A ban on conversion therapy could be expected by next spring.

The controversial psychotherapy practice is intended to alter an individual’s same-sex attraction or sense of gender identity.

A draft of the Conversion Therapy Prohibition (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) Bill in the House of Lords defined the process as anything designed to: "A: change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, or B: suppress a person's expression of sexual orientation or gender identity".

Campaigners in favour of a ban told Sky News they have faced “seven years of unmet commitments”. However, some Christian campaigners believe it could criminalise “legitimate” practices such as prayer.

LGBT+ Christian Simon Burrows said that some churches’ encouragement of prayerful ‘conversion therapy’ for same-sex attraction made him feel “suicidal every day”.

“I was hearing people say here's how living this way, this sort of more conservative Christian way, has made my life better," he said.

“I’d like the next gay teenager going through the journey that I went through to be able to explore their faith and different options, without being punished.”

Christian organisation Living Out has expressed concern at the definition of “suppression”.

“If suppression is saying to me, as I think Jesus says to me, ‘you should not be in a same-sex relationship with other men’, [then] Living Out is guilty of suppression in repeating the instruction that Jesus Christ gives to his people that sex is marriage between a man and a woman,” said director Ed Shaw.

A government spokesperson said: “We committed to bringing forward legislation to finally ban conversion practices [as set out] in the King's Speech."

They added that any ban would not cover “legitimate psychological support,” and would "respect" the "role of teachers, religious leaders, parents and carers".

The debate is expected to take place before the end of the next parliamentary session.