The relationship between licensed mental health counselors’ political ideology and counseling theory preference.

Abstract

Given the current political climate in the United States, it is ever more important to understand the role political ideology plays in the counseling profession. Our study examined the role of political ideologies in 467 licensed mental health counselors' preferred counseling theories in clinical practice. We found (a) most participants reported liberal political ideologies; (b) the participants preferred cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT), humanistic/constructivist/existentialist, and mindfulness-based theories over systemic, psychodynamic, and experiential theories; and (c) self-identification as conservative, registration with the Republican Party, and endorsement of Libertarian beliefs predicted a preference for CBT, self-identified liberal ideology predicted a preference for psychodynamic theory, and lower levels of libertarian beliefs predicted a preference for humanistic theories. Implications for research, practice, and education are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record

The interaction between good life conceptions and psychotherapeutic practice – an interpretative phenomenological study of psychologists’ experiences

“…Other studies that have addressed connections between psychologists' therapeutic orientation and larger meaning systems, for example, religious beliefs (Bilgrave & Deluty, 1998) and political ideologies (Bilgrave & Deluty, 2002;Norton & Tan, 2019), merely substantiate the existence of an overlap. For example, it has been found that psychologists with Eastern and mystical spirituality, more often than non-believing psychologists, are engaged in humanistic and existential therapeutic approaches (Bilgrave & Deluty, 1998), which may be explained by the fact that Eastern spirituality and humanistic therapy have the common belief that one "finds the answers" within oneself (Fuller, 1982;Jones, 1994;Tisdale, 1990).…”

“…For example, it has been found that psychologists with Eastern and mystical spirituality, more often than non-believing psychologists, are engaged in humanistic and existential therapeutic approaches (Bilgrave & Deluty, 1998), which may be explained by the fact that Eastern spirituality and humanistic therapy have the common belief that one "finds the answers" within oneself (Fuller, 1982;Jones, 1994;Tisdale, 1990). In the same vein, Norton and Tan (2019) and Bilgrave and Deluty (2002) state that psychologists may prefer therapies that "fit" their political beliefs, personality traits, and other worldviews.…”

Psychotherapists’ experiences of how their political values influence therapy: a thematic analysis

“…Inklusjonskriteriet var psykologer som var i aktiv praksis. Politiske verdier har tidligere vist seg å ha en sammenheng med både valg av terapiretning og om man jobber i privat eller offentlig sektor (Norton & Tan, 2019;Statistisk sentralbyrå, 2020). Dette var informasjon som var relevant for hvordan vi ønsket å sette sammen vårt utvalg.…”

Implications of ideological bias in social psychology on clinical practice.

“…Yet, some research suggests that a clinician's political ideology bears influence on one's theoretical orientation (Bilgrave & Deluty, 2002; Gartner et al, 1990). Those who identify as liberal tend toward humanistic orientations while both conservatives and libertarians endorse a preference for cognitive behavioral theory (Bilgrave & Deluty, 2002; Norton & Tan, 2018). Given the relationship between political ideology and theoretical orientation, which relates directly to clinical practice, it is worthwhile considering the other ways in which ideology may affect professional roles and relationships and clinical services.…”

“…Yet, some research suggests that a clinician's political ideology bears influence on one's theoretical orientation(Bilgrave & Deluty, 2002;Gartner et al, 1990). Those who identify as liberal tend toward humanistic orientations while both conservatives and libertarians endorse a preference for cognitive behavioral theory(Bilgrave & Deluty, 2002;Norton & Tan, 2018).This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.…”