As a therapist, I meet with many couples and help them navigate the complexities of their relationships. Here are some common issues they come across:
Communication problems where one or both partners feel unheard. Infidelity. Financial issues (more common than infidelity). Loss of intimacy. Emotional and sometimes physical abuse. Changing life goals. Jealousy.
I could go on and on, but the latest challenge I am facing is politics. The field today is full of diversity and adversity, and relationships can fall apart due to a partner’s political leanings.
I try to stay out of political discussions at work because I don’t like them, and I realize that if I were to express an opinion, it would go against my personal policy of avoiding inflammatory issues that could lead to the events of January 6th.
example:
An engagement was called off two weeks before the wedding when one of the exes came out as a Trump supporter. The woman, who has a new boyfriend, won’t consent to sex with him because she doesn’t know who he’ll vote for in November. A father and daughter got into a fight after the daughter put scissors in her father’s MAGA hat. A physical fight. A reunion was a failure.
This is not something I was trained to do, but I will admit it’s not without its humor. After the debate, I expected things to get a little lively. Luckily, Facebook and a plethora of funny memes helped me maintain my humor, even if I couldn’t maintain my relationships. Bedridden after a mean operation, I needed a laugh. In my case, a big smile. In fact, Donald has made me laugh a few times… like when I worked for him (not in politics, never). But you’ll have to watch another episode of The Therapist to hear that story. And it’s a great story.
However, I am on the injured list and choosing to leave all other parts of my body alone for now. Taylor Swift and I have made a promise. He said, “She’s going to regret her sponsorship deal.” I don’t have 200,000+ fans and supporters cheering me on, but Taylor is now my favorite performer of all time and I’ve never heard her sing.
