Therapy is inherently political.
Maybe you’re surprised to read about “politics” by a therapist but…
Therapy is inherently political.
Politics influence ALL of our everyday lives, whether we are aware of it or not (and "not being aware of it" is a massive revealer of privilege).
Decisions by policy makers and political leaders can deeply and profoundly impact the lives of everyone in our society, but most often the most marginalized in society.
Insurance companies require diagnoses for payment, which are typically labels created by old white men that pathologize what is often a human response to painful human experiences. Diagnoses are often rooted in white culture and supremacy, meaning that what's "normal" in a culture could be considered "disordered" or "pathological" in our current medical model.
Historically, therapy has been most accessibly to rich white men and their families meaning that women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and BIPOC were not factored into therapeutic research or testing. Many therapeutic methods were created by white men and centered the white male experience of "healing," forcing these ideals onto everyone else.
To try to remove the influence of politics on daily lives and stressors - like rising costs, geopolitical tensions, job loss, healthcare, fear of danger - from a person's experience in therapy is like removing the leg of a stool...
Without it, the whole picture is incomplete AND it's also reinforcing a culture of white supremacy which silences the voices of dissenters.
You deserve space to speak freely about politics in therapy.
Now that's not to say that I'm going to MAKE anyone talk about politics in therapy or MAKE anyone believe the same thing as I do.
But that IS to say that if you don't feel that you can talk about the impact of politics on your daily life (or a therapist has made it clear that they "don't talk politics"), I think you should run the other way.
If you're looking for a therapist and this post resonates with you, then you might be in the right place!
My name is Erin and I’m a mental health and EMDR therapist in Salt Lake City.
I work with women who have experienced trauma or who are stuck in patterns that are no longer working but seem impossible to break (like people-pleasing, perfectionism, or self-criticism).
I’m accepting new clients in Utah and I have a spot on my schedule with your name on it.
Click here to schedule a free intro call with me - no strings attached. I can’t wait to meet you!
