What’s the purpose of therapy when injustice is the issue?
What’s the purpose of therapy when injustice is the issue?
Written by Dr. Therapinay,
Founder, Therapin*y & The.DrTherapinay
5 reasons to attend therapy for those who know that the real issue is not your mental health - it’s an oppressive system.
So you know that the issue REALLY is white supremacy, patriarchy, colonialism/imperialism, capitalism, and all the intersections of oppression… why go to therapy?
If the REAL issue is the sociocultural and political powers of white supremacy, patriarchy, imperialism, and capitalism, it can feel aggravating or conflicting to consider going to therapy - an individualistic process. Remember, part of self-care is a reflection of the love you have for yourself and in being able to collectively care. Trauma and pain can often lead us feeling disconnected, fragmented, hopeless, and helpless. Seeking therapy can create space to FEEL - feel anything and everything, to becoming empowered, and to create capacity to engage collectively! Here are a few reasons to attend therapy when the world is burning and you know it’s really not your issue…
To create and honor space to grieve
There is no doubt that loss and grief has been a big part of this global pandemic, on-going racial violence, and continued war on bodily autonomy for girls and women. Therapy can be a space to honor our right to grieve, feel sad, mourn the loss of so much and so many. I often tell my clients that when we push away sadness, anger, or any strong emotions, it’s like attempting to hold a balloon under water - it’s eventually going to force it’s way back up and in profound ways. A recent beautiful offering created by Jana Lynne Umipig-Lawag Nakem ( @jlcreator ) “Ritualize Grief. Honor Death.” is a profound way to be intentional with the strong feelings that can come up. It is common to hear, “just cheer up… don’t cry… or don’t be sad…” when grieving, which normalizes the idea that grieving or mourning a loss of someone or something is wrong. We usually aren’t allowed to grieve properly, and we pass that along to our children by saying, “you want me to give you something to cry about… it’s not that bad… you’re ok… stop crying” Therapy allows for a pause. It gifts us time to process the deep loss, transitions, and collective trauma around us.
Gifting oneself space to heal, to dream, to envision, to feel
For 1-hour a week, you have your own space solely for YOU. Have you every had YOUR VERY OWN SPACE or TIME that is completely about YOU? You can cry, vent, dream, destress and be guilt-free about it! Believe me, the therapist wants to be there for you, and wants you to talk and share your feelings. You don’t need to worry about unsolicited advice, judgmental opinions, concerns about friends/family tsismis, or even if you’re taking up too much space in the conversation. Ability to have catharsis/ to feel/ to sit with or process emotions, which is counterintuitive for a system that values dissociation. Therapy is your space to heal, to dream of another way of being, to envision or imagine a different future, to feel however you feel.
To stay mindful of not replicating the same oppressive behavior that's being done
Trauma forces your physiological system, your cognition, and perception to narrow - to go into fight/flight/fawn/freeze mode, so that you can survive. Trauma informed therapy is a safe space to cultivate safety in your body, to process strong feelings, and to feel less overwhelmed and triggered. Being able to process and build capacity for any strong feelings to arise is like being able to learn how to surf, or be the captain of your ship, or soar above the waves like a bird. You are better equipped to navigate (sometimes, scary) emotions, release excess energy and tension, de-stress, lower anxiety and depression levels. When you’re feeling more capable, you’ll have increased capacity to engage in community organizing, advocate, connect with others, or even be able to stop generational trauma in it’s tracks! As a parent, even 5-10 minutes of mindfulness for me, means that I can be more present for my child, model healthy behaviors, and have time to have fun. Remember, oppression begets oppression - hurt people hurt people. We already know that community organizing can help with your mental health and can feel like therapy. But how can you engage with community and be an activist if you’re navigating the debilitating impact of depression or other mental health concerns, or carrying to weight of the unjust world on your shoulders?? Therapy can open the space in your body to breathe, to let your physiological system heal, let your perception widen - to not be in fight/flight/freeze/fawn mode. Therapy can be a space to process the strong feelings, figure out where to direct your energy or where it best serves you/yours, and how to engage in activism from a place of values rather than from the oppression done to you.
Allow space to pause and not be sucked into capitalism's pressure to "produce, do, make, hustle"
The basis of capitalism is to become productive, build capital, do things, make things happen, and it thrives on that hustle-culture. What we know of this type of hyper-capitalistic culture is that it is exploitative, does not equate to collective well-being, and can create deterioration in your mind/body that leads to burn-out/degenerative diseases/death. Therapy actively revolts against this culture and creates space in your day/week to JUST BE - be you, be in your feelings, feel into your Being-Human humanity. Remember, your true Self and well-being is not measured in terms of your productivity. Therapy can be your space to reclaim your true Self, to not be gaslit into believing that you are the sum of your bank account, or that your worth is tied up into your ability to produce.
To stay connected in community
Healing takes not only self-care, but community care. As our Grants & Finance Manager for Therapin*y, Christy Tonel reminded us in her previous post, “we cannot do everything on our own; it takes connection to heal as well.” Working with a therapist allows for the guaranteed one time in the week that you will be able to connect with someone else - Why not let that someone else be someone who you know will have your best interest at heart, who is dedicated to listening to you with nonjudgemental ears, and who is completely focused on your well-being?! To learn more about your therapy options, check out therapists and see who may align with your values wellness goals! Need a suggestion? Connect with Therapin*y!