The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy

What Can Therapists Say About Celebrities? The ethics of public statements

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What Can Therapists Say About Celebrities? The ethics of public statements

Curt and Katie chat about whether therapists should make public statements and diagnose public figures. This is our first continuing education eligible podcast, discussing the ethics of speaking out about the mental health of people in the public eye. We explore the origins of the Goldwater rule, a group of psychiatrists who purposefully broke it, and how masters level organizations address this concern. We also provide you with some ideas about how you can make this decision for yourself.

In this podcast episode we look at the ethics of modern therapists diagnosing public figures

For our first continuing education worthy podcast, we wanted to address something that is becoming more and more prevalent in our field: therapists speaking out about the mental health of public figures.

What is the Goldwater Rule?

  • The history of the Goldwater Rule
  • The impact of DSM II (and the update to DSM III)
  • The original intention of the rule versus the current interpretation of the Goldwater Rule
  • Fears from the American Psychiatric Association that seems to have driven the development of (and on-going commitment to) this rule

    • How the Goldwater Rule (and Similar Ethical Principles) Have Shifted Over Time

    • Perspective from one of the original framers of the Goldwater Rule
    • Moving from teleological to deontological interpretations
    • How the internet and social media has changed the landscape
    • The American Psychiatric Association expanding their commitment to the Goldwater Rule, stating reasons psychiatrists should not assess
    • The Goldwater “Caveat” or “Principle” versus Goldwater “Rule” or even Goldwater “Doctrine”
    • Beyond diagnosis to restricting any comment on the behavior or mental health of a public figure
    • The stance on this ethic from American Psychological Association and the large Masters Level Organizations (AAMFT, ACA, NASW, and CAMFT, for example)

      • The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump – the Public Diagnosis of an American President

      • The group of psychiatrists who pushed back on the Goldwater Rule
      • The Duty to Warn – does it apply here?
      • What are the challenges of accurately diagnosing Trump?
      • Where expertise is helpful (and how the public can water down diagnosis)

        • Current Guidelines for Modern Therapists

        • Whether diagnosis is required for a duty to warn
        • The tactic of putting forward information without drawing conclusions (and why we don’t like this strategy)
        • Specific guidance from the professional organizations on what therapists can and cannot do
        • Taking special care in how one decides what they say about an individual in public settings
        • Using one’s professional judgement and special care

          • Cautions When Using Your Professional Judgment

          • The potential harm of discussing diagnosis on social media
          • Bias, cultural factors, and other information that could make an inaccurate or harmful diagnosis
          • Mental health stigma and other concerns related to diagnostic language (ICD-10, DSM-V)
          • Speaking outside of your professional expertise
          • Questions to ask yourself before making a public statement
            • ...more
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            The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie VernoyBy Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT
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