Our Healing Work is Political

In graduate school, you were told to be a “blank slate.” You were shown the image of a serene therapist who became a tabula rasa for their client’s projections, an empty vessel without your own complicated inner world. You were asked to take yourself out of the equation. 

But, this is not our philosophy around therapy. We believe that our humanness is our most powerful tool, and that we too can take up space in the therapeutic relationship. The idea of being a blank slate drains us of the very necessary pigment that colors the canvas alongside our clients.

Our work has never felt freer than when we invite in our authentic selves. Furthermore, the idea that politics or discussions of race, class, gender, sexual orientation or ethnicity do not belong in the therapy room can serve as a way of bypassing the real and necessary feelings, including discomfort and pain, that come with acknowledging these tender places. In doing so we honor the reality of the world as it exists for our clients, as well as for ourselves.

Our healing work is inherently political. Every time we sit down with a client we are making conscious and unconscious choices about what questions we ask, what biases we bring, and what lens we listen through. We are continuing to become aware of and unlearn these choices, to whatever extent we can.

This year in particular, we were reminded more than ever that our healing work on an interpersonal level is inextricable from, and not immune to, the forces of racism, misogyny, and unconscious bias. We are two women who have many identities of privilege, and we take seriously the opportunity to reflect and consider what action steps we can take that contribute to a more just, safe society for all. Below, we expand upon a few key ideas to help support you in taking those steps. 

For healing, we need systems that protect

As we steward healing for individuals, we contribute to a more healed society. Yet, in the same way, if all of us advocate for healing on a political and population level, we will have contributed to the healing of individuals.

As therapists, we are deeply moved by the pain of the people we work with. We understand when people come to us with challenges that the question is not, as Eleanor Longden puts so beautifully in her TED Talk, “What is wrong with you?” but rather “What happened to you?”

This question of “What happened to you?” is inextricably linked with how politics and policies have traumatized (and/or protected) a person. What we see in our offices is a story about what happened to generations before, about cultural norms, about oppression, discrimination, judgment, or being “othered.” We witness a story about privilege and resilience – and trauma and exclusion. Right there, in each complex and beautiful human (ourselves included), is a reflection of our uneven political landscape and how it has impacted individuals and groups of people – acutely, and over time. 

Continue to gently inquire with yourself: how has the pain and suffering of the individual (or family) I am working with been impacted by systems and policies? What privilege do I have that I can use for healing? What actions can I take to help contribute to a society that values, and supports, safety for all bodies and peoples?

Rest, for action

Therapists spend a lot of energy focused on the needs of others. We encourage you to tune in with yourself to see if you, too, might need to rest… so that you may fill up, recharge, and then - act again.

Though self-care is perhaps now most largely seen as a part of the wellness industry, it’s important to recognize that the conversation around self-care was led by civil rights activists and those fighting for women's liberation (a movement which took many cues from the civil rights movement) in the 60s and 70s. These activists recognized that inequalities in health care (systemic racism), as well as the traumatic impact of racism and the fight for equality, affects one's physical health. “Self-care” began as the radical and revolutionary act of caring for one's body, when others have not and will not.

We think of the practice of self-care as a way to rest and listen to your own needs (which is an act of liberation and resistance for bodies who experience oppression and discrimination because of skin color, culture, country of origin) and also as fuel for justice-oriented action.

Affirm rest as part of your healing work. Rest well. Heal well.

As you continue to engage with this crucial, challenging, fulfilling and expansive work, remember that we can only heal, and steward healing, in our “window of tolerance.” If you need to rest, rest. If you are ready to act, act. Do not berate or shame yourself for either action, as both are necessary parts of the cycle of activism and advocacy.

We are capable

Remember that we are capable of doing this work. In fact, we are uniquely prepared for advocacy and equity-promoting work through our training and experience as psychotherapists...

If we can have hard conversations with our clients, we can have hard conversations with neighbors, family members or friends.

If we can make decisive actions to protect individuals at risk and in danger, we are capable, too, of decisive actions that help contribute to policies that protect individuals at risk and in danger.

If we believe it’s not too late for individuals to make a difference in their lives and to heal, we believe it’s not too late for our society to do things differently and to heal.

If we can understand how policies, circumstances, and people hurt other people, we can understand how policies, circumstances, and people have the possibility of helping other people. 

We are in this together

One thing that we have cherished about The Resourced Therapist is a felt sense that we are not alone. No matter the differences among us, we are united in a shared commitment to provide healing in our world. We breathe together, we heal together, and we contribute to a more just society together. We encourage you to reflect on how you can use the unique skills you have as a therapist to help change policies and to promote equality and, then, to take some heart-centered action.

Thank you for your good work in our world, dear therapist. Let’s keep healing--our selves, our clients, our communities, and our world.