Since Donald J. Trump won the general election in November, many Americans have experienced a range of negative emotions, and social workers are no exception. These feelings include anxiety, depression, fear, helplessness and hopelessness.
Much like during the COVID-19 pandemic, social workers are in the position of helping others cope while also managing their own emotions. In response to this, NASW’s Massachusetts Chapter on Nov. 6 posted a resource on its website called “Coping With Election Stress: An NASW-MA Toolkit.”
“We knew that it was going to be a close election and we knew that our members would be looking for some resources, said Rebekah Gewirtz, MPA, executive director of NASW’s
Massachusetts and Rhode Island chapters. “And we wanted something to share with other chapters and national, so we’re all kind of rowing in the same direction.”
The resource offers tips for discussing the election with clients, practicing self-care and building community, working with marginalized populations to cope with an uncertain future, understanding the relationship between mental health and reproductive rights, and ideas for delving into other forms of political action and advocacy.
Even though the chapters hear from members often and on many issues, Gewirtz said those who have reached out recently are mainly concerned about a second Trump presidency. Some of the top issues causing feelings of anxiety and uncertainty are immigration, bodily autonomy, and “how to fortify, sustain and maintain our democratic institutions,” she said.
Gewirtz said Massachusetts passed The ROE Act a couple of years ago, which “protected and fortified a woman’s right to choose.” She also predicts that the policies regarding immigrants will be challenged in the courts, so could take a long time. Regarding democracy, Gewirtz said she thinks most people still believe in democratic norms.
“Constituents are watching. We do have a democracy, and people are voted in and out all the time,” she said. “Legislators in swing districts have to be listening and willing to stand up to injustice.”
NASW has vowed to do its part. In a statement released after the November general election, the association said it was “troubled by statements Trump has made regarding immigrants, women, people who are LGBTQIA2S+, and people of color,” and will challenge any of his policies that harm the nation’s most vulnerable populations.
Bridging the Divide
Lorrie R. Appleton, LCSW, a systems therapist in the D.C. Metro area who specializes in couples, family and individual therapy, said her clients have expressed varying emotions regarding this election. “I have couples who are coming apart at the seams,” she said, because their political views don’t align.
Appleton points out, though, that this is not new. “People have been fighting about politics around the kitchen table for hundreds of years,” she said. What is different in this president, from her perspective, is that he is a catalyst.
“Trump really is a trigger on steroids,” she said. “He triggers people and he knows how to do it well.”
Appleton says not knowing what will happen is a big part of the problem for social workers and their clients. Colleagues she has talked with are concerned about their clients, she said. “They want to do the right thing by them. … We have our own issues, we are human beings. We need to know what our beliefs and boundaries are. Can we work with clients who have a counter perspective to ours? We need to decide.”
Appleton adds that it’s not just the nation that is divided, but the social work system is struggling as well. “We have (social workers who are) Republicans, Independents. We assume everyone is like we are,” she said. “We think we’re like-minded but we’re not.”
Gewirtz said social workers should not discount someone just because they disagree with them.
“People have written each other off, because they don’t share the same views,” she said. “We need to come back to the place of meeting people where they are. That’s the way we’ll get through this. When we’re divided and when we’re hating each other, that’s when demagogues thrive.”
Coping Mechanisms
Appleton says she is not big on self-care tips like taking a walk. She says instead that synergy and community are helpful. “We’re relational beings.” She does add that watching comedies and comedians has helped her. “Humor is one of the best defenses I have,” she said.
NASW also has stressed community and coalition-building as a way to be proactive in this presidency. Advocacy, the cornerstone of the social work profession, also is important. In its post-election statement, the association said, “As we enter this new presidency, NASW emphasizes the importance of resilience, advocacy, and continued support for social workers nationwide. We urge our members to remain active in shaping policies that affect social work practice and improve the well-being of our entire society.”
Gewirtz says NASW exists to lift up the profession, and will continue to do so. “We’re united together here at NASW. We have agency. People need to feel like they have a sense of agency.”
On an individual level, she says it’s important to be introspective and more open to relationships with others—even if we don’t agree with their point of view.
“I think we could all benefit from approaching people with a sense of curiosity,” Gewirtz said. “We should really try as best we can to think about our fellow humans as people we want to understand and know better.”