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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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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

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.

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