JPR Mental Health Support Group

[David the Gnome]

New therapist is a Trumper

So, at the urging of my fiance and my sister, i sought out a new therapist.  He seemed interesting, so I decided to give it a shot.  All telehealth type stuff, video appointments.

Yesterday I was telling him about how I had issues with my sister’s wedding (half the group weren’t wearing masks).  He told me I had almost no chance of getting it if I wore my own mask.  I told him he was wrong, we agreed to disagree.

During the session I made some crack about the debate.  He told me that Trump has done great things for the economy and for minorities.  Kind of shocked me, given that he is a social worker and he is black.

Anyway, he went on about how antifa had infiltrated and taken over the black lives matter movement.  Said they were all socialists and Marxists who wanted to destroy America.  Really threw me for a loop.

So my question is… what do you all think?  Should I keep seeing this guy?  His views aren’t just a little bit right – but pretty damn far on the Trump/crazy quarter.  Seems almost delusional.

I’ve got my issues, for sure, but…

[Mr. Mickeys Mom]

Well, he doesn’t seem to draw the line at his own opinions while doing his job…

Big problem, IMO…. I wouldn’t continue seeing him, but before doing that, I’d ask for someone to sit in on your sessions (HIPAA compliant paperwork to do this) to see if this happens. If he’s good at doing what he’s supposed to do, you won’t get any more of this nonsense. If he does continue with that aberrant behavior, I’d call him out with a witness and file a complaint against him.

But, that’s just me. I hate health care “professionals” who do this, and I call them out, regardless of whom they screw with their theories.

Hell, no... I'm not giving up...

[Ohio Barbarian]

I am not a mental health professional by any means, but I’d drop him like a hot rock.

Anyone who thinks that Black Lives Matter, now funded by billionaires of the oligarchy, has been taken over by Marxists and socialists is clearly ignorant at best. Anyone who thinks that Antifa, or the left in general, wants “to destroy America,” whatever that means, is probably a Fascistic capitalist greedhead himself, especially if he’s Black. I’m thinking the HUD secretary. I’m thinking Clarence Thomas. I’m thinking “We know Joe” Clyburn.

That makes me suspect he is more interested in making whatever money he can off of counseling you than he is in actually helping you. Maybe that’s unfounded, maybe that’s a little paranoid on my part, but I’d never be able to trust anyone like that. Trust is important in therapy, yes?

Up to you, man, but you asked. You also got me to join this group in order to reply, and I should have done so a long time ago.

Never let your morals stop you from doing the right thing.--Isaac Asimov

The United States is also a one-party state but, with typical American extravagance, they have two of them.--Julius Nyerere

[Punxsutawney]

I’m with OB, Leave him now.

The guy is clueless, and that doesn’t bode well for him helping you, and frankly (despite the fact that he probably has a masters degree for his position) he doesn’t seem very bright. So are you going to be able to respect his opinions and if not will you listen to his advice?

I worked for well over a decade supporting community based mental health and there are good counselors out there.

In America, “Liberty” means “Free to Die in Service of Capital” - Amfortas the hippie.

Most of today’s elites have the moral and social reasoning capacities of spoiled toddlers.

“People of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage...but the privileged also feel that their privileges, however egregious they may seem to others, are a solemn, basic, God-right. The sensitivity of the poor to injustice is a trivial thing c

[NV Wino]

You may be limited in your location when it comes to therapists

As we are here in the Napa Valley. Soooo, evaluate him as a therapist. If it seems like he can help you, tell him you obviously disagree on politics and you want to avoid that topic in the future. If he gets pissy about that, or he doesn’t seem to help you, drop him. If you have a lot of choices in therapists, drop now.

“As we act, let us not become the evil that we deplore.” Barbara Lee
“Politicians and pro athletes: The only people who still get paid when they lose.” William Rivers Pitt

[alcina]

Speaking as a former therapist, that is wholly inappropriate

Self-disclosure is tricky thing. Before sharing personal information, a good therapist should always question his/her motives: Will this information benefit the client? Or am I just running off my mouth for nontherapeutic reasons? A good therapist is supposed to offer a nonjudgmental environment in which the client feels safe sharing his/her feelings and opinions. This does not appear to be happening with your guy.

Sadly, there are far more bad therapists than good ones. And the sadder fact is that, at a point in life when one is completely vulnerable and in need of support, that person is expected to be able to somehow navigate a broken mental health system and successfully choose the best therapist for themselves.

If you do decide to find another therapist, my advice to you would be: 1. If your state has a licensing board, check to see if there have been any complaints. 2. Do a web search to see if they have any published articles, even mainstream ones, as these can give you some insight into their ideas and values. 3. Make sure they graduated from an accredited school. 4. In your first session — or beforehand, if they do an intake — ask them a few questions about their experience, treatment orientation, specialization…. This [article] offers some good advice on choosing a therapist.

And, not to get too personal, but based on what you’ve written in the past, I’m wondering if you’ve ever tried somatic therapy. It can be quite useful when talk therapies reach their limit. Here’s  a short article on it: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapy-types/somatic-therapy

One other thing: Some therapists consider a client’s questions and research to be neurotic. These are bad therapists. I’ve known colleagues who thought it was fine to shame clients when they questioned the therapist’s expertise, claiming that this is just a symptom of some emotional issue — need for control, paranoia, trust issues. While these may in fact be issues the client is experiencing, a therapist who shames the client over the client’s issues is, in my opinion and experience, unfit to practice.

Good luck!

"The United States is also a one-party state but, with typical American extravagance, they have two of them." -Julius Nyerere, First President of Tanzania

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