Therapy in a Time of Political Stress and Polarization

Therapy in a Time of Political Stress PPT

As our sociopolitical world descends into extreme divisiveness, families and friendship networks are fraying. We can just keep doing our traditional work addressing the client issues that we are most familiar with, in the hope that the public fever will break before long, or we can expand our vision and see therapy as building capacity for people to cope with political stress and live in a pluralistic democracy that does not rely on Leaders/Saviors of the Left or Right. This session will focus on helping clients navigate the personal and relational minefields of political stress in their everyday lives. The presenter will use both his clinical experience and his leadership in Braver Angels, a national initiative to depolarize political “reds” and “blues,” and restore the fraying civic fabric.

About the Presenter

man sitting at table with coffee

William Doherty, PhD

William Doherty is a Professor of Family Social Science and Director of the Minnesota Couples on the Brink Project at the University of Minnesota. His books include “Helping Couples on the Brink of Divorce: Discernment Counseling for Troubled Relationships,” with Steven Harris.  Dr. Doherty is also cofounder of Braver Angels.