Navigating Power Dynamics in the Therapeutic Space

This presentation will be provided by Lauren (Ren) Schmidt, MSW, LCSW. Ren has been working in social services and mental health since 2012 and has served in a wide variety of settings and populations including working with youth in foster care, youth and adults in residential treatment centers addressing trauma, substance use disorders and eating disorders, providing counseling to domestic violence survivors, serving clients with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD as well as working in medical settings. This experience has provided opportunities to better understand dynamics of power and privilege within social work and mental health settings as they present in daily interactions on both individual and systemic levels.

Being a healthcare provider of any kind forces us to engage with inherent power differentials that may impact the client/therapist relationship. It is our ethical responsibility as clinicians to increase our awareness of these differences and provide effective and appropriate intervention that prioritizes the autonomy and self-determination of our clients. Conversely, some therapists may find themselves in situations where a client may exert their own power and privilege on the clinician in a way that increases stress and may be harmful to the clinician. It is important for clinicians to have the tools to navigate both ends of such complex relational dynamics.

In this presentation, attendees will:

1. Identify personal identity intersections and what it means to be an authority figure to better understand individual power and privilege within the therapeutic alliance as a provider.

2. Assess and respond to power dynamics and imbalances as they come up in the therapeutic space.

3. Demonstrate an ability to seek out appropriate community resources and education, provide referrals or engage in termination to improve clinical outcomes.

4. Express understanding of the meaning and impact of the medical industrial complex on the field of mental health and identify means of engaging in anti-carceral treatment planning

Advanced registration is required | Virtual presentation, meeting link will be provided after registration is complete. *Certificates of completion will be emailed to those who are present and successfully complete the presentation survey/quiz.

Andersonville Mindfulness & Psychology is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as a continuing education sponsor for Licensed Clinical Psychologists (license #268.000125), Licensed Professional Counselors/Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (license #197.000350), and Licensed Social Workers/Licensed Clinical Social Workers (license #159.001572).