How Can Therapists Help Politically Divided Families? : An interview with Angela Caldwell, LMFT

Curt and Katie interview Angela Caldwell, LMFT about family therapy for politically divided families. We explore what therapists get wrong when working with these families as well as what works better. Angela talks us through the goals for family therapy, how to move families from trying to convince each other to understanding each other better, and the importance of distress tolerance and finding ways for families to survive, even when members strongly disagree with each other.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about how therapists can work with politically divided families

During the run up to the 2024 US presidential election, we are seeing more and more political division, even in families. We reached out to our good friend Angela Caldwell, LMFT, to talk through how therapists can support families during this challenging time. 

What do therapists get wrong when working with politically divided families?

·      Therapists inaccurately agree with families that the goal is either communication skills or getting consensus

·      The goals for family therapy are increasing tolerance for differing opinions and sustaining relationships even when you disagree

How can therapists address the societal messages that negatively impact relationships?

·      Modeling holding affection while disagreeing on viewpoints

·      Hold sacred that everyone in the room has come to their viewpoint honestly

·      Focus on the why for the positions people take

·      Listen for and mark trigger words to help “opposing party” to stay with the explanation of viewpoint

·      Soften the relationship through understanding

What can therapists do if clients feel frightened of the beliefs of their family members?

·      Explore perspective and increase clarity on the real anxious feelings

·      Find common ground related to hopes for the world

·      Work on distress tolerance with the anxious feelings

·      Hold the moment of anxiety and then move to reassurance (i.e., that the relationship can survive opposing viewpoints)

What does the work of family therapy look like with politically divided families?

·      Set reasonable expectations

·      Make sure to give pep talks

·      Plan and promise for the next session before ending the previous session

·      Personal connection between sessions (like short texts)

·      Don’t play “gotcha” when someone is wrong

·      Set ground rules at the beginning of therapy related to showing source material for viewpoints

Stay in Touch with Curt, Katie, and the whole Therapy Reimagined #TherapyMovement:

Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/therapyreimagined

Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide Creative Credits:

Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/