How to Navigate Politics in the Therapy Room Without Becoming Political
Talking about politics in therapy can feel like walking on a tightrope. Clients, colleagues, and friends are carrying grief, fear, and outrage from today’s headlines. As therapists, we are called to hold these feelings without turning the focus onto our own political leanings. That is not easy work.
Recently, I shared a meditation of love and compassion for those suffering in Gaza. Some colleagues told me they felt alienated because I had not named the pain and fear of others, particularly those impacted by Hamas’s attack in October. Their response made me pause. It reminded me that even in communities rooted in empathy, politics can divide.
The truth is that compassion does not have to be selective. It is not “either/or.” It is “both/and.” I can hold grief for everyone who has suffered because of violence and loss.
Why This Feels So Hard
Part of the challenge is that our own nervous systems are activated. We are living in the same world our clients are, and often we feel the same fear or anger. We do not want to cause harm, and yet silence can feel like complicity.
I also hear from my conservative friends and colleagues that they often feel misunderstood or afraid to speak up in therapy communities. In some professional groups, they fear that voicing their beliefs could cost them relationships or credibility. That isolation is very real, and I believe it is something our field needs to address with compassion. If therapists feel they cannot share openly, it is not surprising that clients with conservative views often feel silenced as well.
Both sides carry a fear of being judged. Both sides have known what it feels like to keep quiet. Just like we remind clients to notice when they are stuck in black-and-white thinking, we as therapists have to watch for the same tendency in ourselves.
The Role of Self-Disclosure
Here’s where I want to be honest. I am not perfect with self-disclosure. Sometimes I share my views when they align with a client’s, especially if I believe it might help them feel less alone. Other times I have shared and later questioned whether it was more about soothing my own discomfort than supporting the client. My practice with disclosure is evolving, and I am learning to pause and ask myself, “Who is this for?”
The research shows I am not alone in this struggle. Solomonov and Barber (2019) found that most therapists report political discussions in sessions, and many acknowledge some level of political self-disclosure. Interestingly, when therapists and clients perceived shared values, the therapeutic alliance was often stronger. Yet context and timing mattered greatly. Patients themselves have reported that implicit disclosures, when handled carefully, helped them feel understood (Solomonov et al., 2018).
Other scholars remind us that self-disclosure is both inevitable and under-examined. Johnsen (2021) described how many therapists feel underprepared for these moments, despite how common they are. I find that comforting. None of us will get this perfectly right. What matters is that we stay reflective, open to repair, and willing to grow.
How I Try to Navigate These Conversations
Name the grief, not the side. I focus on the pain, fear, or loss, rather than aligning with or against a political figure or party.
Stay curious. Instead of shutting down a belief that differs from mine, I ask the client to share how it feels to hold that view.
Validate the fear of speaking. Clients often tell me they feel they cannot say these things anywhere else. A simple “I hear you” can mean the world.
Practice compassion that is non-partisan. Suffering is not political. Naming that suffering is one way we can be steady, safe containers for clients.
Check my limits. I notice when my own bias creeps in and take responsibility for not letting it overshadow the session.
Why This Matters
In times of turmoil, anger and hatred feel louder than ever. Policies affect real people. Lives are at stake. Many of us saw the same dynamics in 2020, when conversations around COVID brought fear of judgment from every angle. Therapy has to remain one of the few places where people can breathe, speak honestly, and feel safe. My role is not to convince a client of my views but to help them feel less alone inside theirs.
And within our professional communities, we need to extend that same grace. Therapists with conservative viewpoints should not feel they have to hide or fear professional isolation. Our work is to model curiosity and compassion, not to mirror the polarization we see outside the therapy room.
An Ongoing Journey
I am still learning how to balance disclosure, compassion, and neutrality. I am sure I will make mistakes again. What helps is remembering that therapy is not about being perfect, but about being present and willing to repair when needed.
So I am curious about you. How do you handle politics in your sessions? What guides you when the line between being human and being neutral starts to blur?
A Short Grounding Practice for Political Conversations
If politics comes up and you notice your chest tightening or your body bracing, here is a quick exercise you can try before responding.
Pause and notice. Bring your attention to the sensation in your body. Name it quietly to yourself: “tight,” “heavy,” “shaky.”
Take three slow breaths. Inhale gently through your nose, exhale a little longer than your inhale. Imagine softening the space around your heart.
Widen the frame. Remind yourself: “This is one person’s experience. My job is to hold the container.”
Return. Come back to the present moment, now steadier and more able to respond with compassion instead of reactivity.
Even two minutes of grounding can make a difference in keeping the session safe and open.
Resources
Solomonov, N., & Barber, J. P. (2019). Conducting psychotherapy in the Trump era: Therapists’ perspectives on political self-disclosure, the therapeutic alliance, and politics in the therapy room. PubMed link
Solomonov, N., McCarthy, K. S., Keefe, J. R., & Barber, J. P. (2018). Patients’ perspectives on political self-disclosure, the therapeutic alliance, and the infiltration of politics into the therapy room in the Trump era. PubMed link
Johnsen, C. (2021). Therapist self-disclosure: Let’s tackle the elephant in the room. PubMed link
Knox, S., & Hill, C. E. (2003). Therapist self-disclosure: Research-based suggestions for practitioners. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 59(5), 529–539.
