A formerly gay counsellor has been struck off the psychotherapists' register of trainee professional membership.

Dr Mike Davidson, a Christian, specialises in counselling for people who have unwanted same-sex attraction.

He offered this kind of counselling for the last six years without any complaints until he became a target for gay activists following two BBC radio interviews last year in which he talked about his views on same-sex attraction.

After the interviews, chair of the British Psychodrama Association Jonathan Salisbury notified him by email that his trainee membership had been revoked with immediate effect pending investigation, meaning that Dr Davidson could no longer practice as a UKCP-approved trainee psychotherapist.

This week, the BPA under the direction of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) removed Dr Davidson from the psychotherapists' register of trainee professional membership.

Dr Davidson is founder of the Core Issues Trust, which supports men and women seeking help with unwanted same-sex attraction.

Core Issues trustee Dermot O'Callaghan said the BPA's decision "denies clients the right to shape their own sexual preferences" and effectively forbids the "freedom to change".

"This bodes ill for the significant number of people who are troubled with their same-sex attraction and who want help," said Mr O'Callaghan.