Conservatives in Counseling
Blake Fleet MA, LAC, LPC
As a counselor, it is customary to run across a wide variety of shame in the counseling session. One might expect a client not to want to talk about sexual abuse, intrusive thoughts, or the full extent of their substance use. However, recently I have noticed something new in the counseling sessions. Many conservative clients appear afraid or embarrassed to discuss political ideology. It has seemed that many will make vague political statements, seeing how to respond or apologize if they accidentally say something construed as conservative.
Although I have been unable to find research showing whether conservatives are avoiding therapy or being hesitant to share certain issues, others in the field have noticed a similar phenomenon (Mather, 2020). This may be a particular issue for the conservative client as research has shown that conservatives are more likely to self-censor when discussing their politics (Ekins, E., 2020; Gibson & Sutherland, 2023).
One potential barrier for conservative clients sharing is that they believe that they may fear judgment from their therapist. This fear is not without warrant. Most therapists identify as Democrats or Liberal (Buss& Hippel, 2018; Norton & Tan, 2019; Silander et al., 2020; Solomonov & Barber, 2019). Moreover, the American Counseling Association has also made explicit statements that align the profession with more leftist ideological stances, such as being anti-racist or holding certain stances on the rights of transgender individuals (ACA, 2020; ACA, 2023). Some noted that therapists are now explicitly engaging in political activism in the session and moving away from political neutrality (Hipolito-Delgado& Reinders-Saeman, 2017; Satel, 2021; Silander et al., 2020; The Open Therapy Institute, 2023). Thus, it may be that clients feel that having conservative opinions is not acceptable.
Prominent conservative figures noticed the leftist bent counseling profession and actively encouraged people to avoid counseling (Stuckey, 2022; Walsh, 2023). This could create problems for the counseling field, as conservatives may take such advice and begin to avoid counseling altogether. Clinicians have also noted the leftist bent in the profession, and some counselors explicitly advertise that they are conservative (Conservative Professionals, 2023; Conservative Therapists, 2023). However, the number of conservative counselors on these websites is small.
Although it is likely essential for there to be therapists with a left-leaning ideology, there is also a benefit if the counseling profession makes room for conservatives. For example, there are times when it will be necessary for clients to align with the counselor’s ideology (Mather, 2021). Research has shown that clients who perceive their therapist as having the same political ideology relate to a better therapeutic relationship (Solomonov & Barber, 2018; Solomonov & Barber, 2019). Moreover, even when clinicians present themselves as neutral in counseling, they can inadvertently use specific language that informs the client of their ideology (Abrams, 2022). Some research shows that most therapists explicitly or implicitly share their political ideology with their clients (Solomonov & Barber, 2018; Solomonov & Barber, 2019). Moreover, research has also suggested that the political ideology of the therapist will impact how they approach specific issues and the interventions used (Norton, 2021). Thus, it is not without consequence for the client whether they have a conservative therapist. However, it should be noted that there have been instances when clinicians have worked well with clients from opposing ideologies (Yourman, 2018).
Thus, there needs to be room for conservative counselors. However, this may be difficult as much of the curriculum and ideology within the profession supports a leftist ideology (ACA, 2020; CACREP, 2019; Silander et al., 2020). Furthermore, some stances of the American Counseling Association oppose conservation viewpoints on controversial topics (ACA, 2020; ACA, 2023). There are also concerns about whether allowing more right-wing individuals and institutions in the profession is possible due to potentially conflicting views of sexual minorities (Smith & Okech, 2016). Thus, allowing conservatives to flourish in the field and providing the best treatment to all clients may be difficult as things currently stand. Although this may be difficult, the counseling profession needs to provide services to all individuals, and part of that may include increasing the diversity of counselors’ political ideology. If the profession does not acknowledge both conservative clients and counselors, many individuals may become more alienated from the profession.
References
Abrams, Z. (2022). Navigating thorny topics in therapy: Clinicians and ethics experts share
guidance on maneuvering disclosures about politics, religion, and other hot-button topics
that can affect the therapeutic relationship. Monitor on Psychology, 53(2), 80.
American Counseling Association. (2020). ACA anti-racism statement. ACA(WEBusage).
https://www.counseling.org/news/news-detail/2020/06/22/aca-anti-racism-statement-2020
American Counseling Association. (2023). Human rights position statement: Restrooms.
ACA(WEBusage). https://www.counseling.org/about-us/social-justice/human-rights.
Buss, D. M., & von Hippel, W. (2018). Psychological barriers to evolutionary psychology:
Ideological bias and coalitional adaptations. Archives of Scientific Psychology, 6(1), 148–
158. https://doi.org/10.1037/arc0000049
CACREP. (2019, October 11). Section 2: Professional counseling identity. CACREP.
https://www.cacrep.org/section-2-professional-counseling-identity/
Conservative Professionals. (2023, July 21). National Directory for Conservative Therapists &
Mental Health Professionals. Conservative Professionals. https://www.conservativeprofessionals.com/
Conservative Therapists. (2023). National Directory for Conservative Therapists & Mental Health Professionals. Conservative Therapists.
https://www.conservativetherapists.com
Ekins, E. (2020). Poll: 62% of Americans Say They Have Political Views They are Afraid to Share. Cato.org.
Gibson, J. L., & Sutherland, J. L. (2023). Keeping your mouth shut: Spiraling Self-censorship in the United States. Political Science Quarterly.
https://doi.org/10.1093/psquar/qqad037.
Hipolito-Delgado, C. P., & Reinders-Saeman, R. (2017). What do allies do?: Providing culturally Responsive counseling to communities of color. Revista Interamericana de Psicología, 51(2), 214–225. Mather R. D. (2021). The therapist’s dilemma: Political neutrality or disclosure? Psychology \ Today.
Mather, R. (2020). Conservative psychologists wanted. Psychology Today.
Norton, A. L., & Tan, T. X. (2019). The relationship between licensed mental health counselors Political ideology and counseling theory preference. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 89(1), 86–94.
https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000339
Satel, S. (2021). When therapists become activists – american enterprise institute – AEI. American Enterprise Institute.
https://www.aei.org/op-eds/when-therapists-become-activists/
Silander, N. C., Geczy, B., Jr., M., O., & Mather, R. D. (2020). Implications of ideological
Bias in social psychology on clinical practice. Clinical Psychology: Science and
Practice, 27(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/cpsp.12312
Smith, L. C., & Okech, J. E. A. (2016). Ethical issues raised by CACREP accreditation of
programs within institutions that disaffirm or disallow diverse sexual
orientations. Journal of Counseling & Development, 94(3), 252–264.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12082
Solomonov, N., & Barber, J. P. (2018). Patients’ perspectives on political self-disclosure, the
Therapeutic alliance, and the infiltration of politics into the therapy room in the Trump
era. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(5), 779–787. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22609
Solomonov, N., & Barber, J. P. (2019). Conducting psychotherapy in the Trump era: Therapists’ perspectives on
political self-disclosure, the therapeutic alliance, and politics in the Therapy room. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 75(9), 1508–1518.
Stuckey A. B. (2022). Therapy Went Woke, and It’s Destroying Lives: Guest Dr. Sally Satel. YouTube. from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWbLliZerCQ
The Open Therapy Institute. (2023). About. The Open Therapy Institute.
https://www.opentherapyinstitute.org/abou
Yourman, D. B. (2018). A Marxist therapist treats a Trump-supporting client: A tale of politics
and psychotherapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(5), 766–773.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22607
Walsh, M. (2023). Here’s Why Therapy Isn’t Always a Good Thing. YouTube. from