Conspiracy Theories in Your Office

Conspiracy Theories in Your Office

Curt and Katie chat about clients who bring conspiracy theories into therapy. We talk about differentiating between psychosis and believing in conspiracy theories, the characteristics of folks who may be likely to subscribe to these theories, and the importance of the relationship in working with these folks. We also look at steps we would like professional organizations to take to support clinicians.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

• How to handle when clients bring conspiracy theories into your office
• Distinguishing between delusions, shared psychosis, and conspiracy theories
• Reality testing, obsessive research, and other factors that may distinguish between psychosis and conspiracy theory
• The impact of internet research and social media algorithms
• The characteristics of folks who are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories
• How fear of uncertainty, lack of trust can play into this dynamic
• Societal impacts like advertising certainty
• The different responsibility that therapists have when someone brings in a conspiracy theory
• Hesitation in addressing these theories both in the room and at the professional org level
• The continuum of engagement with conspiracy theories (from “entertainment” to going down the rabbit hole)
• The level of investment in the theory, groups forming around these theories, and cults
• The risk factors and legal/ethical responsibilities related to harm
• Allen Lipscomb’s BRUH modality (Bonding Recognition Understanding and Healing)
• The problem with direct challenging
• The importance of identifying is it a conspiracy theory or is someone actually out to get you, especially with clients who are in traditionally marginalized communities
• Building trust within the relationship through deep understanding of the client’s experiences
• Societal measures that can help (like deplatforming leaders of the theories)
• Starting from compassion and curiosity; managing reactions
• Exploring the nuance of challenging irrational fears versus conspiracy theories
• Seeking common ground and identifying impacts
• The call to action to professional organizations for guidance and taking a stance (and the understanding of why they balk at doing so)