The Elephant (or Donkey) in the Room: Politics as Part of the Therapy Session

As politics has become more divisive, many clients want to be able to talk about how the political landscape may affect them. However, many therapists are uncomfortable discussing politics and have not had much training in navigating political differences. This article presents the case of a client who needed to discuss politics as part of the session, both to clarify her own values and to be able to address conflict within the family setting. Suggestions for talking with clients about political beliefs are offered.