Today is election day in the US and you may be feeling some election jitters. You might be sorting through your own thoughts and feelings, navigating tense conversations with partners, extended family, or community members—or avoiding those conversations altogether. As you try to manage differing opinions and wait for the results, it can sometimes feel like you're walking on eggshells. And amid all of this, you may find yourself wondering: Can I bring this up in therapy, too? Can I ask my therapist about their political views?
If you do ask your therapist directly, they may first take some time to understand what's behind your question. They will consider whether sharing their views might affect the therapeutic relationship. Therapists generally approach self-disclosure thoughtfully, taking into account their professional responsibilities, the client's needs, and the importance of maintaining appropriate therapeutic boundaries.
Rather than automatically choosing to disclose or withhold their views, your therapist may use your question as an opportunity to better understand your concerns and what you need to feel comfortable, respected, and supported in therapy. For example, are you trying to determine whether your therapist can understand your experiences and provide the support you need? Are you concerned that certain beliefs, experiences, or opinions might not feel safe to share for fear of judgment? Or, particularly if you belong to a marginalized community, are you looking for reassurance that your identity, experiences, and concerns will be respected?
Therapists consider your needs, the therapeutic relationship, the potential benefits and risks of disclosure, and their professional responsibilities.
So, why might a therapist choose to share their views—or not?
Why Not Share?
Therapists are encouraged to approach the therapeutic relationship with an awareness of their own values and beliefs while keeping the focus on the client's needs, experiences, and goals. This includes considering whether sharing personal information serves a therapeutic purpose.
Our goal as therapists is to create a nonjudgmental space where you can explore your experiences without worrying that our personal beliefs or past experiences will determine how we respond to you. You should feel welcome in therapy regardless of your political views, religious beliefs, cultural background, or personal values.
There are several reasons a therapist might choose not to disclose their political views:
Keeping the focus on you. Therapy is an opportunity to explore your own experiences, beliefs, and values. Sharing our political views may shift the focus away from your needs and toward our perspectives.
Maintaining appropriate boundaries. Thoughtful self-disclosure helps keep the therapeutic relationship centered on your needs rather than the therapist's personal life.
Creating an inclusive environment. We want you to feel welcome regardless of your political perspectives or beliefs. You should not feel that you need to agree with your therapist to receive respectful, effective care.
Supporting openness and trust. You may hesitate to share certain experiences or opinions if you worry that your therapist will judge you. A therapist may decide that disclosing their political views could introduce concerns that are not helpful to your work together.
Protecting the therapeutic relationship. A therapist may worry that sharing their views could affect your willingness to continue counseling or make it harder for you to feel comfortable in sessions.
Ultimately, therapists may want their personal politics, religion, and values to remain separate from the care they provide. We strive to respond to your needs rather than expect you to share our beliefs.
However, not disclosing our views does not mean we are entirely free of bias. Our beliefs and experiences can influence how we understand your concerns, even when we are unaware of them. We have a responsibility to examine our assumptions and seek consultation, supervision, and training when needed.
Why Share?
There are valid reasons why a therapist might consider discussing political realities—or even their own perspective—with a client.
For many people, particularly those from marginalized communities, politics is far more than elections, candidates, or party platforms. Policy decisions directly shape daily life, personal safety, access to care, and mental health. Legislation that restricts rights or reinforces systemic inequities often fuels real, chronic stress, isolation, and trauma. Acknowledging these realities is an essential part of understanding the world you navigate every day.
When you wonder about your therapist’s beliefs, you are rarely asking for a debate. You are likely asking:
Will I be treated with dignity here?
Will my identity, background, or choices be judged?
Can I speak openly about my life without having to educate or defend myself?
These concerns are natural, especially if you have faced discrimination or institutional harm. A therapist does not have to disclose their voting record to validate these experiences. However, an openness to acknowledging how social systems and policies impact mental health is central to culturally responsive, ethical care.
Disclosure as an Opportunity for Connection
In some instances, transparent conversations around shared values can deepen the therapeutic relationship. Research suggests that when clients and therapists share similar perspectives, disclosure can sometimes strengthen the therapeutic alliance.
Still, disclosure is not a one-size-fits-all solution. A therapist may choose not to name a specific political affiliation, opting instead to communicate their clinical values, their commitment to anti-oppressive practice, and their dedication to affirming care. Others may decide that direct disclosure is the most transparent way to build trust with a specific client.
You have every right to ask questions about the person holding space for your mental health.
What matters most is that you feel respected, that your lived experience is taken seriously, and that the room remains a safe place to work toward your goals.
Ultimately, every client deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their political beliefs, identity, or life experiences. Therapy should be a space where you can explore your thoughts, express your concerns, and share your experiences without fear of judgment or rejection. Whether a therapist chooses to share their political views or not, their responsibility is to approach you with openness, curiosity, and compassion.
Our Approach at KonTerra Counseling
At KonTerra Counseling, we recognize that none of us exists in isolation. Our approach acknowledges that our well-being, behaviors, and challenges are shaped by the world around us. Our families, communities, cultures, geography, and political environments all influence how we experience the world—and these experiences naturally show up in therapy, too.
We also recognize that therapists bring their own lived experiences into the room. While therapists have traditionally been encouraged to approach clients as a “blank slate,” at KonTerra Counseling, we recognize that thoughtful self-awareness and appropriate self-disclosure can sometimes help clients feel seen, validate their experiences, and strengthen the therapeutic connection. Our goal is not to make therapy about us, but to create opportunities for understanding, connection, and healing while honoring your unique perspective and needs.
During this election cycle, you may notice heightened feelings of anxiety, fear, hope, determination, or uncertainty about what lies ahead. You may be navigating difficult conversations, setting boundaries with loved ones, or trying to stay connected to your values amid circumstances that feel beyond your control. You don't have to navigate these feelings alone.
KonTerra Counseling therapists can help you make sense of what you're experiencing, practice mindfulness and grounding skills, establish healthy boundaries, and reconnect with the values that guide you. Together, we can explore how the world around you is affecting your well-being and identify ways to move through this election cycle—and whatever follows—with greater clarity, resilience, and a stronger sense of yourself.
If you're looking for a space where your experiences are taken seriously and you can show up as yourself, we'd welcome the opportunity to connect. KonTerra Counseling clinicians are licensed in DC, Maryland, Virginia, Texas, and New York.
Schedule your free consultation.
Source: Solomonov N, Barber JP. Patients’ perspectives on political self-disclosure, the therapeutic alliance, and the infiltration of politics into the therapy room in the trump era. J Clin Psychol. 2018; 74: 779–787. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22609
