Reflections of a Therapist

Tonight as I reflect on my day, the words still linger, "Not IF, but WHEN". The morning started with a few individual therapy sessions, much like most Wednesday mornings. Then from there I had a mid-day book club meeting for work on my calendar and then 4 more back to back individual therapy sessions. I knew that it would be a day where I would hear a lot and be processing trauma with individuals. I knew that I would likely see tears and bear witness to a range of emotions. This was all expected within my day. I also assumed as I started the day that the easiest or lightest part of my day would be facilitating the lunch book club meeting and facilitating the discussion around the book "The Body Keeps the Score".  This is a book I have read multiple times and I felt rather prepared for the discussion and even with a few minor interruptions, the discussion was a win in my mind.  As I walked out I had a brief discussion with a co-worker. She shared something that reson...

  Recently I was running and noticed this written on the rocks. As I continued to run I thought back to the times I have felt more alone in my life then I noticed a wave of gratitude flow through me as I thought about the people I have in my life today.  What I did not know while on this run was that just days later there would be a community close by navigating tremendous shock and grief. That students at schools would be processing the loss of a friend and that families would be deeply impacted by a loss in their community. As a therapist it hit especially close to home and I was also aware that those I knew might be deeply impacted in various ways. Its one of those moments you know there is not a perfect fix or a quick win-win solution. People are hurting.  This hurt is certainly something that as a therapist I am not a stranger to but more than that as a human it is something I have known and felt. I suspect I am not alone in this. I imagine many of us have felt that ...