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Politics in Psychotherapy by Craig Wiener, Ed.D. to be held on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 from 9am-11am ET via Zoom.
The breakdown of the workshop:
- Part One: Therapist/Client Matching
- In general: When first interacting, how do we handle requests to have a therapist with particular traits and approaches?
- If the client wants political matching with their therapist, do we automatically adjust to this preference to avoid inevitable drop out?
- Part Two: To Disclose or Not To Disclose: That is the question
- What kinds of information are reasonable for therapists to Disclose about themselves?
- Do we at any point in the therapeutic process also disclose pronouns, race, sexual preference, political beliefs, our voting history, divorce history, history of having therapy, views on abortion, etc.
- What is the rational to disclose Political beliefs when clients ask?
- What if the therapist does not think that disclosing political belief is therapeutically advisable?
- Part Three: Client Resistance to Explore the Psychology embedded in Politics
- What if clients do not want to explore the psychology of their politics?
- Why might clients object to any inquiry about their politics?
- An accepted definition of Transference in psychology
- So what might be an effective way to respond to these kinds of negative reactions?
- How do we handle client’s political comments and emotional responses to political issues?
- How do we respond to the client’s anxieties, complaints, and anger towards the particular politicians that disrupt them?
- If we are going to empathize and affirm
- If we are going to empathize, explore origins and alternative ways to understand and cope
- Part Four: Politics During Therapy
- What do we do when clients want to focus the session on political issues?
- What would be the benefit of focusing on political concerns during therapy?
- What would be the downside, if we continue to reinforce political discussion in therapy?
- How do we handle and understand the client’s preoccupation to talk politics?
- Part Five: Negativity Related to Political Content
- What if the client suspects that the therapist has an opposing political bent, and is adamant to know the therapist’s voting history?
- What do we do when clients suspect political divergence with the therapist?
- What if the client’s political beliefs reinforce behaviors that seem problematic?
- Part Six: What about Our Reactions to the Client?
- A Definition of Counter Transference in Psychology
- How are we reacting to our client’s political beliefs?
- Handling Counter Transference
- If Therapists Want to Ameliorate Counter Transference Concerns
- Part Seven: Some Things to Remember
- In sum, what if the ways we handle politics in therapy can significantly influence various therapeutic outcomes?
The workshop objectives are:
- This presentation addresses the controversy pertaining to the recent surge that finds both therapists and clients being unwilling to participate in therapy when there is the presence of political divergence and opposing political ideologies.
- It examines the potential problems and benefits of therapist disclosure of political beliefs.
- It explores the various ways in which we might handle political content during therapy, ranging from avoiding the reinforcement of its occurrence, recognizing it as a potential window into the client’s psychological struggles, and affirmation, which may include the encouragement of social activism.
- It looks at the various ways in which politics during psychotherapy can influence therapeutic outcomes, including the attainment of treatment objectives formulated at the outset of treatment.
For more information about the facilitator check-out Dr. Craig B. Wiener – Home
CEs: Approved by NH-NASW for 2.0 CEs
Accomodations Request: Should you need accomodations, please contact Tina Borsa at (603)355-2244 x8118 or tborsa@mapsnh.org
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**Cancelation Policy: Refunds can be made up to 1-week prior to workshop. Refund will be minus the PayPal fee for those using that Payment Method. Extenuating circumstances outside of this refund timeframe will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please request refunds in writing by emailing Tina Borsa at tborsa@mapsnh.org.
