A Therapist's Treatise on Social Issues, Part 1: Introduction
Lately I’ve felt the need to update my Professional Disclosure Statement (henceforth PDS), a required document for all therapists. We must always have a current PDS on file with, and approved by, our licensing board. And we must provide a copy of our PDS as part of informed consent for any new client. The PDS I last updated in June of 2020, when starting my private practice, no longer reflects my views.
A PDS need not be political. And in previous eras, it was best that it not be. Therapists are, after all, supposed to be as neutral, objective, and open-minded as we can, avoiding discrimination against those who may not share our culture, religion, political values, or worldview. While that was never fully possible — we are, after all humans, and client-therapist matches are often aided by common ground — I believe that such neutrality has become a thing of the past. Views on social issues have touched every area of life and become highly charged. People need to know where their therapists stand in order to feel safe and understood.
I want my clients to give fully informed consent, or be able to opt out if my views are too misaligned with theirs. I feel the need to disclose as much as possible. But, being me — too much of a writer for my own good — my attempt at updating my PDS became a treatise. When what’s normally a two-page document surpassed ten, I knew I needed to channel it into my blog instead. And so this series has begun.
In the following series, I aim to lay out my theoretical foundation and approach to social issues as a mental health professional in this era. You might want to grab yourself a cup of coffee, or bookmark this for later, or skip around to the parts that interest you.
