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Therapists in a Divided World

When
Saturday, September 06, 2025
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location
Online WEBINAR

Registration

Member
Non-member (Attendance and CEUs) – $65.00
Student

Presenter: William Doherty, PhD, LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - State of Minnesota & Licensed Psychologist - State of Minnesota)

ONLINE ZOOM WEBINAR

Costs: CSCSW Member: FREE | Students: FREE
Nonmember: $65

CEUs: 2.0

Description:

As the recent election has shown, the nation is more divided than at any time since the Civil War. Polarization enters the therapy room through emotional triggers, relationship distress, and worries for the future. Many people demonize and hold contempt for the political “other,” even when the “other” is in their families. Therapists are not immune to this toxic political culture, and it can affect how we work with clients facing political stress and divisions in their lives. At a broader level, can we apply a larger therapeutic perspective to the problems of our society instead of just taking a side in the contempt and outrage wars? Explore clinical tools and a larger vision for our role as citizen therapists. You’ll discover how to:

Develop an understanding of the political "other” inside and outside of therapy
Identify the connection between your current clinical work and societal polarization
Practice skills in bridging gaps between individuals and groups who see themselves as politically polarized
Connect with initiatives where you can use your knowledge and skills for the public good.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

Assess the ways in which societal polarization impacts clinical work.
Evaluate different therapeutic stances clinicians can take when faced with clinical situations that evoke political and societal polarizations.
Practice applying depolarization skills in your own work with clients and within the community.
Identify opportunities to go deeper with community-level depolarization.
Limitations and potential risks of these models.

Workshop Logistics: After registering you will receive a link to the ZOOM WEBINAR.

Closed Captioning available

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

William Doherty, PhD, LMFT, is a professor and director of the Minnesota Couples on the Brink Project at the University of Minnesota. He’s cofounder of Braver Angels, a nonprofit working to depolarize America. His new book (with Tai Mendenhall) is "Becoming a Citizen Therapist: Integrating Community Problem-Solving into Your Work as a Healer."

This is a District Meeting coordinated by the Mid-Peninsula District

This DISTRICT MEETING meets the qualifications for 2.0 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Note: With supervisor approval, registered ASWs may use CEs toward LCSW hours.

Cancellation Policy

14 days or more before event date: Full refund
13-7 days before event date: 75% refund
6 days or less before event date: No refund

Note: Registration will be canceled if payment is not made at least 7 days prior to the event.