Political Climate

We do not exist in a vacuum since we are all part of a sociopolitical and economic world structure. Indeed, “the personal is political” – i.e. our individual struggles may be generated and intensified by sociopolitical and economic systems, as well as power struggles within our relationships. Our goal would be to bring those dynamics within the therapeutic process since they inform who we are as client and therapist, as well as highlight the path for a more inclusive healing process.

It's hard to be progressive, leftist, or liberal in a Republican dominated state. It seems like every day something new happens that brings this into focus. But despite what people say, you can't just pack up and move. Your life is here. So how do you make sense of it? I help clients figure that out. For some people, that might mean finding ways to become an activist. For others, it might mean finding safety in whatever ways possible. Everyone is different!

"If you're not depressed/anxious, you're not paying attention." Have you heard or said this before? "You just have to learn to accept the things that you can't change." How about that? While it's true that learning to accept what we can't change is hugely important for our mental health, what's also important is not settling for circumstances that we desperately want to change without giving it a good try. We're capable of much more than we know, and discovering that is part of our healing.

The current political climate has increased existential angst in many of us to a fever pitch. This can lead us to question our place in the world, our relationships with family, friends, and co-workers, and how we can stay the course without exhausting ourselves in the fight for social justice. As a social justice warrior myself, I can assist with helping you obtain a balance in standing up for your beliefs while maintaining a balance that leaves you space to enjoy your life.

One unfortunate side effect of today's divided political climate is cancel culture. These days people literally try to destroy each other. A Twitter mob can destroy a person's life, get them fired from a job, and very often around accusations that are false. I've been through it and have a lot of empathy for others who have found themselves "cancelled." I also counsel people who have found themselves caught up in violent social movements on the "right" or the "left."

A person may choose to not attend to politics, but no one exists outside of societal and political contexts. The distribution of power affects you and everyone you know; institutional discrimination and racism affects us all, and for the vast of us, that is not a positive thing. Together, we can work to identify how this impacts your emotions and thoughts, and to create positive change in yourself, your relationships and our world.

We can assist you through this challenging time via telehealth. We understand COVID-19 has brought a lot of stress and uncertainty. We have worked with many clients on challenging life transitions and we'd love to work with you too!

Today's political climate can feel very scary...I hold a space for my clients to feel safe, heard, understood and validated. I can help you process your feelings of anger, grief, fear, ect. regarding political and social issues. You control the pace in which we do this work, and are in control of how we move through the therapeutic process. I'm also here to help you reconcile any opposing parts within yourself which may feel incongruent.

While one may choose to not attend to politics, none of us exist outside of our political systems. Power distribution, institutionalized discrimination and racism, income and rights inequality affect the vast majority of us negatively in multiple ways. Together we can work toward ways to heal from those effects to empower you internally, interpersonally, culturally and politically.

The political climate of the country is driving so much stress, anxiety, anger, and overall strong emotion. We look at the ways this is showing up in your life and interfering with the way you want to live, think, and interact with those around you. I truly believe that in this country we have more in common with each other than we do differences and we can learn so much from each other. The good in the world does outweigh the hate in the world, despite what the news may choose to emphasize.

In many ways it is a remarkable time to be alive. As someone who needs a daily grounding practice to cope with the seeming precarity of our collective existence, I am sensitive to those for whom things like climate anxiety or a sense of hopelessness about political dysfunction, represent intrusive thoughts that impede daily functioning. Remember that we're in this together, and that connection - cultivating a solidarity mindset - is a powerful antidote to the forces working against our survival.

We live in troubling times, and it is only natural to feel stressed and worried. I help clients name their concerns and identify how to move forward, usually by choosing how to get active in the face of fear. I am forever guided by Mariame Kaba's idea that "hope is a discipline."