This session explores the intersection of therapy and social issues, examining how psychotherapy contributes to shifting moral perspectives, cultural engagement, and public health. Panelists highlight themes such as moral relativity versus absolutism, the therapist’s role in addressing systemic injustices, and the risks of reducing depression to biology alone. Participants gain a broader understanding of how therapy influences social change and how therapists can bring their skills to communities, families, and cultural contexts beyond individual treatment.
This keynote traces the shift in psychotherapy from systemic approaches to the rise of managed care and psychopharmacology. It critiques profit-driven models and the overuse of medication, especially in cases involving children removed from families. Emphasizing the importance of family therapy and community involvement, it promotes ethical, value-driven practice and highlights success stories where systemic interventions led to lasting change.
