43rd Edition

I don't know about you and your client load, but my folks have not been doing well.

I mean at all.

In normal times, I'd likely think it was me and that I needed to be a better therapist. While that may indeed be the case, I feel like something else is going on or something weird is in the water.

I mean, people just aren't doing well, and we, as therapists, aren't immune to this either.

Because of this, this edition of the Sandtray Ally will be a bit different, in that I want to not just inform/educate you but more importantly make you smile.

So, here's a couple of interesting articles I found around the web in the past couple of weeks that pertain to us as therapists and then I'll get to how this connects to sandtray and share some funny memes/tiktoks that make me feel a little less crazy:)

But! Before we get to the articles, let's switch it up with a pop quiz!

What is the cause of our clients' ever-increasing stressors/issues??

A. 7 Planets are in retrograde

B. The global pandemic is STILL going on

C. Decreasing social support systems

D. Everything in the world - ALL OF THE THINGS!

ANSWER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MAIL!

Now, for the super interesting articles that will enlighten you and hopefully allow you to 'feel felt.'

Just take a look at the graph below

Now, I'm betting this isn't a huge surpise to you - that people are doing worse mentally than before all of this started but the numbers really are staggering.

Cases of depression are up 28% and anxiety levels arose by 26% since the start of the pandemic.

The authors looked at studies on mental health across 204 nations and found this to be true for all. The authors also speculate that women fared worse than men because of an increase in child-care duties during the pandemic while maintaining employment.

I want to posit that it is likely connected to the fact that women have significantly higher ACE scores than men, which contributes to underlying risk factors and preexisting mental health issues, even before the pandemic.

Again, I provide you with this for you and your clients in an effort to feel less alone if you find yourself riding the struggle bus daily.

2. UNC cancels classes last Tuesday after two students commit suicide.

Never in my 40 years have I ever experienced colleges calling off school for an entire day to help support the mental health of everyone on campus, and I was in college during 9-11!

Our young clients are some of our most vulnerable clients, because of their developing brain and their great need for social connection. Given this fact, it seems that mental health may FINALLY be starting to be recognized as an extremely important part of being a functioning human.

Of course, it's the worst that all of these negative events have to occur for the stigma of mental illness to lessen, but we do need those in power everyone to recognize the importance of emotional health.

3. A 'second wave' of mental health devastation is at our heels

This past week, I was talking to one of my clients who is a nurse and has worked in hospitals since the beginning. She made an interesting comment to me - "You guys (therapists) are going to get it bad now. We (medical field) aren't doing well and so many of us have PTSD and just have not dealt so just get ready."

Of course, just like the other information I *knew* that in my head, but to have her state it so frankly and matter-of-fact somewhat took me aback.

Similar to the first article, this piece identifies the growing mental health issues across the globe, but states that Americans are not faring as well as other countries and that similar to the initial effects of the pandemic, this 'second wave' will be affecting those with less resources/minority groups/lower SES.

Again, I bring this up not to be a harbinger of doom but to help you remember that you aren't crazy - this is just REALLY HARD.

Now for some somewhat light-hearted and funny memes/tiktoks to make you laugh or maybe just shake your head in the 'yep, that's true' way:)

What it's like to be a therapist today:

Ok, so this one has NSFW language but SO TRUE:

Check out this tiktok of my brain as I go into work every morning:

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZM8LtPhMu/

Or what about this one about what it feels like to work for many agencies (you know I'm not lying here)

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZM8Lt9Kmg/

And one more with how it feels just trying to get through the week with ALL THE NOTES DUE

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZM8LtQREA/

Now you I know this is good information (and hilarious) but I don't want to leave you hanging without RESOURCES for your sandtray practice.

These three tips/techniques will help both you AND your clients with handling the stressors that seem we are all swimming in now.

1. Use the sandtray as a regulation tool. Lisa Dion promotes this as a technique for many clients. When clients seem to be somewhat resistant to talk or just need a way to calm down the system, putting hands in the sand is my go-to resource.

2. Expect less abstract trays. Because our brains are fighting for all of the cognitive resources, people may not have the ability to express themselves in the way they would pre-pandemic. What this may look like: more concrete trays, such as a mother figure representing a mother and also lots of words/symbols to represent actual feelings.

3. Be ready to listen, validate, and reflect. None of us have answers to these hard questions. As we process the trays, make an effort to refrain from questions but rather help clients feel feelings and work through what is needed with you as an ally.

And so as we move into fall and the last quarter of 2021 (I know, this year has FLOWN BY), I want all of you to know that you matter and that there's nothing wrong with having a hard time right now.

You are having a normal reaction to an abnormal circumstance. You are not wrong or "crazy," it's just hard.

And, I'm giving you what's on my lock screen right now that helps me remember my internal strength every time I see it. Use it, share it with your clients, or just save for that time when you feel like the opposite is true.