“Scream from the peaks, hold hands through the dips, laugh through the loop-de-loops, and enjoy every twist and turn – – for the ride is better because you share it together.” Author Unknown.
The last few months there seems to be a great deal of uncertainty building. I feel it, my friends feel it, my clients feel it, and maybe you do too. This past month, a great deal of my time has been trying to help calm my clients’ anxiety and to help them feel safe enough to work on healing. My staff also report that their clients are feeling the uncertainty as well. In my office, the ringing phone has been a consistent reminder that people are scared and want help. I have taken many calls this past couple of weeks where the caller has asked desperately “Are you taking new patients? I have called other therapists and everyone is full.”
When I worked for a local county many years ago; we would have good cash flow years where we could create new and wonderful programs, add staff and ultimately help many people in our community. In other years, the budget was terrible and we reduced programing, couldn’t purchase any supplies, and fewer people received help. I remember one year I was even given a layoff notice. That was a scary time. While I am not trying to be political here, I do see some scary times ahead. I also know that we will get through this, somehow. Each day I get up, I meditate, workout, and I ready myself. I take stock in what I can do to make changes, I set my intention to do great work, to be even better than I was the day before. I am not looking at others to be in competition, but for strength and encouragement. How I choose to live my life matters, and it matters to my family and friends, but also it matters to my clients. Therapists matter and what we do matters. We need to be able to support each other to stand up together and be the voice for those who do not have a voice. We need to help heal this broken world and this is a daunting task, I know. I am proud of our therapist tribe. I see the tireless work that you are doing in our communities. I commend your actions and request that we do a little more. We are going to need a lot more action in the coming months and we may at times need to become political. Especially as services for our veterans, children, women, and families are stripped, the pay we receive for our work is reduced, and the healthcare system becomes harder and harder to navigate. I would encourage you stay informed, to speak up when you see or hear of injustice, and to support one another. For that is how we heal our communities.
Respectfully,
Sherry
