How to talk to a therapist about war, violence, and the news
Let’s be honest: The world feels like A Lot right now. Between doomscrolling on your phone, watching the news over coffee, and hearing the latest crisis from a friend—it's no wonder you’re feeling overwhelmed. But here's the thing: you're allowed to bring that into therapy.
Yep. Even if it's “not happening to you directly.” Even if you're not sure how to talk about it. Even if you're worried it sounds political, messy, or too heavy.
This post will walk you through:
Why talking to a therapist about global events is important
How to start the conversation (without spiraling)
What to expect in session
And how therapy can help when the world feels like it's on fire
Let’s jump in.
“Can I Talk About the News in Therapy?” (Spoiler: YES.)
Short answer: 100% yes.
Therapy isn’t just for family issues or your inner critic (though we love a good reframe). It’s also a space where you get to process how you're reacting to the world around you.
According to the American Psychological Association, 75% of U.S. adults reported that the future of the nation was a significant source of stress. The same report found that exposure to mass shootings, war, political division, and climate anxiety is taking a measurable toll on mental health.
So if you’ve been feeling:
Hopeless or numb
Hypervigilant (constantly checking the news)
Angry or sad and not sure why
Overwhelmed but guilty about it
…you’re not broken. You’re human.
Why the News Feels So Personal (Even If It’s Not Happening to You)
Let’s normalize this: You don’t have to experience something firsthand for it to impact your mental health. With 24/7 access to live updates, graphic images, and devastating headlines, your nervous system doesn’t always know the difference between watching trauma and living it.
This is sometimes referred to as vicarious trauma or secondary trauma—and it’s especially common among:
Highly empathetic people
Therapists, caregivers, and helpers
Folks from marginalized communities
People with a history of trauma
You might be thinking, “But other people have it worse, I shouldn’t be complaining.”
Stop right there. This is your permission slip to drop the guilt. Mental Health America explains that compassion fatigue and burnout are real consequences of constant exposure to suffering. Your emotions are valid, even if you’re not directly affected.
How to Start the Conversation with Your Therapist
Googling: “How do I talk to my therapist about world events?”
Starting the conversation can feel awkward—but it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few ways to ease in:
Try saying:
“I’ve been feeling overwhelmed lately, and I think it’s tied to the news.”
“I keep finding myself glued to headlines and feeling more anxious than usual.”
“Can we talk about how to cope with everything going on in the world right now?”
“I’m having a hard time focusing because I can’t stop thinking about what’s happening overseas.”
Therapists aren’t expecting perfect language—they’re here to help you find the words. And if you're working with someone at Stillwater Therapy, we’re pretty great at holding space for things that feel tender, uncertain, or even confusing.
What If I Disagree with My Therapist About Politics or War?
This is a totally valid concern. Therapy is about trust—and you deserve to feel safe and seen in the room, especially when discussing things like war, oppression, or violence.
Here’s the good news: A good therapist isn’t there to impose their opinions. They’re there to support you in exploring your own emotions, reactions, and values. Therapists are trained to hold space for diverse perspectives while helping you feel grounded and heard.
That said, if something a therapist says feels dismissive or triggering, you can absolutely say:
“That didn’t land well with me—can we revisit that?”
“I’m feeling a little shut down right now. Can we pause?”
Or even: “I’m realizing we might have different views. Can we talk about how that might affect our work together?”
And if the fit still isn’t right? It’s okay to explore other options. Therapy should feel like a collaboration, not a debate stage.
Therapy Tools for Navigating a World in Crisis
Okay, so you’ve opened up the conversation—what now? Here are some ways therapy can help you cope with the emotional weight of the world:
🧠 Nervous System Regulation
You’ll learn how to calm the body when it’s stuck in fight-or-flight from overexposure to distressing media. (Think: breathwork, grounding, and movement.)
The National Alliance on Mental Illness notes that regulating the nervous system is a critical part of managing anxiety and trauma.
📱 Managing News Consumption
You’ll explore your relationship with social media and the news cycle. Are you doomscrolling before bed? Are you absorbing more than your brain can process? You’ll work together to set healthy boundaries—without guilt. There’s a difference between being informed and overwhelmed. You can be informed without reading about it 24/7.
❤️ Processing Grief and Helplessness
World events can bring up feelings of grief, guilt, and helplessness—especially when you want to help but feel powerless. Therapy creates space to honor those feelings and channel them in sustainable ways (activism, boundaries, rest, etc.).
🛠️ Learning Coping Skills
You’ll build a toolbox of coping strategies—from mindfulness to cognitive reframing to acceptance-based approaches like CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). These tools can help you move forward without numbing out or shutting down.
Should I Bring This Up in My First Therapy Session?
Absolutely. If world events are part of what’s weighing on you, then they’re part of your story—and that’s worth bringing in from the start. There’s no hierarchy of “acceptable” therapy topics.
Some therapists even use your first session to explore:
What helps you feel safe in uncertain times
How you tend to respond to stress or crisis
What your support system looks like
So if your anxiety around the world is the thing that finally got you to reach out? Bring it. You don’t need to start with your childhood trauma. (Unless you want to. We love a deep dive.)
How to Know If It’s Time to Get Support
Ask yourself:
Am I feeling more anxious, irritable, or numb than usual?
Is it hard to concentrate, sleep, or stay hopeful?
Do I feel guilty for feeling okay when others are suffering?
Have I pulled away from people or things I used to enjoy?
Am I stuck in a loop of scrolling, avoiding, or catastrophizing?
If you said yes to more than one of these, it might be time to talk to someone. Therapy doesn’t erase the world’s problems—but it can help you carry them differently.
Let’s Wrap It Up: You’re Allowed to Care (And Feel Heavy)
You don’t need to be directly affected by a war, natural disaster, or act of violence to be impacted. And you definitely don’t need to justify your emotions to bring them into therapy.
The world can feel overwhelming. You’re allowed to have a reaction. You’re allowed to feel grief. You’re allowed to care so deeply it aches.
And most importantly? You’re allowed to get support.
At Stillwater Therapy, we specialize in helping people just like you—deep feelers, high achievers, people who hold a lot and don’t always know where to set it down. Whether you're in Clearwater, Florida or seeking online therapy across the state, we're here to help.
Quick Tips for Bringing Global Stress Into Therapy
Yes, you can talk about world events in therapy.
It’s not “too political,” “too much,” or “not your place.”
Secondary trauma and compassion fatigue are real.
You don’t have to have the perfect words to start.
Therapy can help you cope, feel grounded, and move forward with clarity.
