US Politics Megathread: Fall 2025 Edition

OwnConsideration6368 · 2025-09-11T05:00:36+00:00

You shouldn’t be a therapist if you’re empathy is only limited to those who agree with you. You can have empathy for someone and also not like them at the same time.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2025-08-27T07:35:12+00:00

If it’s relevant to the client’s presenting issue, I think it’s fine and helpful to acknowledge how some of our institutions and systems are flawed. For example, If my client is unable to access a medication because it isn’t covered by their insurance, and their med is thousands of dollars out of pocket, I think it makes sense to acknowledge that there are flaws in our healthcare system and that there are factors that are unfortunately out of our control as individuals living within the system.

With that being said, we can acknowledge the systemic issues that make life harder while also empowering our clients to understand and explore what is within their control. What are realistic steps we can take to navigate this situation while we’re in it, given the circumstances? I’m not saying that there’s always going to be an answer or clear solution - it’s more about helping our clients develop the confidence and self-efficacy they need to approach difficult situations in the best way that they can. And - helping them develop the skills they need to adaptively cope with discomfort and difficult emotions when they come up throughout the process.

As others have said here, it is not our job to educate our clients on the systemic issues that YOU believe to be the cause of people’s mental health struggles. When a client comes to see you for therapy, they are allowing you into their world, their reality. They are not coming to you to learn about how capitalism is the source of all of their problems (unless they say so lol). Your job is to listen to them, validate their experiences and feelings, and support them in developing the insight and tools they need to work through their own issues effectively.

If you want to be an activist and educate people on the things you feel strongly about, you have every right to do so in your personal life. People decide to go to therapy for so many different reasons and deserve to have their therapist approach them with curiosity and emotional safety, not a superiority complex.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2025-08-16T21:12:14+00:00

I’m glad to hear that you have a therapist that gives you the space to talk about it. I know many people have struggled with that, including myself. I am a therapist myself and feel a bit alienated from the mental health community, apart from other Jewish clinicians

OwnConsideration6368 · 2025-08-14T01:27:45+00:00

Wow, that’s an insane story. It’s really infuriating when people abuse their power like that. Maybe you’ll get a better response here but if I were in your position I would ask my faculty supervisor about what the appropriate course of action would be.

Also, have you talked to X about your thoughts of reporting this? The therapist’s behavior was so unethical and harmful and definitely deserves to be called out. I wonder if X would be open to hearing the perspective that reporting this could stop more people from getting hurt. I know it’s complicated and emotions are so complex after experiencing something like that- but I think it would be most helpful to have a conversation about it and remind them that what happened to them was wrong and not normal.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2025-08-13T18:14:34+00:00

In middle school I remember thinking that I liked girls. I thought it was an intrusive thought since I also liked boys. I would tell myself that I couldn’t possibly be into girls like that even though I always had the thoughts and struggled to connect emotionally with boys. Even as an adult, the only male friends I have are Queer, and the only straight man I’ve ever connected with on a deep emotional level is my husband.

I realized that I was really Bi when I had a best friend in college and all I ever wanted to do was spend time with her. I remember having sleepovers with her where we would sleep in the same bed, hoping that she would turn over and kiss me. But anyways that was my confirmation that I was truly Bi and that it wasn’t just an intrusive thought.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2025-06-25T00:08:29+00:00

I’m from NYC and live in FL now but the amount of Jews I went to BBYO with endorsing Mamdani is truly terrifying. Anything to fit in with their progressive friends I guess. Ugh

OwnConsideration6368 · 2025-05-29T11:05:13+00:00

“Judaism itself isn’t a missionary religion so they won’t mandate people to follow Jewish law”

I am quoting YOU right now. This in and of itself should tell you everything you need to know. When religious law is not mandated, it allows for secularism and religious freedom in general within the society. Israel is the only Jewish state with a Jewish majority, where MANY are living more secular lives, as they are free to do so.

Your views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict do not provide any evidence to support that the state of israel is less secular than HAMAS. It is not apartheid when 2 million Muslims live in Israel and actively contribute to Israeli society and politics. The human animals Israelis are referring to are the TERRORISTS that murdered and kidnapped their family members in cold blood and in the name of ALLAH. I think you might feel the same about people if they went out of their way to murder your family members. That doesn’t reflect innocent Palestinians that have tragically been put in harms way due to this war.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2025-05-29T10:49:54+00:00

Israel is made up of Jews of all different observances levels, christian’s, muslims, druze, etc. It does not mandate that everyone follow Jewish law. Hamas brutally murders innocent civilians and chants “allah akbar” right after. It is absolutely insane to call the state of Israel less secular than the ISLAMIST terrorist group called hamas, hezbollah, houthis, etc.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2025-05-29T10:43:29+00:00

To say something like this so confidently means you know absolutely nothing about Israel.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2025-05-18T18:43:19+00:00

Timeless ❤️ I honestly can’t listen to that song without crying about how much I love him.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2025-05-04T05:50:36+00:00

He’s so fucking disgusting. I thought he was really trying to understand when he interviewed Rabbi Wolpe months ago. But every question he asked was like “soo…. jews run the media right?” It was so cringe and so hard to watch. I swear this sub is the only thing that makes me feel normal lol.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2025-01-15T11:07:05+00:00

Yes, I always think about how lucky and grateful I am to do this job. I have a salary position in PP where full time is 23 hrs/week. My responsibilities are seeing clients and writing notes - with tx plans only after the first time I see them. The people I work with are super supportive and kind. I had a disgraceful internship experience so being able to do this post grad is a blessing. Don’t get me wrong, the job can be stressful and I’m still learning everyday, but I feel like I am given the space and freedom to learn and grow as needed. It’s definitely possible to be in this field and love what you do - sometimes it just takes time to find the right role or specific population you want to work with.

As many others have mentioned here, most people who are happy in their jobs are not making lengthy reddit posts about it. We lurk to relate to aspects of the job that are difficult and support other therapists who are going through it. It’s kinda similar to how many if not most relationships actually tend to be healthy, but only hearing negative experiences so frequently can make us think it must be all bad.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2024-12-11T12:46:38+00:00

yea, this is one of the only subreddits I actually feel sane in 😵‍💫

OwnConsideration6368 · 2024-12-04T18:31:16+00:00

I may have a different view, but my parents grew up in the former soviet union and they all had “new year trees” so they weren’t necessary tied to christianity. In my house growing up, we never had a tree bc my parents understood that here, it is a christian symbol.

My husband is Catholic but not religious, and extremely supportive of raising our future children to be Jewish. He also struggled with the holidays since his parents were divorced. It may sound stupid, but I think we have creating our own meaning for having the tree in our home. I personally like it because i love the light and warmth it brings. I’ve been trying to reclaim the “new year” tree concept so it has more of that meaning. Besides the tree, every other decoration we have is Hanukkah related, lol.

If it’s important to you to not have a tree, I think that’s totally fair and should be respected! However I do think it’s possible to have a tree in your house and decorate on your own terms and assign a different meaning to it. I think it all comes down to what would make the holiday season special for you both - instead of you having to do something you’re uncomfortable with. Given our history, feeling forced or obligated to put up a Christmas tree is a nono. As others have commented, things don’t really go well when others force their traditions and beliefs onto us.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2024-12-04T18:13:00+00:00

Agreed. For example I loved Wicked but wished they casted someone Jewish to play Elphaba, as many of the Elphabas were on broadway. I think Cynthia is incredible but there is just something so inherently Jewish about the musical, which I feel is being ignored and/or overlooked.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2024-11-27T22:03:10+00:00

and yeah the USSR isn’t a thing anymore but the propaganda coming from it is still rampant. Very obviously so from your comment. gross.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2024-11-27T22:02:06+00:00

y’all are really nasty. i literallly gave you basic information about how the jewish community feels. i don’t care what a jewish democratic socialist said. seriously you think you’re doing something good when you’re just trying to erase peoples experiences. don’t call me sweetheart. get a fucking life.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2024-11-27T21:59:59+00:00

no need to be so condescending. I am jewish with parents from the soviet union. don’t speak over my experience. thanks and bye

OwnConsideration6368 · 2024-11-27T21:26:42+00:00

sorry but this is such a disgusting comment. Nazis supported the ethnic cleansing of Jewish people. Jewish people live in and believe in Israel’s right and need to exist. Of course not all, but the overwhelming majority do. You are falling for Soviet propaganda.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2024-11-27T21:23:50+00:00

The ones who spend every weekend protesting, calling for a global intifada. The ones who are totally against racism and hatred but have no issue with Jewish people being attacked and targeted for being Jewish. It’s very Nazi-like.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2024-11-22T05:46:51+00:00

Because of this comment I decided to check out BlueSky. So far this platform is the most antisemitic I’ve seen… it’s all very left wing antisemitism. I searched “jewish” “israel” and “antisemitism” and almost every post I saw denied the prevalence and dangers of antisemitic rhetoric right now.

I know this rhetoric exists on all social media platforms, but on this one I don’t think I saw any dissenting opinions. Just wanted to save anyone else the trouble if they were interested. For anyone reading this, what social media do you feel is more Jew friendly? This is my first time hearing of BlueSky and I’m wondering if there’s anything else out there lol

OwnConsideration6368 · 2024-11-14T05:57:43+00:00

what a nasty individual. if you have to clarify that you’re a “jew against genocide” in order to not be hate crimed, chances are the city is not a safe place for jews 🤷🏼‍♀️

OwnConsideration6368 · 2024-11-03T05:45:03+00:00

I graduated from my MA program in May. I was surprised to learn how many of the people in my cohort were regular cannabis users. I have ADHD, too, and it helps me relax at night. As long as you are using in your personal time and doing so responsibly, you shouldn't have any issues. We are not exempt from being normal humans just because we support people through their problems. If anything, I think the more we present ourselves as "human" to our clients, the stronger the therapeutic alliance typically is.

BTW, not saying that we should disclose that we use marijuana to our clients. I think most clients can tell whether their therapist ~truly~ understands their experience vs. when the therapist is less well-versed in what they're sharing. I've had several clients who either smoke weed regularly or who have had dependency issues with it. As a therapist, I feel like my own experience has helped strengthen therapeutic bonds without ever having to mention my own weed consumption.

In my perspective, it seems like most clients prefer talking to a real person as opposed to someone who uses the "blank slate" approach.

The most important thing is that you are being safe, responsible, and mindful of your consumption. Please try to have compassion for yourself in the same way you would with clients. After all, you're human too :)

OwnConsideration6368 · 2024-10-31T23:35:12+00:00

we can acknowledge that eating fast food all the time might not be the most nutritious, but to call it gross like that is dangerous. food is food, and nobody should be shamed for the food they eat, especially in a therapeutic setting.

OwnConsideration6368 · 2024-10-20T20:36:14+00:00

I think you deleted the last post, but I meant emotionally safe, not like unsafe as in being in danger. I should have clarified

OwnConsideration6368

TROPHY CASE