Authenticity, Humanity, and Healing: Finding Your Footing as a Therapist at the Time of Violence, War, and Division

We live at the time of division - wars rage in various parts of the world; direct and vicarious exposure to trauma is high; and holding balance and nuance is difficult. We are all affected one way or the other. To begin to heal places that are broken - whether it is on the individual level or the level of societies, we have to strive to understand and empathize with the plurality of experiences and to find our shared humanity. It is in the context of safe connection that healing can begin to happen. 
 
As therapists, we are committed to alleviating people’s suffering and contributing to their well-being and healthy and fulfilling life. People come to our offices from different walks of life, religious beliefs, racial and cultural backgrounds, and political convictions. 
 
So how do we create a safe space for our clients when their experiences or beliefs are different from ours? How do we hold space for others when we as therapists can also be intimately affected by the events? Can we try to help everyone? It is ok to refuse to work with a client whose political or religious beliefs trigger us? 
 
In this workshop, we will engage with these questions and begin to find our way towards a stance of authenticity, connection, and shared humanity. We review various approaches to the role of a therapist — from neutral to openly political, as we explore a stance that feels aligned with who we are. This workshop incorporates presentation, inquiry, discussion, and experiential exercises.