Addressing Political Anxiety in Black Clients
- Tyla Kennedy
- Nov 11
- 2 min read
Photo credit: Shuttershock
Introduction
In today’s climate, conversations about politics can trigger deep emotional responses — especially for Black clients. The constant exposure to political debates, racial injustice, and policy discussions that directly affect Black communities can lead to feelings of fear, anger, hopelessness, or fatigue. For many, this isn’t just “news cycle stress”; it’s lived experience layered with historical trauma.
Understanding Political Anxiety
Political anxiety goes beyond frustration about current events. It’s the emotional weight of uncertainty — wondering how changes in leadership, laws, or public attitudes might impact one’s safety, rights, and future. For Black clients, political anxiety can be heightened by generational memories of discrimination, systemic inequities, and collective grief over racial violence.
Clinicians can validate these feelings by naming them. Acknowledging the social context of anxiety helps clients feel seen and reduces the pressure to “tough it out.”
Photo credit: Nappy.co
Culturally Responsive Support
Normalize the Reaction: Remind clients that anxiety in response to political tension is not weakness — it’s a human response to chronic stress and injustice.
Encourage Media Boundaries: Limit exposure to distressing news and social media, and curate social feeds to protect mental space.
Center Cultural Strength: Discuss resilience practices rooted in Black culture, including community gatherings, faith, art, dance, and collective care.
Grounding Techniques: Incorporate mindfulness, breathwork, or movement practices, such as African Kemetic Yoga, to reduce physiological stress.
Empowerment Through Action: Explore healthy ways clients can engage civically or advocate for change without becoming emotionally depleted.
Photo credit: Nappy.co
Therapist Role
Therapists should create space for open discussion of race, identity, and sociopolitical stressors. Recognizing the connection between systemic oppression and personal anxiety is essential for authentic healing. Use culturally informed interventions, include community-based resources, and approach sessions with empathy, curiosity, and cultural humility.
Addressing political anxiety in Black clients means holding both the pain and the power that come with awareness. By affirming experiences, setting boundaries, and reconnecting clients to collective resilience, mental health professionals can help transform anxiety into grounded, sustainable empowerment.
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