Being around family can be challenging, especially during the holidays. There is no group of people that can make us as nervous as family. You could invest half your savings in therapy – good therapy, effective therapy – and in five minutes find yourself deteriorating under the stress of the same old tangled madness in your family that never changes. Before you head across the river and through the woods, think about the following strategies to help you steer conversations toward the positive this Thanksgiving.

1. Be a listener.