When the world feels heavy, filled with war, political unrest, injustice, and societal change, it’s impossible to ignore how those realities affect us. As therapists, we walk into the office every day with our own identities, values, fears, and perspectives. And while we’re trained to focus our attention on the client, we’d be naïve to think these current events don’t follow us into the therapy room.
Likewise, our clients are watching the same news, scrolling the same social feeds, and sitting in the same discomfort. And whether they share your worldview or not, they too are wrestling with how to process it all.
The Unspoken Enters the Room
In grad school, we’re taught to leave our personal beliefs at the door. “Don’t bring politics into session. Don’t discuss religion. Stay neutral.” But the truth is, even if it doesn’t leave our lips, it still enters the room. Our facial expressions, body language, silence, or tone can all subtly signal judgment or discomfort, even when we don’t mean to.
That’s why we must make the conscious decision to be present. To truly see the world through our clients’ eyes, no matter how different their perspective may be. That decision is powerful, but it’s also exhausting. It means showing up day after day as a blank slate, even when our own heart is heavy.
It’s okay to admit that this takes work. Take breaks between sessions if needed. Use your supervision space or peer support. We’re not robots, we’re humans holding space for other humans in a time when everything feels off kilter.
According to Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, the emotional weight of bearing witness to others’ pain, especially amid collective trauma, requires intentional self-care and reflection to avoid burnout and maintain presence.
This Is Not About You
Let’s be real, it’s tempting to share our own opinions when something we care about deeply comes up in session. Maybe your client voices a belief you strongly oppose. Maybe they echo your thoughts so loudly that you want to jump in and agree.
But your perspective isn’t what they came for. The therapeutic space is not a place to unload your emotional response to the news, it’s a place for them to explore theirs.
Remember:
- Your client is not your mirror.
- Your job is not to correct their viewpoint or validate your own.
- Your role is to listen, reflect, and support without biases.
That doesn’t mean being dishonest or emotionally detached. It means channeling your empathy toward their experience, not your own reaction.
Take Care of You, Too
You can’t pour from an empty cup. When the world feels like it’s on fire, and your sessions reflect that reality, you need support too. Just as our clients deserve a safe place to process, so do we. That might mean:
- Regular clinical supervision or peer consultation
- Therapy for yourself
- Mindful media breaks
- Journaling, rest, movement, whatever helps you ground again
You’re not immune to the weight of what’s happening around us, but you do have the ability to manage how that weight shows up in the room.
So keep showing up. Keep holding space. Keep the focus where it belongs, on your client’s process, not your reaction.
And most importantly, be there for yourself, so you can continue to be there for them.
