In recent years, political identity has become increasingly intertwined with personal identity, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. As a result, politically charged topics frequently emerge in counseling settings—whether related to elections, public policy, media narratives, public health responses, or social justice concerns. Clients may present with distress tied to political events, conflict with family members who hold opposing views, or feelings of fear, anger, or disillusionment related to sociopolitical development.

This workshop examines how counselors can maintain an ethical and therapeutic posture when politically charged issues arise in clinical practice. Participants will explore how political beliefs—both their own and those of their clients—may influence clinical judgment, the therapeutic alliance, and treatment planning. Drawing on professional ethical standards, multicultural counseling principles, and clinician self-awareness, the session will consider how counselors can avoid value imposition while still engaging client concerns in meaningful and therapeutically productive ways.

Participants will be introduced to a structured framework for navigating politically charged discussions in counseling sessions while maintaining fidelity to ethical practice, respect for client autonomy, and the preservation of the therapeutic relationship. Case examples and guided reflection will assist clinicians in developing practical strategies for responding to political diversity in counseling contexts.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Identify ways political beliefs and sociopolitical identities may influence client functioning, counselor perceptions, and the therapeutic relationship.
2. Describe relevant ethical principles and professional standards that guide counselor responses when politically charged issues arise in clinical practice.
3. Recognize potential ethical risks, including value imposition, countertransference, and boundary concerns, when political differences emerge between counselors and clients.
4. Explain ethical decision-making strategies that support therapeutic neutrality while honoring client autonomy.
5. Apply a structured clinical framework for engaging politically charged topics in counseling while maintaining ethical integrity and the therapeutic alliance.

Featuring Returning Presenter:

Andrew J. Graham, PhD, LMHC, LMFT is Associate Professor of Counselor Education at Asbury Theological Seminary and a licensed clinician in both mental health counseling and marriage and family therapy. He has more than two decades of clinical and teaching experience at the intersection of counseling, theology, and cultural formation. Dr. Graham’s scholarship and training focus on faith integration, ethical practice, and counselor development. He regularly presents at national and international conferences on topics related to spirituality in clinical practice, crises of faith, and ethical care within faith-based contexts.

With gratitude, Brook Lane acknowledges this program is funded in part by the William B. and Sylvia A. Hunsberger Fund. Thank you.