In today’s world, political tensions often run high and the need for self-care is more crucial than ever. Both therapists and their clients can experience heightened stress and anxiety due to the constant barrage of political news and its impact on personal lives.
Integrating self-care techniques into therapy not only supports the well-being of your clients, but also enhances your ability to provide effective care.
By prioritizing self-care, you, as a therapist, can foster resilience, reduce burnout, and enhance the therapeutic process, creating a more supportive and balanced environment for healing and growth. In other words, when you help yourself, you can better help others.
Here are some valuable strategies to integrate self-care into therapy practice during stressful political climates.
Focus On What You Can Control
Many of the things we stress out about tend to be out of our control. But there are things we can do that are within our control, like our decisions and reactions.
When it comes to the political climate, things you can control are your vote. You might volunteer for campaigns or ballot initiatives that you believe in. Or, you might even join voter registration drives to help empower others to use their voting power.
Attending peaceful protests, meetings, or rallies are also a great way to support what’s meaningful to you and exercise your agency.
And if doing anything more than voting feels like too much with your other responsibilities as a therapist, that’s okay. Remember that you are providing a tremendous service by simply holding space for your clients during a time that may feel a bit like a rollercoaster ride.
Practice Mindfulness
Encouraging mindfulness practices can help your clients stay present and manage overwhelming emotions triggered by political events. Techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or guided imagery can ground them in the present moment, fostering a sense of calm and control.
For therapists, integrating mindfulness into their daily routine can enhance their ability to stay attuned to their clients’ needs without becoming overwhelmed by external stressors. Even a few minutes of mindfulness each day can make a significant difference, especially when it comes to expanding your own or your clients’ window of tolerance.
Give Yourself Compassion
Self-compassion is a powerful tool in navigating stressful political climates. Therapists can incorporate self-compassion exercises into sessions, encouraging clients to treat themselves with kindness and understanding amidst political uncertainties. Techniques like writing self-affirmations or practicing self-care activities can reinforce this practice.
Set Boundaries
Establishing boundaries is essential for both therapists and clients during stressful political times. Therapists can model healthy boundary-setting by communicating limits on discussing politics during sessions if it becomes too distressing.
In addition to monitoring your own news exposure, you can also encourage clients to set their own boundaries with news consumption and social media to prevent information overload and reduce anxiety. This might look like limiting this consumption to 30 minutes each day or keeping a gratitude journal to offset any negativity absorbed from reading about current events.
Setting specific times to consume news and focusing on reliable sources can help manage anxiety and support a balanced perspective.
Reflection for Therapists
Therapists should prioritize their own self-care to avoid burnout and maintain therapeutic effectiveness. Engaging in reflective practice, supervision, or peer support groups can provide you opportunities to process challenging emotions that may be triggered by political discussions in therapy sessions.
Next Steps
Self-care is a necessity, and one of the strongest forms of self-care is recognizing when you need help and reaching out for support. A fellow mental health professional will be able to work with you to figure out where your stress is coming from, as well as developing coping strategies to help you better manage the signs and symptoms. If you’re interested in learning more about practicing self-care as a therapist or need help with something else, click here to learn more about working with a therapist as a therapist, then reach out today to set up a consultation call.
