People in the DFW community have been actively trying new ways to stay productive while working from home. Being under restrictions and social distancing from friends can present major dilemmas, because idle time can start becoming corrosive if not used in positive ways. When you combine this isolation with the consistent avalanche of shocking news articles, it really highlights the importance of mental health awareness. During this pandemic, a May 2020 survey created by the Common Wealth Fund showed that 33% of U.S. adults reported experiencing stress and anxiety that was difficult to cope with by themselves. A significant portion of those interviewed were self-aware of their increasing anxieties but still wouldn’t seek professional help during this global pandemic due to declining savings or simply preferring an in-person interaction. This is a startling image in a period where therapists and counselors are moving sessions online and companies like Better Help are stepping in to help ward off the negative impacts of COVID-19. For the clients who are already attending sessions, therapists have to adapt to potential volatile moments where the American Psychological Association has limited guidelines. How can therapists help their client’s bridge emotional barriers in an environment where finances for sessions are limited and what emotional trauma will need to be addressed in a post-COVID world? I reached out to Liz Higgins, LMFT-S and founder of Millennial Life Counseling, to discuss how therapists have adapted.
Yuki Yamazaki, a licensed mental health counselor at Kor Counseling, has stated in a NBC news article that “I can’t be both a really worried human and a good therapist at the same time”. How do you stay in the best state of mind for your clients during a time where different emergencies could pop up?
While I definitely understand that, as therapists, we tend to feel accountable to showing up fully present, in a healthy, balanced state, and as put together as possible, I also believe that there’s value in showing up honestly and authentically. For me, this has meant that I’ve been very honest with myself regarding my own emotional stress and state. I’ve allowed myself to adjust my schedule as needed to account for more time needed with my children and family. When clients have asked how I’ve been during this time, I’ve gently allowed myself to reveal that it has been a challenging time and that I feel I’m walking alongside them in many ways, because I am. As therapists, we are often taught not to self-disclose, but I have found (especially in working with the millennial generation) that people do value honest and reflective feedback from me.
What has been the largest issues to tackle in virtual meetings compared to your normal in-person sessions with clients and has there been any upside with the convenience of virtual calls?
Virtual therapy has gone surprisingly well! I think our clientele is more open to doing things technologically, anyways, so the transition went smoothly and has gone very well. If there is one part that has been a challenge, it has been having to turn away clients seeking us for virtual services who are out of state. Per our licensure requirements, we can only provide virtual services to clients who are residents of Texas.
The Grand Prairie Police Department has launched the Community Outreach Partnership and Education Program where residents with mental health or cognitive challenges can register to have transparent dialogue with local police. Are there any additional ways that local government, organizations, or citizens can spread mental health awareness and help those with ongoing challenges?
This is wonderful. I believe the way that we can continue a healthy movement forward in this area is to continue having open and respectful dialogue. There is an amazing program (that started in Dallas, actually) called Safe Conversations, which began as a relationally focused way to have non-defensive, healthy dialogue between partners. But, the ultimate mission behind SC is that with every “safe” conversation we are able to have, we model this to our children, we integrate this into our schools and communities, and we ultimately create a much safer society and world. I truly believe in the power of systemic change. This is why at Millennial Life Counseling, our mission is to help equip couples and families with healthy ways of doing their relationships, because from there we are able to practice these same ways of communicating and handling conflict in other areas, and it creates a ripple effect.
Will there be any rise in survivor guilt or blocked mourning in a post-COVID climate and how is an issue like that addressed in a session?
Yes, I have already seen some of this with my clientele. We have clients who have not fallen ill (at least not knowingly or in a detrimental way), and the comparison they feel and the expectation that their life problems aren’t as bad as another’s who has been negatively impacted by the pandemic is something we’ve had to navigate. The experience of shame often leads us to minimize our own problems or worse, our emotions, and in turn can actually make us feel worse. We must acknowledge the reality that life continues to go on, and we all have very real issues or things to navigate in our life WHILE this pandemic is also a difficult piece to navigate. It’s not “either, or”. It is “both, and”.
It seems like self-disclosure, the revelation of personal rather than professional information about the therapist, is a hot topic amongst psychiatrist and therapist communities. What is your take on this and has self-disclosure practices changed at all due to remote sessions or the rapidly changing landscape?
As I mentioned above, I think that self-disclosure has historically been seen as something a therapist should avoid in most cases. I understand that the therapy process is for the client, their goals, and needs. I also believe that sometimes, delicate and very intentional self-disclosure can contribute to an excellent therapeutic experience for the client. When you put the client’s needs first and ask yourself the questions of “is this disclosure for myself? Or for the client?” This can often steer you toward clearer judgement call on whether not it’s appropriate. At the end of the day, I think any form of self-disclosure is showing clients that we are human. Clients want to relate to the human experience, and therapists are a part of that. I have found that working with the millennial population, minimal self-disclosure can enhance the conversation, but is also not completely necessary in most cases.
