Conflict and Compassion: Navigating Countertransference in a Post-Election Climate
Information
Date & Time
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Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
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Explain the ethical principles of beneficence, nonmaleficence, and respect for client autonomy.
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Define countertransference and describe how to manage it while maintaining professional boundaries.
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Summarize how to recognize and regulate emotional responses triggered by clients’ perspectives, ensuring they do not interfere with clinical judgement.
Educational Goal
The educational goal of this workshop is to equip clinicians with tools to identify, understand, and manage emotional countertransference, especially in a post-election climate, to ensure effective and ethical client care.
Description
Many people are dealing with stress and anxiety related to politics. An October 2024 survey from the American Psychological Association indicated that 77% of adults in the United States said the future of the nation is a significant source of stress in their lives and 69% said the presidential election was a source of significant stress. This session aims to equip clinicians with tools to identify, understand, and manage emotional countertransference, especially in a post-election climate, to ensure effective and ethical client care.
Participants will learn how to apply cultural humility and awareness to understand how sociopolitical dynamics, including post-election stressors, shape both provider and client experiences, minimizing bias in therapeutic interventions. We will also discuss the importance of utilizing supervision and consultative resources to address ethical dilemmas and emotional countertransference in complex cases, ensuring informed and client-centered decisions.
Target Audience
- Counselor
- Marriage & Family Therapist
- Social Worker
- Substance Use Disorder Professionals
Presenters
Jessica Gaddy is the founder and CEO of Nia Noire Therapy + Wellness, a thriving practice based in Washington, DC and Los Angeles, CA. As a multifaceted Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Jessica specializes in empowering communities and practitioners to prioritize self-care, embrace authenticity, and unlock their best selves while maintaining boundaries, personal and professional values.
Jessica is also a sought-after media contributor, with appearances on Fox5 DC, NPR, and Fox Soul, and her expert insights featured in top publications like Forbes, Essence, Women’s Health, and SELF Magazine. A dedicated scholar, Jessica earned her master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently pursuing her doctorate at Loma Linda University, focusing on the transformative intersection of mobile health technology and mental health innovation. When she’s not advancing the field of mental health, Jessica practices what she preaches by prioritizing her own well-being. You’ll find her strength training at the gym, solo-traveling to discover new destinations, or capturing life’s moments through the lens of her film camera.