January 18, 2021

White Terrorism and Therapy

42 minutes

Curt and Katie chat about the attack on the US Capitol by radicalized Trump supporters. We talk about the role therapists play in addressing white supremacist terrorism, how to support clients in responding to a domestic terror attack, and what therapy looks like for clients who are impacted by Trump supporters or radical rhetoric. We also talk about the challenge of finding compassion, the need for thoughtful communication, and ideas about how to move forward.

It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.

In this episode we talk about:

White Supremacy Terrorism, Domestic Terrorism, and the definition of Terrorism

The evolving threat of White Supremacy

Our responses to the domestic terrorism activity, the insurrection at the Capitol

Processing the event in real time during sessions, with clients with double screen

The lack of definition in the role of therapists during this time

Thoughts related to people connecting violence to mental illness

QAnon, other groups and the need to understand what they are, the signs

The different types of clients coming into our office and how to support them

Dealing with the “white stuff” like white apathy, being further removed from the events

Susceptibility to political reactionism

Trauma around safety, responses to the lack of equity, vulnerability, marginalization

The importance of opening conversations and allowing clients to fully express their experience

Supporting clients who have been pushed away from Trump supporters among family or friends

Self-Identity versus Family-Identity

Responding to divisive messages

The complexity of interacting with someone who has been radicalized

The need for community and connection to shift the culture

What to do when a client who is in the process of being radicalized enters your therapy office

The harm of “what about-ism”

Risk factors for radicalization

Conversations beyond Tarasoff and safety planning

Desire for connection, attachment needs

Simplicity of radicalized rhetoric and the goal to dig deeper into underlying needs and goal

The possibility of therapy as a counter to the division

Societal change, needed messaging, taking care of disenfranchised folks

We are pro-human

The need for compassionate communication

Making things real to people who are disconnected and have the option to opt out, so they choose and can re-engage in the societal change that is needed

A reminder to take care of yourselves as therapists during this time

...more

View all episodes

By Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT

4.3

237237 ratings

January 18, 2021

White Terrorism and Therapy

42 minutes

White Terrorism and Therapy

In this episode we talk about:

White Supremacy Terrorism, Domestic Terrorism, and the definition of Terrorism

The evolving threat of White Supremacy

Our responses to the domestic terrorism activity, the insurrection at the Capitol

Processing the event in real time during sessions, with clients with double screen

The lack of definition in the role of therapists during this time

Thoughts related to people connecting violence to mental illness

QAnon, other groups and the need to understand what they are, the signs

The different types of clients coming into our office and how to support them

Dealing with the “white stuff” like white apathy, being further removed from the events

Susceptibility to political reactionism

Trauma around safety, responses to the lack of equity, vulnerability, marginalization

The importance of opening conversations and allowing clients to fully express their experience

Supporting clients who have been pushed away from Trump supporters among family or friends

Self-Identity versus Family-Identity

Responding to divisive messages

The complexity of interacting with someone who has been radicalized

The need for community and connection to shift the culture

What to do when a client who is in the process of being radicalized enters your therapy office

The harm of “what about-ism”

Risk factors for radicalization

Conversations beyond Tarasoff and safety planning

Desire for connection, attachment needs

Simplicity of radicalized rhetoric and the goal to dig deeper into underlying needs and goal

The possibility of therapy as a counter to the division

Societal change, needed messaging, taking care of disenfranchised folks

We are pro-human

The need for compassionate communication

Making things real to people who are disconnected and have the option to opt out, so they choose and can re-engage in the societal change that is needed

A reminder to take care of yourselves as therapists during this time

...more