints from members of the public who have been exposed to conversion therapies.

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