What would you do if you found out your therapist had a "W" on her car?

[hang a left]

I know this is a little revealing but I have been seeing a therapist for a couple of months (too much information drove me there).

Anyway she said something a while back during one of our first sessions casually about something being "unAmerican". I just let it pass.

But I think I got a look at her maroon colored SUV and it has a huge "W" on the back window. Now I am not 100% positive that it is her car. I was thinking about asking her during my next visit. My gut level feeling is that if it is her car, I can't see her anymore because she would kind of represent everything that I despise.

Am I trippin? She has helped me a bit. What would you do?

[cspanlovr]

1. I think you should leave your therapist. My husbands therapist

had a picture of him shaking hands with Bill Bennett. He left him flat!

[Poll_Blind]

2. Start charging HIM or HER for MY advice!

PB

[RangerSmith]

8. Good answer! lol

Clearly this person is out of touch with reality.

[ret5hd]

3. Ask for my money back...

because the person obviously:
1) doesn't have a clue
and
2) needs therapy themselves

[rzemanfl]

4. Run, don't walk away from her! She probably bought the SUV

for the "used in business" tax credit too.

[Annces]

5. You could torture them with fantasies about how

Hillary will be the next President.

[StraightDope]

71. You could torture ME with that fantasy!

[mdmc]

6. find another shrink

That is what I would do. My shrink used to pick dandruff out of his hair and eat it during our sessions, but at least he was a democrat. :D

[Red Right and BLUE]

58. WTF?

That's... okay.

[mdmc]

84. I never knew what to make of it

:shrug:

[Red Right and BLUE]

88. LMAO

that is really weird.

[rhiannon55]

7. Never take advice from a moron

Change therapists asap!

[kath]

9. If she still has a W sticker on her vehicle at this point, then she's a

total fokkin' moran (AKA backwash). Ditch her.

[twilight_sailing]

10. How

would one go about choosing a therapist anyway?

It has always seemed like a crap shoot to me.

[Warren Stupidity]

15. Don't know abou the hiring part but the firing part is very clear. nt.

[twilight_sailing]

19. Good

point. ;)

[twilight_sailing]

27. Maybe

that's the answer. One must go through several of them, firing them, until one finds a good one, time consuming and expensive though it may be.

Sorry if this is off topic. Just something I have always wondered about.

[TygrBright]

68. Yup. It's like hairdressers/barbers.

You find a good one, hang on to 'em like grim death. I stopped cutting my hair (other than to trim it for length,) when the only decent hairdresser I ever had moved back to Iceland.

Unfortunately, with mental health you're probably better off shopping around some more.

regretfully,
Bright

[susanna]

96. Off topic-ish: a note of hope re: hairdressers...

...I was in the same bind (mine moved to another state). After an interminably long time I finally bit the bullet and went to a chain haircutting shop. The lady I got did a FABULOUS job. Now I have a new hairdresser, and she's less expensive too. :-)

Back on topic: as for therapists, the advice to go around until you find someone you are comfortable with, in every way, is a good one. I believe that aspect of one's life is too important to leave to chance. Just my two cents.

[brentspeak]

50. Very much so

I asked my family physician to recommend some therapists for me, figuring I could trust his judgement. Unfortunately, I trusted his judgement too much; both people he referred me to were terrible.

[SheilaT]

61. With any luck at all,

you talk to some people you think might know a therapist who can help you with your problem.

A year or two ago we(hubby, self, and sometimes one or both sons) spent six months or so seeing a therapist recommended by a friend of hubby's. I have no idea whatsoever what therapist's political leanings were, but the therapy helped. No problems were magically solved, but insight was gained and we could move on. In our case, that's exactly what was needed.

[Warren Stupidity]

11. Fire her.

Don't even hesitate. Flat out ask her where she stands, and if she stands for fascism and intolerance, explain that those are not the sort of values that are acceptable to you in a therapist and fire her sorry bush worshipping ass.

[Joanne98]

12. You should confront her. If it's her car demand that she give you

all your files and tell her if she keeps any copies and you find out you will sue her! Tell her she is a deceitful piece of Republican shit.

[peaches2003]

13. I'd be more wary

of the 'unAmerican' comment', though a W sticker is enough to turn me off. However, so many people with stickers may feel differently about him now. But calling something 'unAmerican' in this day and time is must often a sign of a real rw wacko.

[sandyd921]

82. If they feel differently now

one wonders why they didn't just rip the thing off. Sure doesn't show much in the way of judgement to say the least. If the SUV belongs to the therapist, I say ditch her!

[tinfoilinfor2005]

14. I would tell her that you can no longer use her services because

you don't trust her judgement. And tell her why.

[me b zola]

21. That's my take on it, it's a matter of judgement

Anybody who would still support republicans at this point has serious issues with their judgement.

[demigoddess]

33. I disagree, keep your motive to yourself and leave smiling all the time at

Her ugly face. From my small experience with therapists , I would not want to give them a reason to write down on apiece of paper that I was hostile or irrational. Of course, you know differently, but all the therapists I know are vindictive and controlling. Get out quick. Find one you can talk politics with and appreciate her/his viewpoint. Political discussion could be your interview technique.

[LSparkle]

16. OMG -- I'm in the SAME BOAT!

I live in California and I've known my therapist is a Rethug since the grocery workers' strike a few years ago. (At the time, she spoke about how corrupt unions are and that businesses should be free to compete on market terms ... Around that same time, she volunteered that her favorite newspaper was the Wall Street Journal.) She's helped me tremendously but I cannot talk to her about my deep political feelings because I know she wouldn't understand. It's difficult, because I do have a good rapport with her on my family and work issues but there's a big chunk of frustration in my life (thanks to politics) that I haven't done any work with her on, because I'm certain it just wouldn't be productive (or she'd somehow end up making me feel like my frustration is due to my beliefs -- that they are "immature" or "unrealistic" as so many "mature" (ha!) RWers like to brand us on the left -- and I should just "grow up" in order to "heal").

I'll be interested in reading responses to your post because it may help me decide if I'm selling my own progress short. Now if therapists would only "advertise" themselves as being progressive ...

[peaches2003]

20. Cheating yourself

You are seeing her to get HEALTHY and have a better life, but you are leaving out a major portion of your problems. You are cheating yourself. That's like going to a medical doctor for a pain in your chest and you tell him about that, but not the earache you have, too.

[LSparkle]

Very good point

I took a break from her around Labor Day, just to see how I could get along alone, and I haven't gone back. Perhaps I'll shop for a new therapist instead...

[Mira]

17. I would ask her

and if it is really her car I would shake her hand and tell her it's been nice, but that's it.
I genuinely could not do that kind of intimate "business" with someone who at this point has still not scraped it off in regret.

NO WAY

[TheCowsCameHome]

18. Walk aWay - to hell with her. You'd pay your $$$ to a Bushbot?

No way, Jose.

She's the one that needs the therapy.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

22. I Say If You Were Lucky To Find A Therapist That Actually Has Helped You,

value that far more than her political affiliation.

[Thickasabrick]

30. Excellent response. Should people be judged by their party

affiliation? Isn't that what we are against?

[Sparkly]

"Judged" -- That may be a different question.

In MY view, if it were MY therapist, I'd find it difficult to trust a therapist of the "Cult of W," if you will (just made that up, but it exists!).

I'd find it difficult to trust that she could hear what I was saying, understand what I was thinking, or have the clarity to empathize with what I was feeling.

Without trust, she couldn't help anyway. Regardless of the matter of "judgment" (it could be her fault or mine), I couldn't have her as my therapist.

Others' mileage may vary.

[The Straight Story]

81. Sadly, that seems to be a rather dim view of people

How many millions voted bush in the last election (not counting fraud votes)? I would venture to say most are decent folk with a lot in common with us in a general sense. Hell, I have seen a few dino's in my time (lieberman anyone?) so even if they had a D sticker on their car it wouldn't mean they were in the same liberal boat I was.

Should you ask about their feelings on chavez and castro as well beforehand?

Sorry if I seem to be lashing out, just that I know many folks who did vote w who are not like the stereotypes I see here so often on du. While a few are the rw fundie types most are just joe six packs who liked w better then kerry and most of them (except 3 off the top of my head) plan on voting D this time around. I would say a full 66% voted clinton but not gore. It's more a personality assessment people hold in a general way than a political one at times (sadly).

[Iris]

40. I do.

I avoid Republicans as much as I can because their world view is not compatible with mine. No way in hell I'd knowlingly put my "beautiful mind" in the hands of on of them.

[Kali]

59. "Should people be judged by their party affiliation?"

After the past 5 and a hlf years? HELL YES!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

65. Thanks.

:hi:

[Thickasabrick]

79. LOL....we are totally outnumbered. I work with republicians and I'm

able to not mix politics with work and I love them very much as people. I just don't love their politics.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

89. I Hear Ya. It's All About Tolerance Of Others, A Core Ideal In My Opinion

[Iris]

91. We all work with Republicans.

Still, working with someone and not talking politics is different than trusting someone with your mental health and PAYING them for it.

[LibraLiz1973]

74. RUN- dont walk

away from this.

Not even because of the W sticker.... you gotta bail because of the "Un=American" statement.
That combined with the W sticker tells me she is clearly not as bright as she would like to be.

[sandyd921]

83. Yes they should be at this time

in history. The values and deepest beliefs of anyone who has not figured out what this brand of republicanism is doing to our democracy, our values, and our very way of life have to be questioned. I certainly would not want to share my deepest feelings with such a therapist.

[Iris]

102. agreed. n/t

[Taoschick]

101. Apparently not

I own my own company. I don't discuss politics with any of my clients because their money all spends the same to me and I don't want to alienate any potential political bigots. I don't turn down clients based on their political beliefs and I damned sure don't want them to hire or fire me based on mine. I can't live in that kind of tiny little insulated world.

[Solly Mack]

23. find a new one

You can't be totally honest with her can you? You'll always hold something back if you think she is part of what is wrong with America...

So find a new one.

[susanna]

99. I think this is the best post yet, IMHO.

...a therapist, by nature, is someone you have to trust implicitly in order to reveal very intimate things that may need to be reviewed. If you feel are unable to be truly honest about various aspects of your life, you are being shortchanged.

[IChing]

24. What branch of therapy does she emphasize in her practice?

Cognitive , Jungian, Freudian, EFT, operant conditioning or cool aide?

Why in her right mind, think about it, why in her "right" mind display a large W on her car?
I suspect that it was not her car.

I know many therapists professionally and the only ones that would support El diablo
wouldn't mind working with the CIA or guantanamo either, 95% of all therapists think that Bush has major mental problems

[trof]

25. Bye Bye. If she supports W***, she's delusional.

Seriously.

[moc]

26. A therapist who supports *?

Good therapists should be, by definition, thinking people. Thinking people can't support *.

For what it's worth, my husband is a therapist and he's a raving liberal. When he goes to therapist conferences, all the therapists he runs into are liberals. I can't think of any of his professional colleagues who are conservative.

[spindrifter]

28. "W" stands for "Wouldn't"

I wouldn't continue to see her. There are plenty of highly qualified, talented "blue" therapists out there.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

29. I'd make sure waterboarding isn't one of her treatment modalities.

Just saying.

[lonestarnot]

31. EEEEquala! bet you're really fucked up now egh?

[blonndee]

32. I would drop her immediately if it is her car, and if it were me.

I visited a counselor for a few sessions last spring and one of the first questions I asked her was where she stood politically. I told her I realized our sessions weren't about her, but that I wouldn't feel comfortable discussing some of the problems that led me to seek counseling with someone whose outlook on the world differed in crucial ways from my own.

[brentspeak]

34. Don't ask her about the car, or her own political views

Just talk about your political beliefs ("I really can't stand that George Bush", etc.) If she gets miffed or appears so, then you'll know if she's a Bushie without having to make it uncomfortably personal between the two of you.

Then, if you feel uncomfortable about her political beliefs, find another therapist, because you won't progress with that type of tension. But you don't have to say anything like "You're a Republican; this isn't right."

[Spazito]

35. I would question who REALLY needs to be on the therapist's

"couch", lol. Anyone who likes bush has a BIG problem and could use massive therapy themselves.

[blue cat]

36. I would change therapist ASAP! n/t

[Lars39]

37. fwiw, I had to stop seeing a therapist because she was totally

uninformed about politics. I was having to educate her on my time and dime.
I was also afraid of being falsely diagnosed.
If I'm going to be labeled paranoid,I want to have earned the label,not because I've tried to explain our sociopath-in-chief to someone. :D

[kerry-is-my-prez]

38. THank god mine is a full-fledged Dem who rips apart BushCo along w/me

she moved back to boston though...

[The Backlash Cometh]

39. If you don't have 100% trust in her, find another one.

[Sparkly]

41. We were typing that at the same time.... (See my post # "#")

I agree -- it comes down to trust...

[Hubert Flottz]

42. Take your exercorist to cast the devils and demons out of your...

therapist, next trip.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

43. i'd tell her that i couldn't see someone who obviously has no common sense

n/t

[Captain Hilts]

44. It's one thing to vote for Bush, it's another to be proud of it. Ditch her

[SmokingJacket]

45. That would freak me out.

There are probably other therapists in your town. I dunno... "unAmerican" is a weirdly judgmental thing for a shrink to say.

I think it helps to really respect one's shrink... and that would be impossible for me if mine was a Bush lover.

[tulip]

46. There are other therapists

If you feel she has crossed the line politically and professionally find another therapist. She will probably continue to make a living just fine but your theropy is more important then her politics. People rejected the Dixie Chicks because of a political statement made at a concert. That is of course their right.......she will also have to accept the same consequences for her comment at work. You're there for theropy not a political lecture.

[helderheid]

47. Go to a different therapist. She is clearly delusional! :)

[GoneOffShore]

48. Ask for your money back.

[Totally Committed]

49. I'd terminate with her, and advise her to seek help....

soon.

Bascially, I wouldn't be able to get out of the office fast enough. But, that's just me. Maybe you should talk to her about your feelings about seeing that sticker on her car. Therapists are supposed to go out of their way to remain uncommitted in those sort of ways, so as not to put their clients in just this sort of position.

TC

[Berry Cool]

51. Find out if it was her car

or she was just borrowing!

[Scout1071]

52. If it's her car, fire her. I wouldn't trust someone with who so clearly

demonstrates bad judgement. I mean, if she supported this corrupt administration.....she clearly has her own head up her ass. I think we can all see that * isn't quite "right", so for her to drive around endorsing him shows how little she knows about people.

Sack her.

[Keepontruking]

70. Advice too

Ask and then go with this wise persons advice!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Circus girl!!!!!!!!!!!

[Judi Lynn]

53. She has misrepresented herself as a decent person!

What good can she do you in the long run if she is twisted?

You'd be better off by yourself!

You can try to rationlize by telling yourself maybe she just doesn't get into politics as deeply as you do, but it would indicate there's something wrong with her if she doesn't keep track of such important things.

No intelligent person can not recognize astonishing cruelty and anti-social acts, which is ALL we're seeing in _{George Bush's} pResidency.

[Nikki Stone 1]

54. No matter what, you need to ask her--find out for sure

Then, if it's her car, thank her for her time, ask her for your medical records, and hightail it out of there as fast as you can.

Then I would call a local university and ask for a referral. Explain that you are looking for a more progressive, open minded person.

[Tanuki]

55. APA passed a resolution condemning torture,

so her support of W violates her profession's ethics (if she is a psychologist). Terminate your therapy---she needs to learn that behavior has consequences, if she forgot that from her training program!
http://www.apa.org/releases/notorture.html

[Blasphemer]

56. I'd definitely ditch her (after finding out for sure)

I would never trust a freep with my emotional psyche and "unAmerican" coming up in a therapy session is more than a little freaky. There are lots of good left leaning therapists so I'm sure you'd have no problem finding a new one if you stopped seeing her.

[zanne]

57. OMG!

I just had my first appointment with a therapist Monday. I walked into his office and he has a wall-size American flag near the chair where the patient sits! I don't know how to feel about it, either. I guess it's OK as long as he doesn't bring up politics. But I guess that means that I can't, either.

[DawgHouse]

60. I would recommend she see a therapist!

[KoKo]

62. If you pick up "hints" of an agenda from the therapist then you might

want to find a person who doesn't have a "W" on their car. That would bother me..looking for someone who's a Med Professional that I would hope wouldn't bring politics out in such an agressive manner.

Maybe it wasn't your therapists car, though. You might want to ask some questions about this so that you are sure and that it's not part of what many of us Dems who've been in the trenchs "paranoia" about what we are faced with these days... Your post reminds me of the old "Pink Panther Movies" where the French Inspector might have encountered what you are dealing with....when he was in "therapy" because of Clouseau!

:shrug:

[sandnsea]

63. "Whew - it's good to know we're both nuts!"

"There isn't anything I can tell you that would be worse than voting for Bush!"

(That's what I'd tell her)

[Red Right and BLUE]

64. Get another therapist.

You need absolute trust, and you deserve to be able to talk about what's actually going on in the world! It's reality, and it's stressful and painful! Maybe I should look into finding someone, too, while I'm at it...

[roody]

66. "Helped me a bit" is not enough

for two months. We will help you a lot for free. Find someone you can trust.

[undeterred]

67. If you were in Wisconsin it could mean she was a Badger fan

but since you're not...

[Chomskyite]

69. Yep, change immediately

Being a W fan is not something that's discrete from all other parts of your life. It's a sign of some gnawing, nasty character flaws and perhaps of mental derangement. The "ethic" of the Bushies is nothing any sincere, competent therapist needs to be anywhere near.

[InkAddict]

72. Get a new therapist ASAP!

Speaking from personal experience! There isn't any way this one can be empathetic and/or objective about your problems. If she's for "W," then she probably doesn't think there are any problems except for Dems. Remember that old saying that one cannot serve two masters? Your therapy, if associated w/stress born from the policies of this admin, could amount to the therapist's own special form of "torture" a la Camp America, GITMO!

[The Straight Story]

73. Ignore it, IMHO

I know many folks who voted for w who aren't really politically inclined. Nice folks, just been party whores all their lives and couldn't tell you who their state senators are. They are not party hacks, just avg folks who see things in more stark contrast in a political environment.

Most folks in the world are not as up on things as those who spend days and nights on a political bbs/website. They are not evil whoremongers who want theocrats to run over us, they probably are sick of the war, and just see talking points - ie, they are blinded by bias...in political areas mainly.

Your therapist may be damn good in their field, but that dosen't have much to do with politics. It seems almost as if some project w's persona and likeness onto anyone who supported or voted for his sorry ass, and that is just not the case always. They are seperate people with seperate lives and agenda's. One is ignorant of the other, but many have busy lives to lead and just don't see things as we do.

I judge on the content of a person's character in a more broad way, someone (like my dad) votes for w - does not make them a terrible human being, for they are the sum of all their actions, not just 5 min in a voting booth.

Most don't take politics as seriously as we do, I can understand that. Getting pretty damn sick of it all myself. Like mom used to say, they are all damned crooked, and the ones that ain't won't last long in the lion's den.

[lectrobyte]

95. Right. Let them off the hook because they are just good Germans,

I mean Americans, going about their business who happened to make a wrong choice in the voting booth. I disagree, I think we have to patronize businesses and individuals that we feel comfortable with, especially a therapist.

And if the therapist is not helping, or helping "a bit", I'd just take the earlier advice and tell them I want someone else, it's just not a good fit. No point in making a big political scene, or making an enemy. I'd like to hear more about the "unamerican" part of the conversation, though, too.

[earth mom]

75. Years ago, before I understood the ugly mindset of the reTHUGS,

I probably wouldn't have cared one iota what someones political affiliation was. But the past few years has been quite the eye opener for me to see just how cold, mean, twisted and greedy the rethugs are! I avoid them now at all costs and can spot them VERY easily now too.

My advice is to RUN AWAY as fast as you can! Life is TOO short to spend it around people like that!

[Imagevision]

76. I'd get a new therapist ... in a heartbeat!!

[tanyev]

77. That plus the "unAmerican" comment would have me looking

for a new one. Especially if the topic of politics comes up in your discussions. The whole "unAmerican" comment makes me think of McCarthy and how many people were denounced and ruined because of all of that nonsense. If we don't get this country turned around pretty soon, I could see times like that coming back.

[ikojo]

78. I would be surprised and then I'd seek out a new

therapist. IMHO, being a therapist and a Bush supporter are antithetical. I just don't see how someone could be in a caring or helping profession and support Bush. After all, there are probably many people seeking therapy on account of living in Bush's America.

A lot of personal information is revealed in a therapy session and the therapist is generally taking notes. I'd prefer a therapist that shared my politics because considering how things are going in this country one cannot say for sure whether down the road, when they are rounding up "dissidents" they peruse insurance claims. While perusing insurance claims if they see that a person has engaged the services of a therapist it is not outside the realm of possibilities that the therapist is contacted to reveal political leanings of the patient.

Remember when Ashcroft wanted the cable guy and the gas guy to spy on people and be on the look out for "suspicious behavior?"

[VOX]

80. Tough call. Skilled therapists usually don't bring up divisive stuff...

like politics or religion, for the very fact that those things *are* divisive.

Also, an often-used question about the potential effectiveness of a therapist is: Is this a person that you would like to talk to if you met them in "everyday" life? Can you trust this person emotionally?

You say she has helped you, which is not insignificant. if your personal situation allows it, this might be a chance to engage her in an interesting dialogue about why people make the choices they do in things such as politics, and why you feel the way you do about the state of your country.

If, in drawing her out, she comes on like a right-wing loon, you can simply "fire" her, then connect with a therapist better suited to your specific needs.

Good luck. :thumbsup:

[DreamTheaterFan]

85. Get 'em where it hurts... their wallet.

It's your money, give your therapist a little hurtin' and find somebody else.

[SammyWinstonJack]

86. I'd get a new therapist.

[Jcrowley]

87. Confront this person

Get friends and stage an intervention. Then demand a refund.

Heal thyself physician.

[LoZoccolo]

90. I would at least make sure it's really her car. n/t

[latebloomer]

92. I couldn't see a therapist like that

any more than I could marry a person like that!

In both cases you have to have somewhat of a shared world view and value system.

I would discuss it with her, and see where it goes, and then most likely bolt.

[Cobalt Violet]

93. Fire her.

And find someone else. If that is her SUV.

[eggbeater]

94. make another post and pretend

that she refused to help you becuase you were democrat.

I think that would answer your question

[Lisa0825]

97. It depends.

Is she helping you? How do you feel about her aside from that? Are there other instances than the "un-American" comment?" It can take a while to feel at ease with a therapist, so I wouldn't dump one too easily, but if you do not feel you can overlook it, and it will interfere with your progress, then look elsewhere.

If I were you, however, I would confront her about the un-American comment and any other things she may have said that you felt were biased.

I have been seeing a therapist monthly for about a year and a half. I was going through a lot when I first started, and now I see it as maintenence. I brought up politics on my first visit, and was pleased to find out she's a Democrat. It was important to me, so I can understand how you feel. Republicans believe in everything I do NOT, and I really have very little respect for 99.9% of them. I find it difficult to be friends with them, adamantly refuse to date them, and I would very much prefer to do personal business as intimate as counseling with someone I can relate to where my values are concerned.

[newsguyatl]

98. find another!

[Hawkowl]

100. Get a new COMPETENT therapist

Any professional therapist would be able to see shrub as a complete sociopath. How could they support a sociopath? Unless they were hoping for extra business?