What happens when mental health care becomes intertwined with prevailing political ideologies and biases? Today on Heterodox Out Loud, we’re joined by Andrew Hartz, president and founder of the Open Therapy Institute and a long-term member of Heterodox Academy. Andrew joins John Tomasi to explore the increasing prevalence of sociopolitical bias within the realm of mental health therapy.

Andrew shares his motivations for founding the Open Therapy Institute, highlighting the concerning shifts in therapy practices caused by activist-oriented approaches and sociopolitical biases. He discusses the need for a more balanced, patient-centered therapeutic approach that respects diverse perspectives without conflating therapy with broader ideological battles. Andrew sheds light on the startling trend of therapists dismissing patients due to their political views and the broader issue of bias pervading mental health training and practice.

In This Episode:

• The rise of sociopolitical bias in mental health therapy
• The four levels of bias impacting therapists
• The incompatibility of patient-centered therapy with politically driven judgment
• The influence of activist-oriented norms in therapeutic contexts
• The role and objectives of the Open Therapy Institute
• Viewpoint diversity and the challenges faced by conservative therapists

For more insights and updates from the Open Therapy Institute, visit their website: https://www.opentherapyinstitute.org/

About Andrew:

Andrew Hartz, Ph.D, is a practicing clinical psychologist. He was formerly a professor in the clinical psychology doctoral program at Long Island University, where he also completed his Ph.D. He completed his clinical internship at Columbia University Medical Center, and he also completed training at Mount Sinai Hospital and the William Alanson White Institute. For several years, he’s written about political issues and mental health for outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, City Journal, Discourse, the Federalist, Real Clear Education, Heterodox Academy, and the New York Post.

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Can meaningful conversations bridge the divide in a polarized world? In today's episode, we explore the transformative power of radical curiosity with Shira Hoffer, a senior at Harvard University and founder of the Institute for Multipartisan Education. Join host John Tomasi, as they delve into the potential of dialogue in reducing societal hate and fostering understanding.

Shira Hoffer shares her inspirational journey from idealistic student to social entrepreneur, recounting the pivotal experiences that led to the creation of the Hotline for Israel-Palestine. This initiative connects individuals with diverse perspectives in response to the tense climate at Harvard following the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. Shira emphasizes the role of curiosity in addressing complex conflicts and outlines her efforts to encourage open, non-judgmental discourse across contentious societal issues.

In This Episode:

• Curiosity as a tool against polarization
• Creating dialogue to reduce misunderstandings
• Student-led initiatives on curiosity in education
• Religious influence on open-mindedness in students

About Shira:

Shira Hoffer is a senior at Harvard College studying Social Studies and Religion, and the founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Multipartisan Education. She served on Harvard’s Intellectual Vitality Committee for two years, is a former fellow and research assistant at the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Ethics’ Intercollegiate Civil Disagreement Program, and is a practicing mediator in Massachusetts courts. Her senior thesis explores the contemporary relationship between religious identity and speech behaviors on US college campuses.

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What happens when the principles of law clash with evolving ideologies in academia? Join us today as we delve into the transformative journey of legal education with Rebecca Roiphe, a lawyer, visiting fellow at the Siegel Center for Academic Pluralism, and author of the upcoming book, "The Devil's Advocate: How Law Schools Abandoned the Law."

In this compelling episode, Rebecca Roiphe outlines the transformative shifts within legal education over the past fifty years, moving from a focus on rigorous professional training to a mission oriented towards achieving social justice through law. This transformation is significantly influenced by the Critical Legal Studies (CLS) movement, which posits that law is not a neutral framework but rather a tool manipulable by those in power. Rebecca provides a nuanced exploration of how CLS morphed from an intellectual movement into a dominant force in contemporary legal education and its broader implications on the legal profession and democracy.

In This Episode:

• The transformation of legal education over the past fifty years
• Impact of the Critical Legal Studies (CLS) movement on law schools
• The evolving mission of law schools from professional training to social justice
• Intellectual origins and key figures in CLS
• Challenges within the legal profession due to ideological siloing
• Implications for the rule of law and democracy

About Rebecca:

Rebecca Roiphe is a Trustee Professor of Law at New York Law School, focusing on the history and ethics of the legal profession. She has clerked for the First Circuit US Court of Appeals and served as a prosecutor in Manhattan. Her research examines the recent history of law school curricula, particularly how legal education has fostered viewpoint homogeneity.

Her upcoming book, The Devil's Advocate: How Law Schools Abandon the Law, will trace changes in American legal education over the past fifty years, highlighting the shift from rigorous training for a service profession to promoting a social justice agenda. Rebecca argues that law schools have moved away from open debate and professional training, contributing to a decline in democratic principles and individual liberty. Her opinion pieces appear in various outlets, and she is a sought-after expert on legal ethics and criminal justice.

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