Should your therapist have an interest in politics?

The question of whether therapists should engage with politics has grown more urgent in recent years. The world outside the consulting room has become louder, more divisive, and increasingly polarised. The rise of misinformation, the mainstreaming of extremist ideologies, and the deepening fractures in civic discourse have all conspired to push the boundaries of what we consider “political.” Inevitable, this environment seeps into the therapy room and into the words and silences of patients and the quiet reflections of therapists. To some, staying politically neutral in such a climate feels almost complicit. To others, stepping into political territory risks alienating the sacred space of therapy from its true purpose: to focus on the psyche, not the state.

Therapy is, by its nature, an intimate and private encounter. It is one of the last refuges from the noise of the world. People come to therapy not to hear their therapist’s worldview but to understand their own. The patient’s pain, conflict, or confusion must take center stage. Even the most well-meaning political commentary from a therapist risks turning therapy into something didactic or morale. It may subtly push a patient toward compliance with the therapist’s values, rather than helping them excavate and inhabit their own. For some practitioners, this traditional boundary is sacrosanct: it ensures that the work remains rooted in the patient’s inner life, not in the fleeting urgencies of external events.

But to believe that politics can ever be fully excluded from therapy is, perhaps, naive. Politics is not confined to governments or elections; it is woven into the fabric of everyday life. A patient’s anxiety about their future may be entangled with economic insecurity. Their feelings about intimacy and identity may reflect the influence of systemic oppression. In such cases, to ignore the political dimensions of their experience risks misunderstanding the forces that shape their suffering. The therapeutic process may feel incomplete, even hollow, if it fails to acknowledge the patient’s lived reality in its entirety.

Yet, for therapists to directly engage with politics raises thorny questions. Whose politics? In a world where truths are contested and misinformation proliferates, what authority does a therapist have to declare what is real or right? The therapist’s role is not to guide a patient toward a particular ideology but to foster their capacity for self-awareness and independent thought. To impose a political narrative risks replicating the very dynamics of control and disempowerment that therapy seeks to undo.

The Pelicot Rape Trial: A Testament to Bravery in the Face of a Culture of Concealment

At the heart of the Pelicot rape trial is not just a story of injustice, but one of extraordinary courage. The woman at the center of this case—unshaken by the weight of public scrutiny—made a choice that few could endure: she allowed the hearing to be public. In doing so, she shattered the veil of silence that has long protected men accused of such crimes, refusing to let them operate in the shadows of a society that often shields them.

This was an act of defiance and clarity. In many cases of sexual violence, the burden falls overwhelmingly on the victim to protect their privacy, even at the cost of justice. But by stepping into the light, this woman redefined the narrative. She refused to allow her experience to be reduced to whispers behind closed doors or brushed aside by a culture too comfortable with secrecy. Her decision ensured that the men involved were seen for who they are—neither hidden by anonymity nor shielded by institutional protections.

Bravery as a Catalyst for Accountability

Her bravery serves as a reminder that the public exposure of such cases is not an act of spectacle but a necessary tool for accountability. It forced society to confront the humanity of the victim and the stark reality of the system that often minimizes or erases their suffering. By making the trial public, she dismantled the power of invisibility that enables so many perpetrators to evade accountability.

This act of courage extends beyond her own case; it sets a precedent. It reminds us that silence is complicity, and that to speak out—even when it feels like the whole world is against you—is to resist not just individual wrongs but the entire culture of misogyny that enables them.

Exposing the Culture of Concealment

The decision to make the trial public also forces us to confront the dynamics of power and secrecy that allow systemic injustices to thrive. Historically, the stories of survivors have been buried—hidden by institutions, dismissed by communities, or drowned out by narratives of male innocence. When hearings are closed, or when victims are silenced by the weight of shame or societal pressure, perpetrators are shielded from accountability.

But this trial has torn that shield away. It has exposed not just the actions of the men involved but also the societal structures that protect them. The public nature of the hearing means that the world is watching, and with that comes a demand for transparency and justice that cannot be ignored.

A Symbol of Resistance

Her decision is not just an act of personal bravery; it is an act of resistance against the forces of silence that uphold patriarchy. It is a declaration that the truth will not be hidden, no matter how uncomfortable or inconvenient it might be for those in power.

By making her story public, she has given voice to countless women who have been silenced and reminded the world that the fight for justice is not just a private battle—it is a collective one. Her courage inspires us to confront the uncomfortable truths that allow misogyny to persist, and it challenges us to create a culture where survivors are not shamed for their bravery but celebrated for it.

Her story reminds us that change does not come from hiding in the shadows. It comes from stepping into the light, even when it burns. And in doing so, she has become a beacon for those who refuse to be silenced.

Exploring the Oedipal Shadows in Apple TV’s Drama ‘Disclaimer’: A Psychotherapeutic Perspective

Ive had a period of time off work and have been binge watching a lot of TV, hence another review from a therapy perspective.

Apple TV’s drama Disclaimer, directed by Alfonso Cuarón and starring Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline, dives into a labyrinthine psychological landscape that plays upon memory, guilt, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive. Set against the backdrop of a suspenseful, noir-inspired world, the story follows Catherine Ravenscroft (played by Blanchett), a successful investigative journalist who faces disturbing revelations when a book eerily similar to her own life and past traumas unexpectedly appears. This series unfolds like a psychoanalytic session, forcing Catherine—and the viewer—to confront the buried emotional forces that shape our lives and haunt our dreams.

Beneath the surface of Disclaimer’s thriller elements lies a powerful undercurrent of Oedipal tension, a theme rooted in Sigmund Freud’s early insights into the deep, often unconscious, familial ties that define our psyches. In particular, Disclaimer taps into the painful but universal experience of the Oedipus complex: the lingering, unresolved attachments to our parents that influence, haunt, and perhaps even entrap us throughout our lives. As we follow Catherine’s journey, the series provides a potent exploration of what it means to wrestle with the forces of family, fate, and self-concept—an internal battle that resonates with any viewer familiar with the emotional dynamics of psychotherapy.

The Oedipal Themes of Disclaimer: A Repressed Story

Freud’s Oedipus complex speaks to a primal, usually unconscious desire in children to possess the parent of the opposite sex and view the same-sex parent as a rival. While the classic Freudian model often emphasizes young children’s early-life attachments, Disclaimer takes a more nuanced, adult approach to this concept, where the “Oedipal” struggle is not with parental figures directly but with figures who echo parental roles and wield haunting psychological influence.

Catherine, though a respected figure in her professional life, becomes childlike and vulnerable as she reads the mysterious book—experiencing it as a powerful mirroring of her past. Kevin Kline’s character embodies the role of a “ghostly parent” in the narrative, an enigmatic figure from Catherine’s past who seems to hold a disturbing power over her present. Their dynamic illustrates an adult version of the Oedipal confrontation: Catherine’s challenge is not simply to escape from this shadowy figure’s influence but to contend with how deeply she has internalized aspects of him in her own psyche.

In therapy, this process is often described as working through “introjections,” the unconscious psychological absorption of figures who influenced us. As Catherine reads the disturbing story and feels exposed by it, the series subtly explores how we might carry internal versions of our early attachments (parental or otherwise) that can shape us without our awareness. These internalized figures, like ghosts of our early lives, continue to govern our self-concepts, behaviors, and emotions, long after the actual relationships are gone.

Trauma, Guilt, and the Unconscious Mind

Disclaimer presents Catherine’s repressed past not merely as a series of “events” to recall but as emotional material that has structured her identity and her way of perceiving the world. She is an emblematic character for any of us who have had to compartmentalize painful memories to get on with life. Her work as a journalist, investigating secrets and mysteries in the outside world, can be seen as an outward displacement of her own unresolved internal secrets. This resonates deeply with psychotherapy, where what we choose to see—and, crucially, what we choose to avoid—often becomes a central theme.

As in Freud’s model of the unconscious, Catherine’s defenses are mobilized against painful memories and feelings that she has long denied. The arrival of the book challenges these defenses, forcing her into a confrontation with parts of herself she has repressed. In a sense, she is both the child longing for closeness and the “prohibited” figure bearing unresolved guilt, mirroring the guilt and anxiety often associated with Oedipal conflicts.

The series, like many therapeutic journeys, suggests that healing requires bringing these shadowy, split-off parts of ourselves into the light. For Catherine, it is not only about “solving the mystery” but about encountering her own vulnerability and reclaiming parts of her story that she has avoided, perhaps for years. Disclaimer poignantly portrays this as a painful but ultimately transformative process, not unlike the process of therapy, where we learn to integrate these repressed memories and emotions into a coherent sense of self.

The Stories We Tell Ourselves: Memory as Narrative

Memory is not simply factual in Disclaimer; it is fluid, interpretive, and, at times, unreliable. Catherine’s attempts to reconcile her recollection of events with what is presented in the mysterious book reflect the psychotherapeutic notion that memory is often shaped as much by what we want to believe as by what actually happened. The act of storytelling becomes both a tool of self-preservation and self-betrayal—an attempt to create a coherent narrative that, in protecting us, also traps us.

In Disclaimer, Catherine’s journey shows us that our stories can liberate us when they reflect an honest grappling with the full range of our emotions and experiences. However, when used defensively, these narratives risk hiding deeper truths, protecting us from pain but also perpetuating it. Her discomfort with the book reflects this painful duality. The mystery uncovers that the boundaries we create between ourselves and others, between truth and memory, are as vulnerable as any defense.

In therapy, we learn that part of growth and healing involves rewriting our life stories with awareness and honesty, even when it means facing uncomfortable truths. Like Catherine, we are all called to move beyond the stories we initially crafted to survive and risk creating new ones that accommodate the complexities of our inner worlds.

Conclusion: Disclaimer as a Mirror of Self

In Disclaimer, Catherine’s journey is as much about solving an external mystery as it is about facing her own psyche. The show becomes a mirror, holding up questions that any of us might encounter on a therapeutic journey: What shadows of our early attachments haunt us? What parts of our stories remain hidden, and at what cost? And are we willing to confront the full, messy reality of who we are, rather than the curated versions we present to the world?

Much like psychotherapy, Disclaimer offers no easy resolutions. Instead, it invites viewers to reflect on their own unconscious material—the hidden influences and the unresolved emotional conflicts that shape our lives from the shadows. The series, in its subtle unfolding, underscores a profound truth of the therapeutic process: growth often begins with discomfort, and healing often begins with a willingness to embrace the parts of ourselves we least want to acknowledge.

Disclaimer is ultimately a study in how, to free ourselves from the prison of the past, we must face not only what happened to us but how we internalized it, how we chose to remember it, and how we might begin to tell ourselves a different, truer story. It is an invitation to enter our own “unwritten books,” guided not by the need to evade our shadows, but by the courage to integrate them.

A permanent state of transition

Donald Winnicott, a prominent psychoanalyst, introduced the concept of transitional objects as a crucial aspect of early childhood development. These objects, often a teddy bear or a comforting blanket, serve as a bridge between a child’s self and the external world, providing a sense of security during the transitional phase of gaining independence. The transitional object acts as a tangible representation of the caregiver, aiding in the child’s exploration of autonomy.

In the realm of technology, our devices have become modern transitional objects. Smartphones, laptops, and other gadgets seamlessly blend virtual and real worlds, acting as bridges between our personal spaces and the vast digital landscape. Similar to a child’s teddy bear, these devices offer a sense of comfort and connection, becoming integral in our daily lives.

However, the parallel doesn’t end there. Winnicott emphasized the importance of the transitional object being an item of the child’s choosing. In the digital age, our relationship with technology mirrors this autonomy. We select and personalize our devices, apps, and online spaces, creating a digital environment that reflects our individuality.

Just as transitional objects assist in navigating the challenges of childhood, technology aids us in navigating the complexities of the modern world. It serves as a tool for communication, learning, and entertainment, becoming an extension of ourselves in the process. Yet, like any transitional object, the use of technology requires a healthy balance to prevent dependency and promote genuine human connections.

In essence, Winnicott’s concept of transitional objects sheds light on the psychological underpinnings of our relationship with technology. Acknowledging the parallels allows us to appreciate the significance of these digital tools in our lives while being mindful of maintaining a balanced and healthy integration of technology into our sense of self and society.

Mental Health support contact details

Mental health helplines
Whether you’re concerned about yourself or a loved one, these helplines and support groups can offer expert advice.

Anxiety UK
Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition.

Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 10pm; Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm)

Website: www.anxietyuk.org.uk

Bipolar UK
A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.

Website: www.bipolaruk.org.uk

CALM
CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35.

Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)

Website: www.thecalmzone.net

Men’s Health Forum
24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email.

Website: www.menshealthforum.org.uk

Mental Health Foundation
Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.

Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk

Mind
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.

Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)

Website: www.mind.org.uk

No Panic
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia or OCD.

Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider’s Access Charge

Website: www.nopanic.org.uk

OCD Action
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.

Phone: 0845 390 6232 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider’s Access Charge

Website: www.ocdaction.org.uk

OCD UK
A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments.

Phone: 0333 212 7890 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

Website: www.ocduk.org

PAPYRUS
Young suicide prevention society.

Phone: HOPELINEUK 0800 068 4141 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 10pm, and 2pm to 10pm on weekends and bank holidays)

Website: www.papyrus-uk.org

Rethink Mental Illness
Support and advice for people living with mental illness.

Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)

Website: www.rethink.org

Samaritans
Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)

Website: www.samaritans.org.uk

SANE
Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.

SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30pm to 10.30pm)

Textcare: comfort and care via text message, sent when the person needs it most: www.sane.org.uk/textcare

Peer support forum: www.sane.org.uk/supportforum

Website: www.sane.org.uk/support

YoungMinds
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.

Phone: Parents’ helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)

Website: www.youngminds.org.uk

Abuse (child, sexual, domestic violence)
NSPCC
Children’s charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty.

Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline)

0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)

Website: www.nspcc.org.uk

Refuge
Advice on dealing with domestic violence.

Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)

Website: www.refuge.org.uk

Addiction (drugs, alcohol, gambling)
Alcoholics Anonymous
Phone: 0800 917 7650 (24-hour helpline)

Website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

National Gambling Helpline
Phone: 0808 8020 133 (daily, 8am to midnight)

Website: www.begambleaware.org

Narcotics Anonymous
Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily, 10am to midnight)

Website: www.ukna.org

Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s Society
Provides information on dementia, including factsheets and helplines.

Phone: 0333 150 3456 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and 10am to 4pm on weekends)

Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk

Bereavement
Cruse Bereavement Care
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

Website: www.cruse.org.uk

Crime victims
Rape Crisis
To find your local services phone: 0808 802 9999(daily, 12pm to 2.30pm and 7pm to 9.30pm)

Website: www.rapecrisis.org.uk

Victim Support
Phone: 0808 168 9111 (24-hour helpline)

Website: www.victimsupport.org

Eating disorders
Beat
Phone: 0808 801 0677 (adults) or 0808 801 0711 (for under-18s)

Website: www.b-eat.co.uk

Learning disabilities
Mencap
Charity working with people with a learning disability, their families and carers.

Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

Website: www.mencap.org.uk

Parenting
Family Lives
Advice on all aspects of parenting, including dealing with bullying.

Phone: 0808 800 2222 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm)

Website: www.familylives.org.uk

Relationships
Relate
The UK’s largest provider of relationship support.

Website: www.relate.org.uk

Food issues

At the start of 2020 many of us will turn our attention to exercise and healthy eating to shift those few extra Christmas pounds and re-energise ourselves into the New Year. However, for some there may be a much darker side to the resolution to look and feel better.

The rise of a form of disordered eating called Orthorexia is becoming increasingly mainstream, fuelled by the mania for healthy eating and our growing anxiety around obesity it lies somewhere on the blurred boundary between being health-conscious and a health obsessive. Defined as a “fixation with righteous or correct eating” – what begins as an attempt to improve one’s lifestyle can morph into an unhealthy fixation. It’s unknown how widespread the condition is because it is not currently recognised as a clinical diagnosis , however, it can be just as harmful psychologically as it possesses the same joyless preoccupation with appearance and food.

Eating disorders are a relatively common psychological illness but are not always well diagnosed. They describe illnesses characterised by irregular eating habits and severe distress or concern about body weight or shape. Eating disturbances may include inadequate or excessive food intake, ultimately damaging an individual’s well-being by both physiological damage to health and psychological illness. There are also the more hidden negative social, employment and lifestyle effects associated with eating disorders.

As a defence mechanism they can represent a maladaptive approach to tolerating the unbearable, and perhaps demonstrate a continued conflict of desire. Those with anorexia may refuse food in order to maintain a space to keep desire alive. Those patients who eat junk food or partake in fad diets only to then indulge in violent bodily purges attempt to feel or subvert desire. These feelings are further complicated by the influences of culture and social media.

The NHS recently revealed that the number of teenagers being admitted to hospital with eating disorders has nearly doubled in the last three years. The Royal College of Psychiatrists has laid the blame for this unprecedented rise firmly at the door of social media and particularly pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia websites offering tips on how to avoid food.

As clinicians we may also become aware of the significant percentage of those with eating disorders who also struggle with alcohol and substance use disorders. In 2003, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse issued the seminal report, “Food for Thought: Substance Use and Eating Disorders,” which highlights this relationship. The report established that Individuals with eating disorders were up to 5 times as likely as those without eating disorders to abuse alcohol or illicit drugs, and those who abused alcohol or illicit drugs were up to 11 times as likely as those who did not to have had eating disorders. Specifically, up to 50% of individuals with eating disorders abused alcohol or illicit drugs, compared to 9% of the general population. Other research has offered similar findings. Struggling with an eating disorder ¬ or a substance use disorder -increases one’s chances of developing the other disorder.

There can be many underlying issues which lead to an eating disorder, these may include, difficult relationships in early life, low self-esteem, loss of a loved one or the end of a relationship. Different forms of psychotherapy, such as individual, family, or group, can be helpful in addressing the underlying causes of eating disorders. Therapy can be fundamental to treatment because it the opportunity to address and heal from traumatic life events and learn healthier coping skills and methods.

Confronting a disorder is the first step of recovery. If you are suffering, it is important to admit that you need help. Though this can be the most painful and difficult part of the process, it is essential in order for recovery to begin. By reaching out for help and confiding in others trust about your struggles, you are taking the biggest step towards overcoming your eating disorder. If you have a loved one who is suffering from an eating disorder and are worried about their eating behaviours or attitudes, it is crucial to communicate your concerns in a loving and supportive way. Confronting the person you care about is a necessary step towards getting them the help and treatment they deserve.

If you are concerned about any issue related to an eating disorder then please consult your doctor or seek advice from a reputable website such as:
https://www.b-eat.co.uk/
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/eatingdisorders/Pages/eating-disorders-advice-parents.aspx ) http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/teengirls/Pages/treatmentforeatingdisorders.aspx)

‘In the space between chaos and shape there was another chance’.

Jeanette Winterson, The World and Other Places:

Life transitions are challenging because they force us to let go of the familiar and face the future with a feeling of vulnerability. Whether positive or negative, a transitional space can force us to adjust to new ways of living, being and working. How we deal with these changes can feel quite challenging to our sense of well-being and our emotional health.

Many significant changes are triggered by regrets about unfulfilled dreams, a discontent or dissatisfaction with how life has turned out or a feeling that you are not at peace with the passing of time.

When we consider change in our lives, we might think about the work of the psychoanalyst Donald winnicott, who wrote about the important transitions an infant experiences in separating from her mother.

He believed that our sense of self emerged through our interpersonal relations, especially through early interactions between the main carer and her infant. In order for the infant to develop, the caregiver must gradually allow disillusionment so that the infant feels she is a separate individual but also feels safe and empowered. As this process occurs she begins to sense that her needs and emotions are not immediately met because her mother is not an extension of herself.

Healthy separation happens when the infant’s emotions are reflected back to her and adequately held without crisis occurring. This mirroring and holding creates what Winnicott called a transitional space, a container where the infant feels safe enough and powerful enough to navigate and integrate her needs and emotions allowing her to develop a stable sense of self that can develop authentic emotional connections in everyday interactions with others while still feeling some sense of control.

At some point we all have to deal with times of major life transition, which require adjusting to new identities and new perspectives. These changes are not always smooth, but it is helpful to appreciate that they happen for an purpose and can be important to allow us to grow as individuals developing resilience and self belief.

They perhaps attempt to signpost us in the direction of being closer to who and what we want to be and hopefully allow life to feel more meaningful and authentic.

Using Winnicott’s concept of a transitional space is helpful in navigating these times of change. The strength in these situations is knowing when we need to ask for support from those around us. – Whether that be family, friends or seeking the help of a professional. As I have gone through my own transitions in life, I have decided where I am going to focus my attention and what support I need. I know that I cannot manage significant change myself and I am open to help. Being proactive, aware and vulnerable are important characteristics to successfully negotiating the significant changes that life has a habit of throwing up.

‘The real issue with speed is not just how fast can you go, but where are you going so fast? It doesn’t help to arrive quickly if you wind up in the wrong place’. Walter Murch