As a clinical therapist, I am tasked with helping clients cope with all sorts of challenges, trauma and mental health disorders. It is what I was trained to do and I really do love my job. That being said, since the election of Trump. my job has been exponentially harder.

The current administration’s plans and actions have harmed so many people. Each day there is horrible and terrifying news that impacts myself and my clients detrimentally. If you have a therapist or friends who are therapists, please check on them. We are not okay.

It actually started with Covid. For the first time, therapists were struggling to cope with the same trauma as their clients while having to appear not to be struggling. The demand for therapy grew rapidly with the spread of Covid. I found myself focusing mosty on basic needs. Have you had water? Are you sleeping? Did you eat any protein today? We were all in survival mode. We were essential workers and had no time off. I actually worked a lot more!

I don’t know that we have recovered from that yet. And now we are again trying to survive. My transgender clients are fighting for their lives and for access to life-saving medical interventions. Some of my clients lost their jobs due to all of the funding cuts. None can afford groceries or rent. Right now, for many people, life is really hard. There are days I feel like all I do is try to convince people to stay alive.

Is this our new normal? Is this how life is going to be from now on? As I talk to other therapists about our work, I hear the same thing: we are exhausted. This is not burn out. This is bone-weary, I got nothing left, exhastion.

So how do we keep going? What is it that allows me to continue to show up, in spite of it all? I don’t have a magic wand, nor the answer to solve this. There are a few things I do that help me:

1. I have my own therapists. I have two. One is primarily a talk-therapist. We explore how I show up in life and what gets in the way when I struggle. I also have an EMDR therapist. Our work is around my past trauma and the negative beliefs that formed within me as a result. I have worked really hard with both to try and be in a healthier place. I think it is working.
2. I constantly look for moments of joy. I buy myself flowers. I watch silly videos to laugh. I send memes to my friends. I get my nails done. I put my Chirstmas trees up early! I cannot possibly carry all of the heavy stuff without also having some joy.
3. I reach out to my friends. I text, email, visit and message people. I make plans and get coffee. I know that I will isolate and try to power through when things are hard. I cannot let myself do that any more.
4. I do things outside of my job that give me meaning and purpose. That includes volunteering at the airport with Daisy. We walk around and look for people who are stressed about flying and need to pet a dog. It’s an incredible experience.

If you read this and found yourself confused, because your world isn’t on fire, then congratulations. You have privilege. Maybe take a moment to notice what other people are going through, and then consider what you might be able to do to lighten their load.

It’ s just a thought.