As we approach the upcoming election, I write to you as one who feels, as many of you do, the tension around what’s at stake. As the bearers and protectors of people’s most intimate thoughts, journeys, and struggles, we’re likely sensing that tension in our sessions. We notice the tremors of our time reflected in the fears, hopes, and conflicts our clients share with us. And as we hold this space, it’s sometimes difficult to remember that we, too, are human beings moving through the same turbulent waters.

Now, we face a unique moment—one that challenges us to tend to ourselves as steadfastly as we do to others. To support you through the political turmoil, whatever it may be, I offer five considerations:

Create Space Between Sessions. It’s easy to jump from one session to the next, but now is the time to slow down. Between sessions, linger a little longer with your own body. Experience your own presence. Instead of immediately prepping for your next client, take a few moments to breathe deeply, sip your tea, or simply sit in silence. Allow yourself the time to reset, acknowledging that you, too, are impacted by the world outside your office.

Lean on Your Confidants. Reach out to a trusted friend or colleague with whom you can be truly honest. Allow yourself to vent or cry, if you need to. You may want to journal or move your body to release tension. The important thing is to find a way to express what you’re feeling. Give yourself permission to process the tension in your own body so that you have the emotional capacity to hold space for the truths and realities your clients bring to you.

Seek Peer Consultation or Supervision. No matter how seasoned you are, consider joining a peer group or seeking supervision to explore the nuanced impact of our current world on your clients. In these complex times, having a space to process ethical or emotional dilemmas can be grounding. It’s a way to stay true to your values and uphold the integrity of the work, even as you yourself are deeply impacted by the weight of our times.

Stay Connected to Your Imagination. When the world feels daunting, hold on to your vision for a better one. Whether it’s lying under an open sky, making art, or journaling about your dreams—find moments to reconnect with your hopes and aspirations. For all of us, engaging in practices that allow our imagination to sustain you are vital; they remind us that, no matter what happens, we have endured and can continue to foster a world rooted in possibility and change.

Protect Your Heart and Spirit. Remember that caring for others is only sustainable if you are caring for yourself. Nurture the practices that bring you peace, be they spiritual, creative, or connected to enjoying quiet moments in nature. This kind of self-care fortifies us, allowing us to step into our roles with the resilience our clients rely on and the compassion that drives our work.

Take care of yourself as fiercely as you do others. Because in times like these, the world needs therapists who are not just capable, but whole.

Shawna Murray-Browne

Shawna Murray-Browne, PhD, LCSW-C, is an author, cultural historian, integrative psychotherapist, and liberation-focused healer. She’s the keeper of sacred space especially for women leaders, globally, working at the intersection of social impact and embodied ancient wisdom. Featured on PBS’s Mysteries of Mental Illness, she’s one of HuffPost’s “Ten Black Female Therapists You Should Know.”