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Can empathy still thrive in politics today? What happens when mental health advocacy meets the halls of power? How do we keep believing in change when cynicism feels easier?
In this podcast episode, Joe Sanok addresses the mental health crisis with retired US Senator Debbie Stabenow.
Podcast Sponsor: Headway
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Meet Senator Debbie Stabenow (Ret.)
Debbie Stabenow served over five decades in public office, including as Michigan’s first female U.S. Senator. A lifelong advocate for Michigan’s people and environment, she championed initiatives to protect the Great Lakes, strengthen agriculture, and expand access to mental health care. As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, she helped craft bipartisan legislation supporting farmers and clean energy.
Today, she continues her work advancing community well-being and sustainable growth beyond elected office.
Visit Debbie’s website and connect on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
In This Podcast
- Getting into political science and Public Office
- Mental health progress today
- What it takes to connect with people with differing opinions
- How to continue inspiring hope
- Debbie’s advice to private practitioners
Getting into political science and Public Office
Debbie Stabenow explains that the world wherein she became famous, working as a Senator and in Public Office, found her more than she pursued it.
She grew up in a small town where her mother was a nurse, so she was aware of the essentiality of mental health and public health services from a young age.
Her father was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which sparked her interest in the connction between government funding and the necessity of having public healthcare available to the general public – particularly when one funded service was due to close.
I knew nothing about politics, but I got involved. I went to the county board meetings, I ended up leading the effort. We saved the nursing home! And it turned out I lived in the district of the commission who was trying to close it. Everybody said to me, “You should run against him!” I knew nothing about politics, but I was pretty mad, and so after a while I finally said “Yes”, and I ran – I was 24! He called me, “That young broad”, and the young broad beat him. (Debbie Stabenow)
Mental health progress today
One of the main progress points that Debbie highlights is how addictions services and assistance is part of healthcare overall.
I’ve spent my life integrating definitions so that when we say, “Healthcare”, it’s healthcare above the neck as well as healthcare below the neck. (Debbie Stabenow)
Debbie explains that from the 1960s, when she witnessed the stereotypes and stigmas of having her father struggle with bipolar disorder with no help, to now in 2025, a lot of progress has been made, and there is still a way to go.
It’s a lot better, and because of all the people who are listening to us right now, it’s getting better all the time. (Debbie Stabenow)
What it takes to connect with people with differing opinions
When it comes to work being conducted successfully between Republican and Democratic parties, Debbie recommends that credit come second.
She explains that the value of the work and the need for it be placed at the center, rather than having people fight over who gets to say that they did it at the end.
If you do it right and you get something done, everybody gets credit! The second thing is, and everybody knows this, you need to create win-win situations for people. (Debbie Stabenow)
You need listening skills, creative outlooks, and you need to create systems that are multi-beneficial to everyone involved.
How to continue inspiring hope
I have seen that when people engage, we can stop bad things and we can make good things happen. It’s harder now, and certainly there are big-money powerful interests who certainly do only care about themselves and their profits who are making it harder … But I have also seen people use their own economic power [to enact positive change]. (Debbie Stabenow)
Debbie cites the recent Jimmy Kimmel case, and how many people used the power of withdrawing their subscriptions from the big streaming companies to protest his removal.
She shares the power that people have, one of many, which is economic power, and the collective action that can happen when people used organized boycotts to hit corruption where it hurts most: profits.
Ultimately, Debbie encourages the power of the many. Organize, join communities, work together, and remember that there is immense power in numbers.
Do not let big politics divide you away from your fellow citizens, because that is how oppression is allowed to continue.
I’ve seen, over and over again, the power of people. The problem we have today is that there is so much coming at us, it’s hard because we get weary and tired. They want us to give up … They want us to lose hope, and give up. I have seen just the opposite occur … We’ve just got to stand up and keep moving forward, and understand that there is a whole lot worth fighting for in our country, and the people in it … It’s worth us keeping going. (Debbie Stabenow)
Debbie’s advice to private practitioners
Don’t give up! Be engaged in politics. As a business owner and therapist, you are affected by government policies even if you consider yourself political or not.
It is in your interest, as well as in your client’s interest, that you get involved in the greater good, the fight for change, and the protection of what’s right.
Sponsors Mentioned in this Episode:
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Useful links mentioned in this episode:
- Check out our Practice Academy!
- Visit Debbie’s website and connect on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
- Sign Up to the Group Practice Boss Conference!
Check out these additional resources:
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Meet Joe Sanok
Joe Sanok helps counselors to create thriving practices that are the envy of other counselors. He has helped counselors to grow their businesses by 50-500% and is proud of all the private practice owners who are growing their income, influence, and impact on the world. Click here to explore consulting with Joe.
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