Does political affiliation alter the patient/therapist relationship?
A – No, just remember to start where the client is. So long as we follow the social work maxim to start where the client is, there should be no conflict between the therapist’s political ideals and the patient’s pyschosocial needs. A conservative therapist should be able to treat a liberal patient, and a liberal therapist a conservative patient. When the political and the personal overlap, then it is the therapist’s responsibility to find an employment solution. If you do not believe in abortion, then do not take a job in a family planning clinic. If you have grievances against the Catholic Church, then do not take a job in a Catholic institution just to use your position as a soapbox for bashing Catholics. Q – If you could change anything about the profession of social work, what would it be? A – I would emphasize helping all people regardless of income or status, meaning both poor and rich. Historically, social work has been directed toward the poor, the downtrodden, the vulnerable.
