A super PAC backing Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy aired a TV ad portraying Amy Acton’s therapy as evidence she is unfit to lead. Acton disclosed seeking therapy after childhood sexual abuse; Sandra Hughes says voters should judge her record and policies.
Acton acknowledged on a 1994 medical licensing application that she had sought therapy after experiencing sexual abuse as a child. The question is no longer on the application; the article says such questions were found to discourage physicians from seeking needed treatment.
Hughes argues that using vulnerability as campaign ammunition can encourage politicians to hide mistakes or avoid changing positions. She cites a study associating CEOs’ seeking and sharing feedback with greater psychological safety in their teams, and a later experiment in which teams of leaders who shared criticism they had received had greater psychological safety a year later. She also notes that not every challenge requires therapy or coaching, while arguing that resilience can include asking for help.
