Therapy Was Never Supposed to Be This Boring: The Lost Spirit of Pragmatism
Presenters: Will Dobud, PhD & John Paul Healy, PhD
Abstract: This presentation examines how contemporary therapy strayed from its pragmatic and experiential foundations, becoming increasingly techno-rational, standardised, and disconnected from lived experience. Once grounded in the dynamic, socially engaged ethos of pragmatism championed by figures such as Jane Addams and John Dewey, therapeutic practice is now often reduced to technical interventions and narrow, evidence-based protocols (or worse, manuals). Revisiting the principles of experiential learning and critical reflective practice, this session explores efforts to restore therapy’s original spirit, which values context, creativity, and human connection. Through the presenters’ experiments of reintroducing pragmatist ideas into social work education and practice, it becomes possible to reimagine therapy as a vibrant, responsive process rooted in real-world challenges and collective growth.
About the Presenters
Will Dobud, PhD, has over 20 years of therapeutic experience working with youth and families from diverse backgrounds across the US, Australia, and Norway. He has developed innovative programs that integrate psychotherapy and the outdoors to improve teenagers’ experience when seeking mental health treatment. A dedicated, award-winning researcher and senior social work lecturer, Will explores ways to enhance the experience and effectiveness of mental health supports and advocates for youth impacted by the United States’ troubled teen industry. Will is the co-author of Kids These Days: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health, among other peer-reviewed articles and books.
John Paul Healy, PhD, is a highly experienced counsellor and social worker with a background in social work education, research, and supervision spanning over two decades. His trauma-informed, person-centred approach is deeply grounded in culturally responsive practice and a genuine curiosity about each individual’s story. Outside the therapy room, John is also a passionate educator and researcher. He teaches across a range of social work and counselling subjects and has published work on spirituality, LGBTQIA+ ageing, and innovative social work education. John brings warmth, humour, and relational depth to all that he does.
