Therapy Without Bias: Serving Politically Underserved Clients with Dr. Andrew Hartz
Therapy Without Bias: Serving the Politically Underserved – A Conversation with Dr. Andrew Hartz
Why Political Bias in Therapy Matters
In this week’s episode of The Therapy Show, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Andrew Hartz, clinical psychologist and founder of the Open Therapy Institute. Our conversation focused on the growing presence of political bias in therapy and how it can impact client care and therapeutic relationships.
How the Open Therapy Institute is Making a Difference
Dr. Hartz shared how the Open Therapy Institute supports therapists who want to offer politically neutral, values-sensitive care. The goal is to serve clients who often feel alienated by assumptions in therapy spaces—especially those with conservative, centrist, or religious perspectives.
Key Insights from Our Conversation
- Bias in therapy can be subtle but significant. Even well-meaning cues can alienate clients.
- Many clients self-censor when they feel their views may not be welcome.
- There’s a large, underserved population seeking unbiased, values-aligned therapy.
- Therapists who build competence in working across the political spectrum can grow their practice and meet a real need.
- The Open Therapy Institute offers private membership, peer consultation, CE workshops, and a referral network to support this work.
The Role of Dialectical Thinking
We also discussed how dialectical thinking, the ability to see pros and cons on multiple sides of an issue, is crucial in helping clients manage political distress, navigate family conflict, and improve emotional regulation. This is a skill that therapists can model and teach.
Why Now Is the Time to Get Involved
If you’re a therapist who wants to create a more inclusive and open practice, the Open Therapy Institute is a great place to start. With over 300 members and growing, they’re helping therapists build skills and serve a wider range of clients without needing to compromise their values or visibility.
Upcoming Workshops You Won’t Want to Miss
Open Therapy Institute’s upcoming CE events cover topics like gender and sexuality, detransition, masculinity, and navigating political conflict in couples and families. These sessions are designed to be engaging, practical, and different from the typical CE content out there.
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Final Thoughts
Thanks for tuning in to this important episode. It’s a conversation that highlights a blind spot in the profession and offers real tools to better serve clients. Stay connected for more insights, expert interviews, and practical resources to enrich your practice.
Other Resources:
🏗️ Build your first CE course (free)
🧠 Get my Coping with Political Stress Ebook and Peaceful Politics AI Guide
🗣 Therapist Conversation Framework: Politics in Session A printable PDF with 97 questions to navigate political talk in therapy—without taking sides.
💬 Solution-Focused Therapy Guide
72 questions + prompts to help adult clients clarify goals and move forward using SFT.