Do a therapist's personal beliefs actually matter?
in Psychology ·
Rebecca Scott3 said:Do you think patients should actually know what their psychologist’s—or psychiatrist’s—core beliefs are before they commit to therapy?
....I’ve just been sitting here thinking.....how is a therapist with deep-seated patriarchal views ever going to truly grasp the frustrations and the sheer pressure a woman feels—someone who wasn't even raised with those old-school values—when she's dealing with a husband or a boss who lives by them?......
....or how is a psychologist who holds homophobic views supposed to connect with the struggles of a gay man.......or a lesbian?.....
....and then there's the issue of a racist therapist; if a person of color walks into their office, how can that doctor actually understand or help them when they're secretly harboring the belief that they deserve to suffer in the first place?......
....or even an ultra-nationalist therapist... how could they possibly offer real support to someone from a background or a nation that they personally despise or look down upon?.....
.....what's your take on this?.....
.....what kind of information should a client have a right to know about their therapist before they ever step foot in that office?.....
A decent psychologist or psychiatrist simply cannot allow their own biases to compromise the quality of care a patient receives.
Obviously, a psychiatrist's personal views can impact psychotherapy, and yes, they can be actively harmful to the patient.
In fact, psychiatrists should be held accountable if they act unprofessionally in any capacity.