Valerie Perez

Written by: Valerie Perez, Doctoral Intern

Given the melting pot that makes up the United States, one of the qualities that psychologists are striving to obtain is the ability to be culturally competent. It is crucial now more than ever to be able to work with individuals that come from different backgrounds and still be able to provide an effective service.

Discrimination in the past has caused divides amongst many groups based on gender, race and religion. In the most recent past, individuals that identify as part of the LGBT community have also been at risk to endure the backlash, homophobia and othering that is felt with minority groups. It is my hope that these individuals are afforded the same safe space in the mental healthcare world as any other individual seeking help. Some things that these individuals may find helpful in therapy is having their therapist be proactive in LGBT education as well as implementing the correct use of pronouns in a session. For example, for transmen, the use of “he, him or sir,” (or whichever pronoun they identify with) can go a long way to build a strong therapeutic alliance.

Other suggestions are to refrain from asking questions out of curiosity and rid the assumption that the cause of their stress or trouble is somehow related to their sexuality or gender identity. Magnifying their sexuality as the main topic of conversation has the potential to negatively impact the alliance and pathologize a nuance that may or may not be an issue for them. Therapists are a beacon of hope, safety and change and we are doing a disservice to our LGBT clients when we act counterproductively. It is truly amazing how the little things we do in our conversations can make the world of difference in the therapeutic experience. So, what are therapists to do that do not share the same views as their clients? How are they to navigate these situations where their moral values clash with their ethical obligations to their clients? This has been a controversial question that has seemed to make its way up into the legal realm and has changed the language of policies across the states.

In my personal opinion, the answer is simple: treat that client no differently than any other human sitting in the chair in front of you, for it is an inevitable truth that we dive into lives that will always be different than our own. It is in these idiosyncrasies that they find their strengths and embrace the comfort of being unapologetically themselves. Ultimately, we must take care of the unique privilege we are granted as psychologists to be allowed into a person’s deepest vulnerabilities

During these uncertain times, it is especially important to practice introspection and utilize the resources around us. For some, this might come naturally and easy and for others the thought of a broken routine has jolted the world into chaos. Nothing makes sense, tension is up and social distancing has turned into a punishment. Usually, during times of crisis we urge individuals to go visit their local mental health centers and work through the problems with a team of professionals. Well, it was only during a pandemic that we have been able to see the privilege we are afforded by physically being present with a therapist. This transition to tele-health has brought forth a plethora of new experiences and logistical considerations.

Mental health professionals have had to collectively shift their clinical structure onto online platforms in order to continue serving their clients. The one platform I want to highlight is the use of a national crisis text line. This support line is used to serve anyone in the United States experiencing a crisis through a text message medium. Understandably, this text line has seen an increase in texters reaching out for help with covid-19-related concerns. In one of their recent blogs tracking the makeup of their texters as well as the different coping strategies they have found themselves doing during self-isolation. For example, more 18-34 and 44-55-year-olds have been reaching out for help after the influx of covid-19 repercussions. Even though this is expected to happen due to the limitations set out on how we are allowed to interact, crisis text line volunteers have ramped up their outreach and have been fighting hard on the mental health frontlines.

Despite these higher than normal numbers, individuals going through this isolation alone have found themselves sleeping, doing yoga and eating fruits and vegetables more often than their non-single counterparts. This speaks volumes about the strength these individuals have during tough times and the resources they use to get them through. Individuals have had to adjust their normal self-care routines and adapt to the space they find themselves in during quarantine. Others have had to reflect on the importance of priorities and learn new habits to keep themselves going. Regardless, it is important to keep in mind that everyone’s mental strength is different and it is up to us to check-in on our loved ones and support other’s concerns. Each day is experienced differently and each is considered valid. These difficult days reveal the courage we have and the power we have when we work as one.

Lublin, N. (2020, April 2). Notes on Coronavirus: How is America Feeling? Part 3. Crisis Text Line. https://www.crisistextline.org/data/notes-on-coronavirus-how-is-america-feeling-part-

As the world continues its battle against the Coronavirus, lockdowns and panic have been seen to stir communities into chaos. From food and basic necessities being completely wiped from supermarkets to hospitals and medical centers being in short supply of personal protective equipment, it is understandable how one might envision a future of darkness. But it is within these moments that help individuals gain insight on the present and learn how to ground themselves on the blessings that surround them. It is through this reflection process that Mr. David Kessler has described the different levels of grief that communities around the world are experiencing (Berinato, 2020).

In this discussion, Kessler goes on to speak to the variations of grief and how he believes coping looks like for different individuals. My biggest takeaway from this concept of grief is not to eradicate the negative that has been building within our minds, but to “find a balance in the things you’re thinking” in order to “come into the present” (Berinato, 2020). He goes on to explain that this idea is similar to the methods of mindfulness and meditation and the point is to calm the anticipation of what might happen and focus on what is actually happening now. This can then bring the individual back into alignment with their concentration and ease up the space that was being filled by their negative thoughts. Another key point Kessler challenged individuals to do was to “stock up on compassion” in a way that lets others have their space to go through their own process of grief (Berinato, 2020).

We are all unique and it goes without saying that this point in time is being experienced in a multitude of different ways. Therefore, we must build each other up by understanding their process and allowing them the freedom to express their grief whether it matches ours or not. We do not always know where people are in their journeys and it is encouraged to keep this in mind when watching others cope the best way they know how. The last point Kessler discussed was “emotions need motion” (Berinato, 2020). This came to me as an “aha” moment because one of the basic goals of therapy is to establish goals into a form of concrete behavior. So, it makes sense to apply the same theory here. Indulge in the current emotion one is experiencing and act on whatever that feeling may be. Whether sadness comes in the form of crying or hugging or happiness comes in the form of laughter or smiling. The key is to embrace the emotions and give them life so they can pass through us just as bad times come and go.

Below is a Youtube video that some may find helpful during these times of uncertainty. Mrs. Morimoto does a great job at helping individuals ground themselves in the moments of crisis they might find themselves in. This again is a way to “come into the present” and focus on what is going on now.

Morimoto, R. [Modern Aging – Holistic Health and Wealth After 50] (2020, March 9). Anxious About Coronavirus? Try These 10 Calming Techniques [Video] Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN01hJirr1E

Berinato, S. (2020). That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grie

 

Written by Valerie Perez, Doctoral Intern

Although the case of COVID-19 is unprecedented and we are slowly seeing progress in our tactics against the virus, some basic safety measures are being revisited. For example, the steps to hand washing correctly and throughly have been posted in almost every social media platform available. Some individuals have even seen traffic signs marked with reminders to wash your hands and refrain from touching hotspots on your face like one’s eyes, nose or mouth. Although this sounds like a silly skill to be prompted on, it seems like the rate of community-spread infections have risen and have warranted this level of repetition. It is crucial now more than ever to educate ourselves and the people around us on how we can slow the spread of infections as well as preventing our own selves of catching the virus.

At this point in time, schools and education systems have closed and children are now in the safety of their own homes. As parents and caretakers adjust to this temporary schedule, there is now a question as to how to inform the little ones as to what has caused these changes. Malaka Gharib has actually illustrated a kid-friendly explanation of just that. In this comic that can be printed and folded to be used as a comic book, a parent or caretaker can go through a simplified description of what has been going on during the past months. It starts off by alerting the characters of a new virus that has flooded tv’s and school discussions and dissects what coronaviruses are and the symptoms that they may be familiar with (Gharib, 2020). You can’t help but hear the expressiveness that this comic is portraying. It goes on to describe the proper way to wash your hands and highlights the important pieces to remember. This can be used as a teaching moment while children are at home. Social media has even provided excerpts of popular songs that be sung while individuals hand wash and can been adapted to children’s songs. For example, lullabys or the ABC’s can be used as a way to make the hand washing fun and enjoyable. Another neat part of the comic goes on to explain how to sneeze and avoid touching your face with dirty hands (Gharib, 2020).

These are other techniques that can be turned into skill building throughout the day. The last piece of the comic does an excellent job at explaining how this new virus can affect anyone from anywhere and reminds children not to poke fun at any particular person just because they are different. I thought this was especially important because we can use this as a starting point to prevent bullying or other types of ostracizing. I believe this was a fun way to inform younger children in the comfort of their own home while teaching them skills and powerful lessons. It is easy to use and can be easily translated to different languages to reach other parts of the world.

Gharib, M. (2020, February 28) Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus

Written by Valerie Perez, Doctoral Intern