For the Therapists, the Counselors, the Mental Health Professionals

We were not trained for this. We were not trained to hold space around our clients expressing valid fear around things that are also directly affecting us and our loved ones. We were not trained to watch as the rights of marginalized communities are being rolled back, especially not after decades of watching those rights barely come into existence in the first place. 

So if you’re doing as good as you can, then you’re doing enough. 

If you’re showing up for your clients, holding space as they freak out, validating them, normalizing their emotions, then you’re doing enough. If you’re using your voice, either in speaking to your clients, or contacting your representatives, or informing the people in your community that things are very not normal, then you are doing enough. 

We are not meant to be the force that prevents collapse. We cannot therapize our clients out of an appropriate level of reactivity and fear to the current sociopolitical climate. 

We also cannot mindfulness our own way out of an appropriate level of reactivity and fear to our current sociopolitical climate. Right now we need to be able to care for ourselves so that we can show up for others. Sometimes it can feel like just existing takes more time and energy from us than this time a few years ago. We need more concentrated self-care, more recharge time, more breaks. 

You, showing up, doing this job day in and day out is a form of resistance. So is taking breaks, recharging, and making sure we’re able to be present, for ourselves, our families, and our clients. 

Take a deep breath and say it with me: You are enough. You are doing enough. We are enough. 

Until next time,
Dr. Riojas