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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by badhaircut on September 8, 2004, at 11:15:49
What does your therapist say about the presidential campaign?
I've had 3 long-term therapists. Two were politically liberal or at least anti-Republican. They were pretty up-front about it. One (a closeted gay guy) had some conservative views.
There was an article in 'American Psychologist' a few years ago that said psychologists are left-leaning and intolerant of their conservative clients.
I heard that decades ago, it was dogma in psychoanalysis that the analysts must never express a political opinion. Some said they should not even vote, for fear of unconsciously influencing their patients.
Do you know how your therapist will vote?
Posted by gardenergirl on September 8, 2004, at 12:03:58
In reply to the election – what's your T say?, posted by badhaircut on September 8, 2004, at 11:15:49
That's a very good question that I've been thinking about myself recently. My T knows how active I am politically, and knows my views. I tend to assume that his are the same, but then again, I really don't know. I think I would hate it if I found out he was a Republican. That would just be such a disappointment to me. But also kudos to him for not letting on either way, and instead letting me project my own views onto him. I suppose I could talk to him about this phenomenon.
On the other hand, my openness with my own views might be a problem when I start internship in a few weeks. If my clients were to see my car, they would see the Kerry/Edwards car flag on it. You really can't miss it. I didn't want a bumper sticker because I don't like to use those on my car, plus it's a brand new car, and I just couldn't bear it. So hence, I got the flag. It's gets attention. I hope that wouldn't interfere with the therapy alliance with any of my clients, but perhaps I should not fly it to and from the clinic. But that goes against what I believe for myself and the very reason I got the flag. Ugh!!!!! I don't know what to do.....
gg
Posted by Aphrodite on September 8, 2004, at 12:36:19
In reply to Re: the election – what's your T say? » badhaircut, posted by gardenergirl on September 8, 2004, at 12:03:58
My therapist is quite liberal and very tolerant of the fact that I am a Republican. It doesn't bother me at all that we don't share political ideology. I don't suspect that he just grins and bears it, either. He seems to be genuinely OK with the differences. I am too; it makes for a richer experience.
Posted by lucy stone on September 8, 2004, at 12:52:24
In reply to the election – what's your T say?, posted by badhaircut on September 8, 2004, at 11:15:49
My analyst never expresses political opinions. I am a liberal and make no secret of it. I asked him once what party he belonged to and he said he was a democrat, which made me happy.
Posted by Poet on September 8, 2004, at 13:10:13
In reply to the election – what's your T say?, posted by badhaircut on September 8, 2004, at 11:15:49
She openly dislikes Bush, so I would say she's with me in the Kerry camp.
Poet
Posted by Dinah on September 8, 2004, at 14:08:49
In reply to the election – what's your T say?, posted by badhaircut on September 8, 2004, at 11:15:49
Our conversations tend to stay on target, so politics doesn't come up that often. I wouldn't be surprised to discvoer that he was a democrat or a republican. I like to think of him as moderate and open minded, because that's how I like to think of him in general. He seems like a guy who can accept that there are no good guys or bad guys and everyone wants good things for our country, even if they disagree on how to achieve them.
To me, a therapist who feels that way is less likely to be judgemental about the stuff I bring to him, so that's what I hope for.
Posted by rubenstein on September 8, 2004, at 14:24:36
In reply to Re: the election – what's your T say? » badhaircut, posted by gardenergirl on September 8, 2004, at 12:03:58
Gardengirl
Oh my gosh, I also have the Kerry-Edwards car flag, just thought it was an interesting coincidence, sorry your T canceled that really is hard
Rubenstein
Posted by gardenergirl on September 8, 2004, at 15:44:55
In reply to Re: the election – what's your T say?-gardengirl, posted by rubenstein on September 8, 2004, at 14:24:36
How cool! I've never seen another one. Glad to know there are others out there.
Warmly,
gg
Posted by Miss Honeychurch on September 9, 2004, at 8:50:43
In reply to Re: the election – what's your T say? » badhaircut, posted by gardenergirl on September 8, 2004, at 12:03:58
gg,
Would you really hate it if you found out he was a Republican? My T and I are on opposite sides of the political spectrum. This is really interesteing. How do you think you will be able to deal with a very conservative client? Do you think it would mar the therapeutic alliance in any way?
Posted by gardenergirl on September 9, 2004, at 10:13:52
In reply to Re: the election – what's your T say?, posted by Miss Honeychurch on September 9, 2004, at 8:50:43
That's a good question. I wouldn't hate it. I wouldn't think it would harm the alliance as he never has given a hint one way or the other. I guess I just would be disappointed. I'm not sure why. That sure sounds judgemental of me, doesn't it?
As far as a client, I don't think I've had anyone who has brought politics into the therapy session. I have had several very conservative clients, as I worked at a Catholic University for training last year. I don't *think* I've found any differences in beliefs to interfere with therapy.
Now that I think about it, I have had some older adult clients who spoke of politics when the war started. I usually just focused on their fears and worries and validated their life experiences and wisdom. Their actual beliefs one way or another on the political spectrum didn't really play a role.
What I think I would have to focus on with a very conservative client is to make sure that I understand their beliefs and where they come from and not assume anything. So if it is an issue in therapy, it might take more exploration for me to understand. But that doesn't feel any different to me than trying to understand anything else that I don't have experience with...I don't know.... ??
Warmly,
gg
Posted by badhaircut on October 12, 2004, at 8:34:07
In reply to the election – what's your T say?, posted by badhaircut on September 8, 2004, at 11:15:49
On NPR's 'Talk of the Nation' today, Berkeley linguistic psychologist George Lakoff will talk about the differences in how political conservatives and political liberals frame their concerns in words and what that means for their world-views.
The show is Tuesday, 10/12/04 at 2:00 Eastern. It's a live, hour-long, call-in show: 1-800-989-8255 or email questions in advance to totn@npr.org
You can get the audio archive version starting Tuesday evening at http://www.npr.org/programs/totn/. Also go there to find a local station.
(This counts as a Babble psych board subject, doesn't it? –bhc)
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