Dr Buckland, the former chairman of the UK Council of Psychotherapy (UKCP), received abuse, including one email sent to that organisation that included the phrases: “Your time will come” and “transphobic Nazi c***”.

He also had a sign marked “RIP” delivered to his house along with a succession of abusive phone calls and messages.

The 47-year-old academic said: “The UKCP office and I received vile and threatening communications for trying to ensure children’s safety was prioritised.

“I felt abused by people both inside and outside of the UKCP.”

Dr Buckland also claimed he was: “Prevented from speaking about serious governance concerns or the abuse and death threats received”.

The top therapist faced backlash after he withdrew the UKCP’s support for a ban on conversion therapy, a practice that attempts to persuade trans or gay people that they are not trans or gay.

He explained the call was made after children with gender dysphoria began to be included in the proposed restrictions as part of a Memorandum of Understanding on conversion therapy.

Dr Buckland explained that he made the move in an attempt to shield children from policies encouraging them to identify as trans and go on to pursue life-altering drugs and surgery.

The therapist believed it was this stance that led to him being “ousted” from the UKCP in a similar manner to academics.

He warned that bodies now “reflected the ideological viewpoints of certain activists within these organisations rather than practitioners”.

“I fear that it is currently almost impossible for parents to know if their child will see a psychotherapist, psychologist or counsellor who will put their child’s individual needs first over personal and ideological beliefs,” he said.

Dr Buckland slammed “bullying tactics” he suggested were used to silence dissent.

To make his point, he referenced the familiar example of those who “raised safeguarding concerns regarding gender ideology are often instantly labelled as ‘transphobic’”.

He opined that this culture of silence meant that senior politicians are left to deal with those who are “activists first and psychological practitioners second”.

“The whole experience of trying to fulfil my legal duties as chair of a psychological professional body and to protect children from harm was deeply traumatic,” the therapist said.

“I can understand why people choose to not speak out on specific topics as the impact of bullying can be overwhelming and unbearable, however when it comes to child safety I believe there is no excuse for remaining silent,” he told The Telegraph.

A UKCP spokesman said they are reviewing their “decision-making processes”, and that they take “reports of harassment or threats extremely seriously, provide support to anyone affected and would always encourage anyone affected to contact the police”.

He also clarified they withdrew on the memorandum on conversion therapy due to “the complexities around how it applied to work with children”.

“Our position is clear: conversion practices are harmful and must never be used, regardless of a client’s age,” he said, adding that they were “developing new gender-related guidance,” the spokesman added.