Election Day, often likened to the Super Bowl of politics, is chaotic, filled with voters, polling staff, and the hustle and bustle of expectation. For campaign staffers, poll workers, and journalists, the day is often long and grueling. Yet, it’s the day after the election when the emotional weight really begins to bear down, particularly for therapists. The results of the recent presidential election sent shockwaves through mental health offices across the nation, leading to therapeutic practices inundated with sessions fueled by anxiety, grief, and questions about the future.
On the day following the election, therapists began reporting unprecedented spikes in bookings. For example, platforms like Zocdoc saw the number of mental health appointments soar by more than 22% within just two early morning hours, reflecting a pressing need for emotional support. Meanwhile, the mental health service provider Spring Health documented not only a 24% increase in member account creation from November 4 to 5 but also astonishingly witnessed appointment bookings leap by 240% from the days leading up to the election. Such dramatic increases might suggest the election was more than just another political contest; it had become a catalyst for emotional crises.
Even crisis lines, tasked with providing immediate relief, struggled to keep up with demand. Organizations like the Trevor Project reported a staggering 125% increase in calls, texts, and chats from individuals seeking urgent support. Another service, Crisis Text Line, announced its volume surged by about one-third on Election Day. Such statistics strongly indicate not merely individual unrest but highlight societal distress stemming from political events.
Many therapists shared personal accounts of feeling overwhelmed as they grappled with their own emotions during therapy sessions. "This morning, I was more or less crying myself, as my client was crying," said Danielle, a therapist from upstate New York who preferred to use only her first name. The immersion of personal feelings during her sessions raised questions about her ability to serve her clients effectively.
This week’s emotional intensity was magnified for her practice, particularly with clients who were supporters of Kamala Harris, the losing candidate. The therapist faced the dual challenge of maintaining emotional professionalism, as bookings surged and her own feelings were heightened by the election’s fallout. "I started the day thinking, 'I don’t know how I’m going to do this,'" she added, reflecting on the weight of both her responsibilities and her emotional state.
"It’s been taxing," explained Matthew Solit, LMSW and executive clinical director at LifeStance, which oversees multiple mental health spaces. Many of his clients were grappling with debilitating anxiety and feelings of being trapped in 'crisis-mode.' He observed clients processing their experiences through layers of emotional overload, indicating how political events can ripple through to personal well-being.
Interestingly, therapists found themselves encountering not just the pain of their patients, but shared grief and fears, creating uniquely personal dynamics seldom experienced before. Some established clinicians, like Sandy Silverman, echoed this collective sentiment, comparing the current crisis to others she had lived through, including the aftermath of 9/11 and the pervasive distress during COVID-19. "My patients know I’m struggling too with what they’re struggling with," she remarked, noting her reliance on professional peer support to cope.
Another therapist, Anna Macgregor from Rhode Island, described her internal struggle to suppress her inclinations to express personal bias about the election results. "I was just so self-conscious about making it safe for my clients to share their feelings and struggles, amid my own turmoil," she said, encapsulating the challenging balance between professional duty and personal feelings within the therapeutic environment.
Surprisingly, many therapists found solace and even relief by redirecting their focus onto their clients, using this as a form of catharsis. Alex Rascovar, a New York City therapist, revealed, "The more I immerse myself in supporting others, the more I can process my feelings about what’s happening. It’s like doing something right provides emotional balance." This sentiment resonates strongly throughout the profession: focusing on clients can become therapeutic not only for the patients but for the therapists themselves.
Eddie Rosenstein, another therapist from Brooklyn, similarly expressed gratitude for the opportunity to support others during their emotional upheaval. He mentioned how waking up to his wife's emotional distress just before heading to work felt like carrying a double burden. Yet, he found nurture within the act of putting his worries aside to aid others. "It’s such a drag to have to pretend everything’s fine, but being there for others does feel like the greatest gift," he said.
For many therapists, participating actively and helping patients process their experiences offered fresh meaning amid darkness. Michelle, yet another therapist practicing from Massachusetts, shared how attending to her client’s despair felt rejuvenable even at the height of her own emotional fatigue. "Being with them makes me feel like I’m doing something, comforting them eases my own weight, too," she noted.
Recent research surrounding the 'food-as-comfort' phenomenon showcases how psychological states often spill over to physical coping mechanisms, as people turn to comfort foods during emotional distress. After the election, this was also evident, as studies indicated many resorted to junk food or heavy eating to distract themselves from overwhelming emotions. Lori Gardner, for example, shared her morning post-election experience. After about four hours of restless sleep, she faced reality and found it hard to pull away from the comforts of food, preferring to skip over news rather than confront harsh realities.
Experts warn, though, turning to food for comfort isn’t always the best coping strategy. Instead, they advocate for validating emotions and engaging other methods of comfort, such as exercise, social engagement, or even creative outlets like art or writing. These approaches allow individuals to channel their feelings more positively, helping to avoid runaway habits detrimental to mental well-being.
While therapists navigate the minefield of their own emotions intertwined with clients' needs, they continue to show resilience and creativity. Many therapists are relying on their networks, workshops, and educational resources to manage their own mental health. This experience is creating new avenues of dialogue within the mental health community, where venting and sharing stories among peers feels nearly as healing as providing care to clients.
Both patients and therapists find themselves grappling with similar existential questions following challenging political outcomes. Together, they are forging paths toward solace and recovery. The experience binds them, creating new relationships based on shared vulnerability—a fundamental quality of human connection deserving of affirmation even amid crisis. The events following the election serve as yet another reminder of the enduring need for mental health resources and the importance of community support.
Navigators of this complex emotional terrain, therapists provide not only relief to those suffering the aftermath of political shifts but also highlight the human capacity for resilience amid adversity. They masterfully pave the way forward, each focusing on the collective healing process—highlighting the joys, the wreckage, and the bond shared within the therapeutic relationship.