The politics of counselling

(I was going to write about my 5-week break and what I’ve learned but the words aren’t coming, so maybe I need a bit more reflection time. However, this popped onto paper fairly easily.)
 
I don’t think I’ve ever seen or talked to a client where I didn’t feel, or have said, that modern politics played a role in their problems.
 

In the counselling world there is often a debate as to whether politics belong in the counselling room or not, and it’s a nuanced debate that I can’t, or won’t, get into here but certainly, it’s important to make the distinction between ‘do politics belong in the counselling room at all’ and ‘should a counsellor share their own, personal political views in the counselling room.’

​The debate gets heated when certain counsellors think their way is the only way, instead of recognising that counsellors are as unique as their clients, not only do we need but we're allowed diversity.
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There is absolutely a place for blank canvas counsellors who work with clients who wants that, and then there are the kind of clients I attract, due to how my website is done, the information I share, these blogs and how I come across in the taster sessions I offer, that lets you know that I’m not that. I won’t force my opinions on you but I have certain beliefs, like equality and being anti-racist, and as much as I can have a kind and compassionate conversation with someone who doesn’t share these views with me, I’ll also be the first to say that you would do better in finding a more suited counsellor than me if you want to discuss how immigrants have ruined Britain and the likes (you know, since I am one). And I also attract people who like that I’m not just an expressionless and non-committal kind of counsellor. I’m not for everyone and nor is my style, and that’s not just OK, that’s great, because I’m the sort of counsellor that’s for certain people. And we need to offer clients a selection of options suitable for them.
 
 
What I really want to talk about in regards to counselling and politics is this:
When I’m working with people who are overworked and underpaid, people who can’t afford seeing me regularly or stop because money has run out, when I talk to people who have or are suffering from abuse and there’s a lack of options for healing or moving on or moving away, or who can’t leave a job that’s causing them severe mental health issues because there aren’t other jobs available, or they’re too sick to work, or when dealing with people with addiction, or when talking to people who are chronically lonely, or who feels they’re to blame for a crime that’s committed against them (victim blaming), or they worry about the future due to Brexit, or who’ve lost their job due to Covid-19, or who’re having increasing panic attacks because they work in the frontline of Covid-19 and don’t have the right protection, or who isn’t getting the appropriate help or support by the NHS and their local GP, or who face racist slurs or threats, or who’s suicidal but feel they can’t tell anyone because of the stigma and shame, someone who’s depressed due to their job but see no other option but to go to work every day to pay the bills, or someone dealing with body image issues due to our social media and shaming magazine culture – it’s, in my opinion, impossible to ignore the political aspect of their problems.  
 
There’s a problem there that’s bigger than the person I’m working with – a systemic problem: A work culture problem, a societal culture of stiff upper lip, a capitalist problem of selling unattainable perfection, a local and national political problem of caring for the few and not the many, a systemic problem of racism, an underfunding problem of the NHS, a global problem of how we over-consume and travel, spreading diseases and devastation, a feminist issue, a disability issue…
 
And this blog isn’t about who voted for who or who believes in what, but simply to say, politics impacts our mental health in so many ways.
 
When lockdown happened I had several cancellations or people asking to reduce their session frequency, which I’d predicted, but what I hadn’t predicted was that it wasn’t due to finances as I’d thought but because they were suddenly less stressed which reduced their various other mental health problems: They were freed from their time-consuming commute and road rage, from office politics and the stressful school and activity runs of children. What they gained was more quality time with their loved ones at home, more time to relax and slow down the pace, and for long walks in nature. Now, if that’s not a political issue, I don’t know what is.
 
However, lately, rather than seeing the political issues behind a problem like work stress, I’m finding more and more people talking to me directly about politics and how it’s impacting their mental health:
How the Black Lives Matter movement and the continues abuse of people of colour is causing people so much upset that they’re feeling anxious and depressed reading the news. How the fast-approaching no-deal Brexit is causing mental stress. How a monster like Amazon is destroying the High Street and people’s livelihood. How the government’s handling of Covid-19 is causing financial, physical and mental health issues across Britain (and the world). How we’re consuming and destroying with little thought of the future of the planet, despite knowing better and its devastating consequences and the increase in unpredictable and terrifying natural disasters.
 
These are big problems!
 
And though I’m comfortable working with these issues, there’s been no training preparing us counsellors for it.
 
We have models on how to improve your communication skills. How to increase your confidence. How to practice mindfulness and reduce anxiety. How to make better life choices and work with your depression. How to create a life that serves you better. How to say no more.
But how to deal with systemic racism, inequality and discrimination and live as a global citizen with governments across the world who are increasingly corrupt and hateful in their politics and treatment of its citizens – that’s a mouthful, and there are no worksheets to hand out on how to overcome these issues.
 
Sure, there are ways of addressing them and ways of working with the anxiety and stress caused by these events, but it’s on a very different scale from talking to someone about being in an unhappy relationship or having a mean boss.
No one, during my many and various degrees, handed me the handbook of how to solve global political problems for the individual, unfortunately (if you have a copy, I’d really love to borrow it!)
 
And this blog, therefore, won’t offer any solutions either, but I wanted to acknowledge what’s going on around us and what’s going on for the people I know.
I know it’s a lot to sit with – or rather, be bombarded with every time you turn on the telly or look at your phone.
It’s important stuff too and it should be addressed.
And if you recognise yourself in the above worries, know you’re certainly not alone.
And the good news? You're a kind and caring person.
​The bad news? Being emphatic can hurt sometimes.
 
So, what can you do? 

You can help yourself by:

1. Focussing on what’s within your control and what you can do to make a change – maybe that’s recycling better, or maybe it’s reducing your access to the news, or maybe it’s giving money or joining a cause you believe in, maybe it’s making an effort to be nice to everyone around you for a day, including the cashier and the stranger you walk past who you smile and say hello to.
2. Focussing on the fundamentals of life – your life – get enough and good quality sleep. Eat well. Move your body. It won’t solve the problems of the world but it helps you deal with them that tiny bit better when your mind is well rested and fed.
3. Practise mindfulness/meditation. Practise spending time in the now and not always in the past or future. Even if you don’t think your life is stressful, we’re daily – all of us – stressing out our brains because it’s not designed to deal with as many things a day as our brains do. Scrolling through Facebook, being reachable by email 24/7, having to make decisions all the time due to said emails, or Facebook requests, or advertisement offers. It’s not designed to navigate roads in a car, nor multi-task, and it’s not at all designed to go to work all day and solve problems and make decisions and then go home and do it all again regarding children, dinner and chores. We used to work harder, physically, but have less brain demands. Now it’s the other way around. It’s not designed to be so alone with it all, even if you’re living with a family, it’s still not a tribe. Even by reading this blog, you’re stressing your brain out a little because you’re having to think of big concepts, so it’s really important to set time aside every day, and ideally multiple times a day, to be in the moment until it becomes more of a norm. That’s not to say 30 or even 15 minutes, but just a moment here and there, where you breathe deep and you stay in this moment, with your breath, or the sensations in your body, or the smells and sounds around you, or to really focussing on mindfully enjoying your cuppa – what does it taste like, what’s the texture and warmth - and nothing else.
4. Stay connected with others – good, healthy, kind connections.
5. Connect with nature and get light and get air and get movement.
6. Nourish your body. Think about what fuel you give it.
7. Find a hobby that brings you joy and do that – gardening, reading, singing, hiking, golfing, dancing, drawing… try and make it something where creativity is involved, and don’t misunderstand creativity with being ‘artsy’. You can be creative in your garden, you can be creative in problem-solving, you can be creative in sports, but do try and tap into more abstract thinking from time to time, and you certainly don’t have to be good at it to do it. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, dances, sings and draws every day and, according to her, she stinks at it! But it’s so yummy for the brain. Children don’t worry about having talent, they worry about having fun! Go have more fun!
8. Laugh!
9. Always, less social media.

10.   Be kind to yourself and talk to yourself like you would someone you care for.

And this last tip isn’t an official one that you’ll find in a mental health handbook, but read Humankind by Rutger Bregman for a different, uplifting and kind perspective of humans, based on research, science and facts. It’s not all as bad as we walk around thinking. In fact, we’ve never had it better! (But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement, nor that you aren’t allowed to express your worries.)
 
 
I hope you found this blog helpful.
 
Have you also been dealing with some pretty big existential questions as of late? Feeling the pressure of being a global citizen with access to the news 24/7 and the demands of others to always be available? Do you recognise how politics play a role in our mental health? Or, do you think I’m talking nonsense? 😊
 
Till next time – be kind, not least to yourself!

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Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed this blog. If you did, or didn't, or want to add something or have a question, feel free to comment below. 
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Also, I'm well aware how annoying spelling and grammar mistakes can be and if you spotted any above, I do apologise but I am dyslexic and English is my second language, so I hope you'll forgive me, bear with me and be able to let it go. I'm just perfectly imperfect, just like the rest of the world, and it's more important to me to write this and share things I'm passionate about than holding back until I've got the job done 'perfectly' (which won't ever happen), and it's more important for me to rest peacefully within myself, knowing, accepting and loving all of my flaws - including my spelling - than to go back and edit and stress over it, so don't worry about pointing out any mistakes. Just know that you excel in this area more than me, and give yourself that compliment.

I'm also very aware (more and more each day I learn something new) of how little I know. These are my meandering thoughts and my reflective opinions. It's not my intention to offend anyone or misrepresent any topic I share. Please, do feel free to get in touch here or via perthccp@outlook.com if I've made a mistake or representing something the wrong way, but please be kind about it. I'm doing my best, just like everyone else. I can stand any criticism, but I'd prefer not to be faced with confrontation, but rather with gentle feedback. Wouldn't you?

I'll be back with another blog next Sunday and if you don't want to forget or miss out, you can sign up for my blog alert and get the blog emailed straight to you - hot off the press! Just use the form at the top of this page.
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​Don't forget there are a variety of support available in Perth as well, from those dealing with recovery, to homelessness, to suicidal thoughts, to free counselling, women's support group Linda's Ladies and men's mental health support group Andy's Club, free counselling for addiction, eating disorder support group and potential for funded counselling via Linda Temple - you're not alone!

But amid Covid-19 and the current lockdown, many of these services are sadly on hold, during a time were many are struggling even more, so please do take good care of yourself and look elsewhere for support. 
Here's some links from Perth and Kinross Council 
https://www.pkc.gov.uk/coronavirus


Some hints and tips for helping your mind with Mental Health UK and from Mind:

https://mentalhealth-uk.org/help-and-information/covid-19-and-your-mental-health/

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/


The NHS's Every Mind Matters (covering England, Scotland and Wales) and their Mental Health and Well-being site:
https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/

Support Line
https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/coronavirus-covid-19/



And there are still plenty of counsellors and other therapists who offer online support.
https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/

I'm currently working via Zoom (without or without camera) for a reduced fee
https://www.perthccp.com/contact-and-fees.html