Heterodox Out Loud

Navigating Polarization in Mental Health Care with Andrew Hartz | Ep 30

Feb 18, 2025

Andrew Hartz, President of the Open Therapy Institute and a clinical psychologist, discusses the concerning rise of sociopolitical bias in mental health care. He reveals how personal beliefs can overshadow patient-centered therapy, leading to exclusion based on political views. The conversation delves into the challenges conservative therapists face and the ethical responsibilities of practitioners. Hartz also highlights the need for culturally sensitive approaches, addressing topics like gun ownership and gender biases in therapy.

47:50

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Andrew Hartz

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Quick takeaways

The rise of sociopolitical bias in mental health care threatens patient-centered therapy, leading to therapists dismissing clients with differing political views.

The Open Therapy Institute promotes training to foster viewpoint diversity, enabling therapists to engage with patients from various backgrounds without biases.

Deep dives

Impact of Political Bias in Therapy

Political bias in mental health care can significantly affect the therapeutic relationship, especially when therapists impose their ideological beliefs onto their patients. Therapist biases can manifest in four levels, ranging from activist therapists who actively promote their ideology to those unable to engage with clients possessing differing viewpoints. The culture has shifted over the past decade, with some therapists defining racism or sexism in increasingly broad terms, leading them to reject patients with opinions not aligned with their beliefs. This growing politicization harms truly patient-centered therapy, diminishing the space for open dialogue and genuine healing.

Intro

2min

Navigating Bias in Therapy

19min

Exploring the Intersection of Gun Ownership, Mental Health, and Spirituality

2min

Political Polarization and Mental Health

7min

Exploring Gender Biases in Therapy and Education

3min

Navigating Bias in Mental Health Care

13min

Navigating Change and Bias in Mental Health Practices

3min

What happens when mental health care becomes intertwined with prevailing political ideologies and biases? Today on Heterodox Out Loud, we’re joined by Andrew Hartz, president and founder of the Open Therapy Institute and a long-term member of Heterodox Academy. Andrew joins John Tomasi to explore the increasing prevalence of sociopolitical bias within the realm of mental health therapy.

Andrew shares his motivations for founding the Open Therapy Institute, highlighting the concerning shifts in therapy practices caused by activist-oriented approaches and sociopolitical biases. He discusses the need for a more balanced, patient-centered therapeutic approach that respects diverse perspectives without conflating therapy with broader ideological battles. Andrew sheds light on the startling trend of therapists dismissing patients due to their political views and the broader issue of bias pervading mental health training and practice.

In This Episode:

The rise of sociopolitical bias in mental health therapy
The four levels of bias impacting therapists
The incompatibility of patient-centered therapy with politically driven judgment
The influence of activist-oriented norms in therapeutic contexts
The role and objectives of the Open Therapy Institute
Viewpoint diversity and the challenges faced by conservative therapists

For more insights and updates from the Open Therapy Institute, visit their website: https://www.opentherapyinstitute.org/

About Andrew:

Andrew Hartz, Ph.D, is a practicing clinical psychologist. He was formerly a professor in the clinical psychology doctoral program at Long Island University, where he also completed his Ph.D. He completed his clinical internship at Columbia University Medical Center, and he also completed training at Mount Sinai Hospital and the William Alanson White Institute. For several years, he’s written about political issues and mental health for outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, City Journal, Discourse, the Federalist, Real Clear Education, Heterodox Academy, and the New York Post.

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