Good things and hard things co-exist. As therapists, it is so important to develop the capacity to make space for the resources that will help us hold both in our own lives, so that we can be present to help our clients with this as well.

Moving beyond acute grief and into “normal”, I have become aware of the importance of paying attention to how my patterns and habits do and do not serve me, and how this is the work I do with my clients.

Reflecting on loss at the solstice, I look forward to riding into the returning light. As the days grow longer, and I bask in the sun, I want to remember that I am just a passenger on this planet, subject to changing seasons and unpredictable life experiences.

The recent unexpected loss of my brother has grabbed me, unsettled me, and asked me to show up in my life in new ways. It has begun to change the way I am as a mother, partner, and sister, and therapist. Above all else, it has been profoundly reshaping the ways I am taking care of myself.

The COVID pandemic no longer feels brand new. It’s not as chaotic and disruptive as it was in past months. However, it’s an ongoing challenge full of uncertainty with no real end in sight.  It’s a Time for Extra Care. Doing therapy well requires that therapists’ own well-being is in good shape. This is true under the best of circumstances, but becomes even more so in difficult times.