People across the country are preparing for friends and family to gather around the Thanksgiving dinner table. But data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness shows that the holidays are not always joyful — they can be triggering for some. Food and conversation often take center stage, and sometimes those discussions can become intense. So what should you do? For a special edition of “Closer Look”, program host Rose Scott took email questions from listeners about what to do if gatherings have the potential to lead to arguments. Scott was joined in-studio by Atlanta-based licensed therapist Vernique Esther. They discussed the dos and don’ts for holiday gatherings for both hosts and guests. Esther also offered guidance on setting boundaries and shared strategies for avoiding awkward or heated conversations.

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