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Default Jan 09, 2021 at 08:13 PM
  #1
Recently, my pdoc revealed how she feels about politics. In many ways, I agree with her. I used to see things her way. Things have changed though and I moved in another direction. I did not vote for the same person she did, and she has really strong feelings. I’m very open about politics. I love hearing other people’s experiences and beliefs. Problem. I don’t think my pdoc is very tolerant of other viewpoints. I feel obsessed with telling her that we aren’t on the same page. What should I do? I can’t let it go but I’m afraid she will stop liking me and caring about me.

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Default Jan 09, 2021 at 10:27 PM
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I have this problem with my therapist. I think he assumes I think like he does and I don't in some ways. Of course we agree in some areas. My pdoc and I can talk politics for an hour (and have before) but my therapist has different views. I don't know how extreme but I know there are differences. And when they come up I squirm. I have hoped that he'll notice the squirming and it seems like he might have as I've not heard a political comment for much longer than since the election. But if I've succeeded it took 15 years of occasional squirming. I don't know why it is so hard to tell him I'm not interested in political discussions but it is. I talk to him about everything else.

I don't think your pdoc would stop caring for you over political beliefs. If she did that would be totally unethical. I doubt that she hates every person in the world she meets that doesn't agree with her as that's unrealistic.

I think if you are really bothered that you should say something. Like I said it took 15 years for Squirming to work so I don't really recommend that.

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Default Jan 10, 2021 at 05:54 AM
  #3
I think politics and healthcare, including mental health care should always remain separate.

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Default Jan 10, 2021 at 10:32 AM
  #4
I think a therapist should not be debating politics with clients. That adds stress, which clients go to therapists for help to relieve. They also aren't there to try to convert anyone to their way of thinking on controversial subjects (politics, religious beliefs, etc.)

I think a professional acting therapist should be honest with a client and simply say that political discussions are best avoided, if the views conflict. If the client is OK with that, then perhaps the relationship can work. However, I believe that political issues have affected many to an extreme mood-wise and emotionally, and those facts alone are things to process. In the latter case, if it is, then perhaps a different therapist is recommended.

My most recent therapists (I'm between) had very similar views as me. My psychiatrist is a bit more conservative, but more middle of the road (Lincoln project type/or Michael Bloomberg type supporter). [Bloomberg has some Republican ideas and some Democratic.] That works fine and he has never ever debated me on anything political. He's always supportive and understanding. We respect each other for having our own viewpoints.

Last edited by Soupe du jour; Jan 10, 2021 at 10:48 AM..
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Default Jan 10, 2021 at 12:50 PM
  #5
I don't think your pdoc would stop caring about you because of political beliefs. I think it would be very unethical if she did.

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Default Jan 10, 2021 at 03:44 PM
  #6
I agree with Fuzzy.

On a personal level I would not want to work with a practitioner who did not share my liberal political views. The way we approached life would be too different.

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Default Jan 10, 2021 at 04:29 PM
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This sounds highly inappropriate. A pdoc should keep the personal a professional lives separate with a client.
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Default Jan 13, 2021 at 03:31 PM
  #8
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Originally Posted by BethRags View Post
I agree with Fuzzy.

On a personal level I would not want to work with a practitioner who did not share my liberal political views. The way we approached life would be too different.
So here’s the deal. I’m a democrat. I’m practically a socialist. I voted for Bernie Sanders in the primaries. Then this summer came along. I was ok with protesting and rioting, but not looting. The police saved my life when I was 5 and something very criminal happened to me. Thank god for the police and their guns. I oppose defunding police and think that the racism in the police and justice system must be dealt with immediately. Just not through defunding the police. I didn’t even care about the autonomous zones. If I was young, I probably would have participated. I have cared about the violence this summer. I’m still a democrat, right? Wrong. According to my liberal friends, I am a racist, white nationalist, deplorable and more. I was chased all over FB being called a racist. I had to unfriend people and block people and friends wondered what I did. I vowed I would not vote democrat. And I held my nose and voted for Trump who is a narcissistic maniac. It may sound childish, but I was very hurt. I still am as this issue continues to pop up. A dear friend is a Sargent in the MinneapolisMN police department. She is also a licensed mental health counselor. After the defund passed they had more than 150 officers leave. She is working 88hr/week shifts and says response time is down. A slower response time when I was 5 would have gotten me killed. Because of the police I escaped with my life. I stand with my friend in Minneapolis. I am against racism and for better qualified police recruits, better training, and if we want to add social workers working with police (not independently) then raise my taxes don’t take it from the police department. Better yet, cut some pork projects from the budget.

I feel angry. I was forced out of my party by people who were my friends who behaved in a disgusting way. I was forced out of my party because I can’t have a nuanced opinion on a topic based on the story of my life. It’s all or nothing.

I am partyless and will probably be looking to the Green Party from now on. But I did it. I voted for trump. I feel excessive guilt and the need to confess. I did it to get back at those who hurt me but I hurt myself.

My pdoc is liberal and posted anti-trump memes on her Facebook page. I have many liberal views, but now I feel the need to confess my vote and the fear she will forever treat me differently. Maybe not like me. But I know I don’t have to confess.

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Default Jan 13, 2021 at 05:37 PM
  #9
Hi busymomof5. I'm sorry you've experienced such uncomfortable conflicts because of politics. And there is nothing wrong with you being highly appreciative of the police. I believe most police are brave, caring, giving people. Like with most things, there are bad eggs and good eggs. Unfortunately, there is more racism in society than many of us even realized. The fact there is in 2020 says how little society has progressed over the decades. You admiring the police, in general, and the ones that helped you is NOT a racist thing. Those who'd say so, are ignorant. I've had good experiences with police, and have also clearly seen that others have not. The whole "defunding the police" is controversial partly because it is not always fully understood, and partly because some want it to go perhaps too far and/or too fast. I do believe that people with mental illness would be best served by someone highly trained to intervene in mental health crises. Unfortunately, many police aren't. That wasn't really what most signed up for. Often they are simply the wrong people for that job.


I am a democratic socialist and voted for Bernie in the primaries, too. I don't see Bernie as an extremist at all, even though some paint him as so. But there are indeed extremists. On both sides of the political spectrum. I would not vote for Trump because a) I disagree with enough Republican policies that I wouldn't, and b) I knew who Trump was well before most in the US did, and unfortunately, many still don't know him because of false propaganda and his skill as a liar. I'm from the NYC/NJ/PA area. The man has always been bad news. Truly, it's mind-blowing that he was even allowed to be the Republican candidate back in 2016. Mind-blowing! Anyway, that will be over. I hope the vast majority of Americans will put that mistake behind them and move forward in a positive way. A lesson must be learned though. I do hope that that party goes back to the Mitt Romney/George W Bush type Republicanism. Not my party, but at least generally good noble people.
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Default Jan 13, 2021 at 05:46 PM
  #10
Thank you for your response. I think I just let my emotions get the best of me when I feel I was being bullied. I overreacted. I have to move on.

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Default Jan 13, 2021 at 06:11 PM
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Thank you for your response. I think I just let my emotions get the best of me when I feel I was being bullied. I overreacted. I have to move on.
I agree.

To be honest, I've never considered that anyone might vote a certain way as a reaction to being bullied, or to someone else's behavior. Your post is an eye-opener for me.

I 100% refuse to bring politics into Facebook. 100%. Zero exceptions. I have never regretted my commitment to that.

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Default Jan 13, 2021 at 07:33 PM
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Originally Posted by BethRags View Post


I agree.

To be honest, I've never considered that anyone might vote a certain way as a reaction to being bullied, or to someone else's behavior. Your post is an eye-opener for me.

I 100% refuse to bring politics into Facebook. 100%. Zero exceptions. I have never regretted my commitment to that.
Honestly, me neither. The people bullying me had been good friends. It hurt. It was made so much worse by the public humiliation. They refused to hear my story but preached tolerance. . If I could go back in time and change things I would, but I think by talking things through here, I understand and forgive myself. Tomorrow is a new day.

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Default Jan 13, 2021 at 07:47 PM
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For sure!

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