58th Annual PCA Conference

Name: Between Neutrality and Attunement: Navigating Political Conversations in Therapy (1 CE)
Start: 2026-11-07T09:15:00-0500
End: 2026-11-07T10:15:00-0500

Between Neutrality and Attunement: Navigating Political Conversations in Therapy (1 CE)

Saturday November 7, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am EST

Session Feedback (for CEs)

With an increasingly complex social climate, clients often bring political and systemic stressors into therapy and may directly ask about a therapist’s beliefs or values. Counselor training has traditionally emphasized neutrality to protect the therapeutic alliance; however, clinicians frequently encounter moments in which avoiding these topics feels distancing, while disclosure risks shifting focus away from the client. Clinicians are therefore navigating clinical ambiguity rather than following a clear rule: how to remain client-centered when a client’s lived experience is intertwined with broader social context.

This roundtable invites counselors to explore the ethical and relational tensions that arise when political or value-based questions emerge in therapy. Through guided discussion, participants will examine common clinical dilemmas, share experiences, and reflect on how different responses impact the therapeutic relationship. Emphasis will be placed on attunement, client autonomy, and minimizing unintentional harm while navigating these conversations in a changing social climate.

Speakers

Rachel Gerrity, MA LAPC NCC

Outpatient Therapist, Counseling Collective

Rachel Gerrity is a trauma-informed outpatient therapist at The Counseling Collective in East Petersburg, Pennsylvania. She earned her master’s degree in Clinical Counseling from Alvernia University and is currently working towards full licensure. Rachel is also a National Certified... Read More →

Saturday November 7, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am EST

60 Minute Roundtable

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58th Annual PCA Conference

Rachel Gerrity, MA LAPC NCC

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58th Annual PCA Conference

Rachel Gerrity, MA LAPC NCC

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