Recently, a trauma-informed clinician (not a licensed therapist) made waves on TikTok when she revealed that she had voted for Donald Trump in the last election—and had intentionally hidden this from her clients. Her reason? She didn’t feel “safe” sharing that information because her own marginalized identity, her child’s identity, and the sensitive nature of her work with trauma survivors would lead people to judge her harshly and unfairly, in her opinion. She worried that people wouldn’t like her anymore and that she would lose clients.
Now, I want to be very clear about something: this particular conversation isn’t about who you vote for. I’m talking about power, transparency, and the therapeutic relationship. When you’re in a position of power—as all clinicians are—you don’t get to play the victim when the people you serve feel betrayed by your lack of honesty.
Because yes, your political views absolutely can affect your clients. And if you know that—if you feel that so deeply that you keep it hidden—then guess what? You already understand that it matters.
And if it matters, your clients deserve to know. Choosing not to disclose is you taking away their agency.
Informed Consent Is More Than a Signature on a Form
Let’s break this down: informed consent isn’t just a piece of paper clients sign during their intake session. It’s a process. An ongoing, intentional conversation about what the client can expect from therapy, how the clinician shows up, and what values and perspectives might be present in the space.
When you choose not to disclose something that you know could impact a client’s experience in therapy, that’s not protecting yourself. That’s denying your clients the ability to make an informed choice. That’s manipulating the power dynamic in your favor—because they’re trusting you to show up with honesty and transparency, even when it’s uncomfortable.
And for folks healing from trauma? That kind of rupture can hit hard. If a trauma survivor builds trust with someone they believe aligns with their values, only to find out later that this person has been actively hiding something they knew would matter—that’s not just a “difference of opinion.” That’s a betrayal.
The Relationship Is the Treatment
Research has consistently shown that the single most important factor in predicting whether therapy will be effective isn’t the modality. It’s not how many letters the clinician has after their name. It’s not even how much training they’ve had.
It’s the relationship.
The therapeutic alliance—the connection, the rapport, the mutual trust and safety between client and clinician—is the biggest predictor of success in therapy.
When clinicians prioritize protecting their own image over being honest with the people they serve, that trust gets shattered. And once trust is broken, healing gets a whole lot harder.
You cannot foster a meaningful therapeutic relationship while keeping critical parts of yourself tucked away in the shadows, especially when you already know those parts could cause harm.
And let’s be real—clients know when something feels off. Even if they can’t immediately name it, they feel when they’re not getting the whole truth. That sense of unease? That’s the beginning of disconnection.
Now, here’s what I’m NOT saying. I’m not saying that clinicians owe their clients every single bit of information about themselves. Quite the contrary. Therapeutic disclosure must be strategic, intentional, and with the well-being of the client in mind. Understanding what parts of our identity are relevant to the client is key. And even then, we’re not required to tell everything. Recognizing that trust is fragile, it’s my opinion that being up front about potential deal breakers is incredibly important. Just as disclosing that we don’t take insurance and our practice is private-pay is something we do up front, so might it be a good idea to disclose that our values skew conservative or progressive. That we tend towards Christianity or Atheism. That we are a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals or not.
People deserve to have the opportunity to decide what matters and choose what works best for them, even if it’s not ME.
This Is Why Choosing the Right Therapist Matters So Much
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Whew… this is exactly why I’ve had such a hard time trusting therapists,” I want you to know: you are not alone.
Black women, especially, are often put in the position of having to teach their therapists how to show up for them—or worse, they get hurt by clinicians who say they’re inclusive but lack the self-awareness and integrity to act like it when it counts. And this is true for all marginalized identities. Trying to trust a brand new person is already an uphill battle, these identities just add to the complexity.
That’s why, a few years back, I wrote my book, Finding YOUR Person: The Busy Black Woman’s Guide to Finding the Right Therapist for You. Because finding the right therapist shouldn’t feel like gambling with your peace. You deserve to know how to ask the right questions, listen for the right cues, and trust yourself to walk away when something doesn’t feel right.
This guide walks you through:
- What red flags (and green ones!) to look for in early sessions
- How to ask bold questions (and why it’s okay to do that)
- How to know when a “good on paper” therapist is still the wrong fit for you
- And how to confidently advocate for what you need in therapy
You deserve a therapist who is honest, present, and capable of holding space for all of you—not someone who hides behind a curated version of themselves to protect their brand.
🛒 Grab your copy today!
📘 Print on Amazon 📱 Instant eBook Download on my website
Final Thoughts
Therapy should be a place where you don’t have to perform. Where you can lay down your armor and be fully seen.
But that kind of space requires something powerful: mutual trust. And that trust can’t exist without transparency.
So whether you’re looking for a therapist or you are one—let this be your reminder: integrity matters. Honesty matters. Informed consent is not optional. And relationships, even therapeutic ones, thrive on truth.
