How to Talk with Patients About the Election Results presented by The Colleague Assistance Committee

A Members Only Event

2.5 CEU

Light Refreshments will be served at 9 a.m.

The MPSI Colleague Assistance Committee is facilitating a clinical discussion to help prepare clinicians for helping patients who may have acute reactions to the 2024 Presidential Election results. These times are particularly trying ones for maintaining a neutral, non-judgmental stance.  Many emotions are being stirred in ourselves, in our patients, in their family and friends, in local to global society.  

Can we maintain analytic neutrality and promote curiosity about the unconscious even in situations where partisan feelings are aroused?  

Does fact checking have any role analytic treatment?  

Should/can we agree to disagree?  

To what extent does self-revelation promote or undermine the analytic process?

Can our community be experienced as a source of containment, support and as an effective holding environment (for each other)?

You will be doing your analytic colleagues a great service if you come prepared to share vignettes of difficult situations you have confronted, talking with patients about the Election.  (e.g. A new patient who you have noticed tends toward paranoia asks you who you voted for.  What do you say?)  Even though it may feel vulnerable, Colleague Assistance is about supporting each other and problem-solving together.

Please note that while we encourage our members and affiliates to find spaces to process one’s own feelings and reactions to current events, this discussion will explicitly focus on the role of the clinician in relation to clients/patients.