The Living Conversation · A podcast on philosophy

America in Therapy: Grief, Rage & Staying Sane After Minneapolis (with Phyllis Levitt)

January 16, 2026·54 min·5 clips

You don't need to be directly harmed to be traumatized by violence—secondary trauma is real and epidemic.

Psychotherapist Phyllis Leavitt discusses America's political crisis through mental health lens during January 2026 recording. Addresses Minneapolis shooting, Insurrection Act threats, and underlying polarization as manifestation of societal mental health breakdown. Core argument: political extremism isn't ideological but rooted in unhealed trauma and abuse cycles. People with unhealed wounds susceptible to cult thinking and dehumanization of opponents. Solutions: societal commitment to healing trauma at all levels (families, schools, communities); personal healing work as defense against extremism. Addresses reaching family members across political divide: look for openings through pain, avoid defensive attacks, lead with vulnerability. Discusses cult deprogramming parallels and ego-defensive mechanisms. Emphasizes individual agency: personal healing ripples outward; staying safe mentally and physically is prerequisite.

As heard by us

An unhurried conversation about trauma, deep listening, and the way family and harmony shape healing.

Anthony Wright and Adam Dietz keep this episode close to the ground as they talk with Phyllis Leavitt about trauma, psychodynamic practice, and the need to listen before pain has had time to harden.

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Why you'd press play

For when Minneapolis grief calls for calm, therapy-minded thinking instead of noise or judgment.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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