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Rural Behavioral Health Practice Series Webinar: Political Polarization: What Can Psychologists Do About It?
Friday, March 19, 2021, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Category: Webinar (CE)

Political Polarization: What Can Psychologists Do About It?

At this time the webinar program is only available to attend live. More details with instruction on how to view the webinar will be sent to all registrants the day before the program (3/18).

Friday, March 19, 2021

Program: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CT

Webinar hosted by the Rural Behavioral Health Practice Series Committee.

About the Program

As our sociopolitical world descends into extreme divisiveness, families and friendship networks are fraying.  We can just keep doing our traditional work addressing the client issues that we are most familiar with, in the hope that the public fever will break before long.  Or we can expand our vision and see therapy as building capacity for people to cope with political stress and live in a pluralistic democracy where people close to them differ from them politically.  This workshop will offer an expanded vision for the role of therapists in today’s troubled times.  It will focus on helping clients navigate the personal and relational minefields of political stress in their everyday lives, and it will describe the presenter’s experience in depolarizing political “reds” and “blues” through workshops sponsored by an organization called Braver Angels.

This session is at the intermediate level and is designed for psychologists and other mental health professionals.

This session qualifies for 3.0 continuing education credits. You must attend the full 3-hour program to get continuing education credit for the event.

Participants will be able to:

  1. Identify the connection between clinical work and what’s happening in the larger society.
  2. Develop skills in bridging gaps between individuals and groups who see themselves as the political “other.”
  3. Describe how to apply depolarization skills in your own work with clients and within the community.

About the Presenter:

William J. Doherty, Ph.D., is a professor in the department of family social science at the University of Minnesota, where he directs the Couples on the Brink Project.  He received his Ph.D. in family studies from the University of Connecticut.  In 2016, Bill co-founded the nonprofit Braver Angels, with a mission to depolarize America.  He is the principle designer of depolarization workshops that have been implement over 1,000 times across the country.  He also presents on how to help therapy clients who are dealing with political polarization in the close relationships.

The speaker has indicated they do not have any conflicts of interest.

The Minnesota Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Minnesota Psychological Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS:  If you need disability related accommodations to make this event accessible, please contact Katie Benson at [email protected] or 952-928-4657.


To Register:

Registration Pricing:

Type MPA Member Non-Member Student
Pricing $45 $65 $15

MPA wants all mental health professionals to have access to quality CE opportunities. If due to COVID-19 you are unable to work full time and can’t pay the full registration fee, please contact [email protected] to make other arrangements with staff.

Registration is now closed.

Refund/Cancellation Policy: A 100% refund will be made if the event is cancelled. Refunds, less a $5 handling fee, will be given if a written cancellation is received at least two working days before the scheduled program begins. No refund or transfer is given the day of the program.