Conspiracy Theories in Your Office
Curt and Katie chat about clients who bring conspiracy theories into therapy. We talk about differentiating between psychosis and believing in conspiracy theories, the characteristics of folks who may be likely to subscribe to these theories, and the importance of the relationship in working with these folks. We also look at steps we would like professional organizations to take to support clinicians.
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:
How to handle when clients bring conspiracy theories into your office
Distinguishing between delusions, shared psychosis, and conspiracy theories
Reality testing, obsessive research, and other factors that may distinguish between psychosis and conspiracy theory
The impact of internet research and social media algorithms
The characteristics of folks who are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories
How fear of uncertainty, lack of trust can play into this dynamic
Societal impacts like advertising certainty
The different responsibility that therapists have when someone brings in a conspiracy theory
Hesitation in addressing these theories both in the room and at the professional org level
The continuum of engagement with conspiracy theories (from “entertainment” to going down the rabbit hole)
The level of investment in the theory, groups forming around these theories, and cults
The risk factors and legal/ethical responsibilities related to harm
Allen Lipscomb’s BRUH modality (Bonding Recognition Understanding and Healing)
The problem with direct challenging
The importance of identifying is it a conspiracy theory or is someone actually out to get you, especially with clients who are in traditionally marginalized communities
Building trust within the relationship through deep understanding of the client’s experiences
Societal measures that can help (like deplatforming leaders of the theories)
Starting from compassion and curiosity; managing reactions
Exploring the nuance of challenging irrational fears versus conspiracy theories
Seeking common ground and identifying impacts
The call to action to professional organizations for guidance and taking a stance (and the understanding of why they balk at doing so)
