Political seasons are like a rollercoaster of stress for many, with a whirlwind of info overload and social pressures hitting you from all angles. Whether you're sweating over elections or drowning in updates on laws, political anxiety is a real thing. Let's buckle up and steer through this wild ride while keeping our cool!

In this episode of the Therapist Thrival Guide, Miranda and Lucas dive into the topic of politics and political anxiety, especially relevant during election years. The conversation covers the evolving nature of political identity, strategies for therapists to handle political discussions in sessions, and the importance of empathy and understanding in bridging divides. They also address how to balance staying informed without being overwhelmed and offer practical advice for therapists dealing with clients affected by political tensions.

OUR HOST:

Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for several years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, case manager, and the Director of Brand Content at Ellie Mental Health. Follow her on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellie Mental Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and has expanded to an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Introduction to Political Anxiety00:52 Lucas's Interest into Politics02:47 The 2016 Election and Its Impact06:24 Facilitating Political Conversations08:59 Therapists Navigating Political Discussions12:56 Balancing Personal Beliefs and Professionalism20:49 Client Relationships and Political Differences25:59 Exploring Personal Relationships Beyond Politics27:15 Impact of Politics on Younger Generations28:55 Humanizing the Other Side29:34 The Privilege of Political Disengagement30:45 Managing Political Anxiety33:07 The Influence of Media Consumption42:09 Empathy and Understanding in Political Discussions43:34 Concluding Thoughts