What is it like to be a therapist in a global pandemic? The Coronavirus pandemic has been a worldwide exercise in grief, panic, anxiety, instability, depression, trauma and fear. It has tested our relationships like never before. It has forced parents to play multiple roles and make seemingly impossible decisions. It has forced people to feel unsafe in their workplaces. It has taken too many dear loved ones. It has brought up many old demons, and introduced new ones.
Here at our practice, we jumped into action right away. We quickly set up easy-to-access online counseling for all of our clients (both old and new). We reimagined our roles with our clients, helping them online rather than in person. We found the best practices for online therapy and put them to work. We’ve been reflecting on therapy in the times of the pandemic, and wanted to share our thoughts.
“I show up for my clients in a different way”
“It has been different working with clients since the pandemic began. Previously, I worked with clients around the issues they were facing in their lives that did not personally affect me. Now, I am often trying to support people through the same set of stressors that I am also experiencing. It has offered numerous opportunities for connection.” -Megan McConnell
Loss
“What I am seeing across the board since the pandemic began is loss. Loss of jobs, loss of routine, loss of separation between work time and personal time, loss of previously relied upon coping skills, loss of something to look forward to in the future, and the list goes on. Much of the work I have done with people is grief work; work to acknowledge and honor these losses, while also trying to chart some way forward.” -Megan McConnell
A Time for Opportunity
“At first, the question on everyone’s mind was “when will things go back to normal?” The longer this goes on, however, the more I think we are starting to see that things might never go back to the normal we used to know. Further, even as things start to normalize, I think we will be coping with the collective trauma of this time for years to come. It is scary and difficult to accept, and it’s also a time of opportunity. We have the ability in times of challenge and change to take a real look at ourselves, our habits, our patterns, and our lives, examine what is working and what is not, and creatively reorganize as needed. Disruption can create the conditions for growth.” -Megan McConnell
“It’s so hard to feel like we have control over nothing, but I love how people have been so creative to take back control in their lives in new, unexpected ways.: – Julia Hofman
Validation is Key
“Validation is a huge part of the work I am doing with clients right now. Just feeling reassured that other people are in the same boat, dealing with the uncertainty of our world right now, seems to be really helpful. ” -Jessica Taylor
We All Need Self-Care
“Due to the fact that I am also (along with my clients) feeling a sense of anxiety about the current state of our world, I have had to be especially mindful about engaging in self-care and attending to my basic needs during this time, so that I am able to hold a safe space for my clients during our time together.” -Jessica Taylor
Past Traumas Coming Up
“One shift has been individuals who haven’t previously sought out therapy, coming in for stress around the pandemic and realizing there is a whole slew of other topics which deserve attention. Folks are not only addressing current stressors, but past traumas which may haven’t received attention without the push of the pandemic.” -Amelia Elkins
Both Challenging and Rewarding
“Being a therapist during a pandemic is both challenging and rewarding. On the one hand, none of us have experienced anything like this before and as therapists, we can’t predict the future. On the other hand, sitting with folks during a time of complete loss of control has lead to breakthroughs, growth, and the realizations which may not have happened previously.”
Finding New Strengths
“I’m seeing people realizing strengths they didn’t think they had before the pandemic- recognizing which relationships are healthy for them vs not, creating stronger self-care plans, and allowing themselves to simply focus on the basics to evolve and adapt.”