by Heather Lynch, MA, LPC, ACS, Clinical Manager of Adult Programs at Princeton House’s North Brunswick Outpatient Site
This time in our world, by all accounts, is an unstable one. As a licensed professional counselor, I hear countless reports of the impact of world events on mental health. From terrorist attacks to shootings, bad news has sadly become a more regular occurrence. In addition, this past election season was a particularly difficult one for many. In fact, prior to the election, numerous articles cited “election anxiety” as something that was bringing many people into therapy — an occurrence not typically seen by therapists in previous election seasons.
The emotional climate of our world lends itself to people feeling out of control, anxious, and depressed. Those who already struggle with mental health issues can find that their symptoms dramatically increase during stressful times. Those in helping professions, such as therapists, often struggle with these very issues as well. The challenge for therapists is to maintain their own stability while helping those they treat.
Decreasing Anxiety through Mindfulness
Many people are able to manage shifts in their moods by using mindfulness, which helps reduce stress, improve focus, and boost memory. Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, the founder of mindfulness-based stress reduction, defines mindfulness as “awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally in the spirit of self-understanding.”
It’s important for therapists to prioritize their own balance and stress relief. Mindfulness resources, including videos and guided meditation, are available through numerous sources online. I often recommend deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, massage, a cup of tea, or even taking a walk to regain balance.
The Therapist-to-Therapist Connection
I believe that for therapists, the most important and probably most effective way of staying balanced is to connect with others, including others in the profession. When people start to feel unwell, whether emotionally or physically, they tend to withdraw and isolate. Some therapists are hesitant to reach out, feeling as though they “should” be able to manage without the support of others. When we reach out to those who care for us, whether personally or professionally, we are engaging in essential self-care. This also allows us to obtain the support, encouragement, and feedback that help us to continue to maintain stability.
Staying balanced in an unbalanced world involves a combination of taking good care of ourselves in both mind and body, as well as connecting with others. In doing so, the balance between mental and physical health helps maintain the steadiness needed to navigate uncertain times.
It’s important for therapists to prioritize their own balance and stress relief.
Article as seen in the Summer 2017 issue of Princeton House Behavioral Health.
