Curt and Katie talk about union therapists and a strike in California. We look at antitrust, labor disputes, implications of striking, and how to improve working conditions, treatment, and outcomes.
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:
A strike by the Union of Health Care Workers at Kaiser Permanente in California
Historical perspective on Kaiser Permanente
Union statement on why they are striking
The Union asks from Kaiser
Our desire to be objective
The ideas that we support: increased mental health access, improved mental health treatment, and positive work environments, fair wages, and sustainable work standards
How union workers increasing wages impacts nonunion clinics
The different perspectives on what the discussion is about and why the strike is happening
How change can happen, what conversations might be happening
Being adversarial, being productive, and when they are mutually exclusive
Things to consider while therapists are striking
The offer for crossing labor lines and why that can be problematic clinically
The current state of Kaiser mental health care and the possibility of what could be
The financial priorities that Kaiser has put on their required improvements
Reflections on how the strikers may be feeling or handling the situation
Relevant Episodes:
The Burnout System
Addressing the Burnout System
Resources mentioned:
We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links.
Article from San Francisco Examiner
Statement from National Union of Healthcare Workers
The Statement from Kaiser
Saving Psychotherapy by Benjamin E. Caldwell
Our Facebook Group – The Modern Therapists Group
Therapy Reimagined 2019: Sign up here to get notified when the details are released.
Our consultation services:
The Fifty-Minute Hour
Credits:
Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano http://www.crystalmangano.com/
