Susan L. Williams, LPC

10/02/2025

America has always been politcally quarrelsome, but what we are experiencing now is “affective polarization (affective in this case means emotional) and it’s ripping families apart. It’s a toxic division resulting in Us vs Them mentality. This divide has increased steadily over the past couple of decades (see graph below). Ironically, in a survey by “Starts With Us” on “Perceptions and Reality” of core values including fairness, compassion and personal responsibility, about nine in 10 Democrats and Republicans agreed they were very or extremely important. Yet only about a third of either group said they believed the same was true for the opposing party (Klepper, AP 2023).
We do not have a political crisis, we have a social cohesion crisis. There are hundreds of organizations whose mission is to de-polarize America. Instead of stewing in an echo chamber, join a group that fosters unity, understanding, communication and the common core values we all share.
Braverangels.org / Starts with Us
Buildersmovement.org

12/08/2024

https://open.substack.com/pub/kedseconomist/p/what-mlms-and-stay-at-home-moms-reveal?r=emcl5&utm_medium=ios

A column reprint inspired by the tradwife trend

11/22/2024

I heard someone say that “it’s hard to hate up close,” and I liked that a lot. I do believe that conversation and learning is the key to understanding. My wish is that when a new social issue divides us, that people would take the time to learn more even if it makes them uncomfortable.

09/20/2024

As a former 4th grade teacher (28 years ago), it’s my biggest regret that I subscribed to the common practice of withholding recess as a form of punishment. The research is so clear on this. Recess is critical. Children who “misbehave” are not bad. They are dysregulated. It’s far more logical to let them run and exercise than to punish them with stillness.

09/10/2024

09/10/2024

Social media has given society some new language to explain relationship problems, but the psychology of relationships and trauma and the identification of pathology is far more than what tiktok can explain.

09/06/2024

‘Dust if you Must’ was written by Mrs Rose Milligan from Lancaster in Lancashire.

05/23/2024

Great description of how to “process” emotions - especially as it pertains to trauma. Note the emphasis on the difference between re-telling a story vs experiencing the emotions.