Navigating Post-Election Family Dynamics: How Therapists Can Prepare for a Season of Tensions and Truces

Saturday, November 9, 2024.

With another election season behind us, therapists everywhere may be gearing up for a busy post-election holiday season.

Political divides can run deep, and family gatherings in these times are rarely immune to the pressures of differing opinions and generational clashes.

Yet, the season also holds the potential for understanding, empathy, and—perhaps—a family truce.

The Post-Election Holiday Conundrum

As holiday plans solidify, the upcoming family gatherings loom with a slightly higher level of apprehension. Across social media, folks and families are sharing their concerns, humorously or not, about navigating political landmines at the dinner table.

From TikTok to Twitter, the younger generation is actively discussing their attempts to “cancel out” their parents’ votes by casting opposing ballots, a trend that’s taken the internet by storm. This playful “opposition voting” highlights a growing intergenerational divide where politics no longer stay in the background but demand a place at the table.

This division isn’t just hypothetical; many families are already facing the very real emotional tug-of-war that political differences bring, wondering how to keep things civil. And it’s precisely here where family therapists might expect to see an influx of clients needing guidance on how to create a little post-election peace.

Memes as the Emotional Currency of Family Tensions

In true Gen Z fashion, the reaction to these family tensions has become meme-worthy.

TikTok and Instagram are filled with memes about the inevitable “family dinner showdown” or the silent, emotionally charged group chats post-election.

Popular images depict family members giving each other suspicious side-eyes over a steaming turkey or exchanging loaded glances with captions like, “When Grandpa says something political, and I’m trying to keep the peace.”

These memes offer both comic relief and social commentary, providing a humorous outlet for frustrations while emphasizing just how significant these post-election tensions are. Beneath the humor lies a familiar struggle: families trying to understand and reconcile each other’s differences without letting politics tear them apart.

Preparing for the Tension and Truce Talks in Therapy

Family therapists this season might anticipate a few key themes as clients prepare for holiday gatherings. Here are some playful predictions on what we might see:

• Requests for Pre-Holiday Truce Training: Many families are realizing they need a strategy, a roadmap to navigate potentially fraught conversations.

  Expect clients looking to create “pre-holiday truces” where they set ground rules—like no politics during the main meal or agreeing to change topics at the first sign of tension. Therapists can play a pivotal role in helping families create these rules with respect and a little humor.

• Generational Showdowns in the Living Room: The divide often falls along generational lines, and nowhere is this more visible than on social media.

  TikTok’s “cancel the vote” trend underscores this divide, highlighting Gen Z’s urge to counter older family members’ votes as a form of playful yet pointed rebellion. Therapists may need to help families find common ground, acknowledging generational values while encouraging empathy and the willingness to see each other’s perspectives.

• The Art of Boundaries and Redirects: Setting and keeping boundaries can feel tricky, especially when family dynamics are involved. Therapists may find themselves guiding clients on how to manage conversations gracefully, offering tactics like friendly redirection (“Who wants more pie?”) or prepared responses that maintain respect while avoiding political hot topics. When tensions arise, a well-placed bit of humor or a change in subject can work wonders.

• The Role of Social Media in Shaping Family Narratives: Memes, trends, and viral content do more than entertain—they can reinforce divisions and intensify family dynamics. Family therapists might help clients “go meta” by exploring how social media fuels these divides, encouraging reflection on how online content impacts real-life relationships. While it’s easy to share a clever meme, the challenge lies in understanding that family members are more, much more than their political identities.

Finding Peace (and a Few Laughs) Around the Dinner Table

There’s a certain comfort in knowing that families across the nation are navigating these same conversations, leaning on humor and shared humanity to soften the edges of political discord.

This holiday season, the goal isn’t necessarily perfect harmony but finding ways to honor each other’s experiences and ideas without letting politics cast a shadow over the festivities.

Therapists can support clients in setting realistic expectations—maybe not every conversation will be smooth, but with the right tools, families can still leave the table with respect intact.

So, how do families move from division to truce? It starts with remembering that, beyond politics, we’re bound by shared memories, traditions, and, yes, even those quirky arguments that come with the territory.

With a little guidance, and forbearance, families might even find that this holiday season offers a unique opportunity to connect more deeply, learning to agree to disagree and embrace what truly matters.

In the end, therapists are here to help clients find creative, respectful ways to balance these challenges, one laugh (and one meme) at a time.

Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.