Navigating the Complexities of Therapy: Ethics, Values, and Social Justice

Understanding the Role of Therapists in Social Issues

As you might imagine, I belong to quite a few therapist Facebook groups. These groups are typically focused on helping one another serve our clients and grow our businesses. Posts about training, referrals, words of encouragement, and advice are common. Occasionally, we discuss policies affecting our profession or our clients.

Lately, the conversation has started to shift in almost all of those spaces. An existing chasm has begun to dramatically widen. On one side are therapists who believe “neutrality” is bound by our professional code of ethics. On the other side are those who feel that our code of ethics demands action in the face of injustice. To be clear, these groups represent a variety of helping professions: licensed psychologists, licensed mental health counselors (the license I hold), licensed independent social workers, licensed professional counselors, and more. While licenses differ by type of training and state, they all share similar codes of ethics. This makes us “parallel professions,” as we all do similar work in practice.

A Personal Encounter: Values and Counseling

A few months ago, I attended a conference where I happened to sit next to a pre-licensed mental health counselor. She shared that she was doing her post-master's training in a religious/Christian setting. I expressed interest and curiosity, asking how she would respond to a client who disclosed same-sex feelings or a desire to end a pregnancy. She stated that she would counsel them based on Christian teachings but ultimately respect their decision to live their life the way they saw fit.

In that moment, I couldn’t help but think about how vulnerable we are during times of emotional distress. A counselor’s words can have a powerful influence, especially when they claim to be backed by the word of God. I shared my belief that there is an inherent power imbalance in the counseling relationship, which we have a duty to minimize. Supporting our clients' values and allowing them to lead from a place of safety and empowerment are critical elements of our work.

(Quick note: This might sound heavy, but it was a very light and collegiate conversation. We were both working to find common ground.)

She took the position that clients in religious counseling deliberately choose a Christian counselor, implying a shared value system from the start. She also felt it was an ethical violation for a counselor to impose their values on their client in any way. I thought this was a rather large loophole. I doubted that all clients in religious counseling deliberately chose that setting, given the lack of access to high-quality therapy for many Americans, especially children whose parents often arrange counseling.

The Complexity of Values in Therapy

I wondered what we each meant by "values." I argued that counselors are not blank slates. Sharing personal values doesn’t necessarily equate to an ethical violation if done in the best interest of the client. It can reinforce the client’s ultimate authority over their life.

Somehow, this brought us to the topic of racism. I stated that I would not allow a client to use racist language in my sessions. She felt that was wrong, arguing that I had an ethical duty not to “correct” or change my clients' language, which reflects their worldview. I explained that my therapy room is a place that deeply respects the humanity of each person. I would not allow a client to use racist speech or derogatory slurs because that language represents a form of violence and diminishes safety.

As we are all part of this human family, our treatment of others often reflects beliefs about ourselves. I consider racist language a form of self and collective harm. For some clients, such language has become so normalized that they have not been invited into spaces where the expectation to honor human dignity is higher. I found that when I encountered this issue, clients welcomed the opportunity to engage in thoughtful, respectful dialogue about their experiences and beliefs.

The Social Media Debate: Should Therapists Be Apolitical?

Now, I’m seeing similar conversations play out all over social media. In response to trauma counselors naming and calling out the harm being caused, some argue that therapists should be apolitical in their role. They claim that social justice and activism have no place in the therapeutic space. Counselors who speak on the injustices happening around them are accused of violating their ethics.

I could not disagree more. Oppression, cruelty, injustice, violence, and exploitation create massive psychological harm. We have a duty as therapists to acknowledge these forces and speak out against them. We cannot help people heal when they are not safe. Ignoring abuse—especially from those in positions of power—risks pathologizing normal and healthy reactions to that abuse. This is the very harm we have a duty to protect against.

Sadly, this harm has often been perpetuated by the “helping profession,” with tragic consequences. Consider the lobotomies women were subjected to for depression, often resulting from oppression by the patriarchy or lack of access to support. Or think about the eugenics origins of standardized testing. We have an obligation to learn from these atrocities and remain vigilant in ensuring our work does not continue to perpetuate harm.

The Therapeutic Space: A Sacred Place

While cultural, political, religious, and frankly all manner of issues frequently arise in therapy, my work with a particular client might almost never focus on the current political climate—or we might focus on it almost exclusively. My goal is to walk beside my client, with grounded and authentic presence, wherever they choose to go. I aim to inquire into their experience with openness, curiosity, and compassion. I offer honest feedback to help them develop greater insight, self-understanding, and self-love.

I hope that by offering such accompaniment, they internalize that relationship to more effectively befriend themselves. Healing is cyclical, and they will encounter new challenges in their life beyond our time together.

The therapy room is a sacred place. I always marvel at how, no matter who enters my therapy room, when I have the honor of hearing their story—their joys, heartbreaks, and wishes, I cannot help but feel deep admiration, empathy, and even love for them. We all want the same things: to be safe, to be loved, to feel connected to a sense of community and purpose, and to protect and care for those we love.

What we are seeing play out in occupied cities like Minneapolis is causing individual and collective trauma that will reverberate throughout our country and world for generations. It hurts us all. As therapists, we have an obligation to vigorously defend the freedom of every single person to exist in their wholeness without the threat of violence or discrimination.

In conclusion, the role of therapists is not just to guide individuals through their personal struggles. We also have a responsibility to engage with the broader social issues that affect our clients. By acknowledging the complexities of our profession and the world around us, we can create a more inclusive and supportive therapeutic environment.

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