No Place for Politics in Therapy?

"Therapy exists within a particular social, cultural, environmental, and, yes, political context. Decisions made "out there," by politicians in power, directly affect society and impact what happens "in here," in the therapy room-things like how much money the government assigns to mental health care and updates to legislation that determine whether and how we can practice certain types of therapy with certain types of people."

"Whatever personal narratives they share with us are wrapped up in and influenced by those contexts, and, therefore, clients bring political influences into the room both implicitly and explicitly. They absorb messages from politicians and media headlines about the economy, the climate, women's reproductive rights, gay rights, transgender rights, abortion laws, and laws on immigration."

"These political messages impact them differently, of course, according to their sexuality, gender, ethnicity, and individual circumstances. If they are gay or transgender or a woman or a child in care or an immigrant, politics influences how our clients experience their sense of self within a wider context. How can it not? And how can we ignore politics when our client's core identity-as a child in care or care leaver; an adoptee; an adoptive or same-sex parent; someone who has spent time in prison or other institutional setting; a transgender man, woman, or child; or an immigrant-is politicised and debated?"

Therapy operates within social, cultural, environmental, and political conditions. Government decisions about mental health funding and legislation that regulate therapy practices affect what occurs in therapy rooms. Clients’ personal narratives are embedded in wider social, cultural, environmental, and political contexts, bringing political influences implicitly and explicitly. Clients absorb messages from political and media sources about the economy, climate, reproductive rights, gay rights, transgender rights, abortion laws, and immigration laws. These messages affect clients differently based on sexuality, gender, ethnicity, and circumstances. Core identities such as being in care, adopted, a same-sex parent, formerly incarcerated, transgender, or an immigrant are politicised and debated, making politics impossible to ignore. Therapists also have an ethical obligation to keep skills and knowledge up to date.

Read at Psychology Today