Easing election fears: Local therapists say acknowledging, reassuring are keys to easing anxiety

By Marilyn Campbell

Psychologist Carolyn Lorente, Ph.D., says the aftermath of the recent election has sparked fear in many of her clients.

“I have a private practice, and everyone who has come in this past week has talked about fear,” she says.

On the morning after what was possibly the most adversarial election in recent history, Lorente felt an urge to send a text message to her two teen-aged children.

“[The election] is a reminder that we are better together and have to be vigilant at fighting fear and spreading love and truth,” she wrote. “I’m certain that the one thing we can do to remove fear is replace it with familiarity. When you get to stand with others different than you, we realize we have more in common than not.”

Lorente, who is also a professor of psychology at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria, and other local therapists say that the recent election has brought a spike in clients. People throughout the area are asking for help dealing with the resulting emotional issues.

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