I’m back counselling today.
It was icy and road conditions were difficult, but I got to MIND early, had a zoom meeting with my supervisor then saw clients until three.
My head was full, so I dropped into the one and only Starbucks ( something I never do ) for a coffee, ham something and a self debrief.
The coffee house was filled by women and girls on laptops.
I sat and made mental notes about my clients, that way you leave the emotions they share with you at the door. Having Said this there is always the moment you can pick those emotions up and that’s a real no no Human , but a no no.
If you have a headache after facilitating therapy, you need to roll the emotions out away from yourself
The coffee and ham sandwich helped.
So did the self debrief.
An open window left screamingly open in the icy air clears the head too.
I bought coffee logs from Lidl and cheap scented candles from the reduced price shelf beforehand but the bustle didn’t help my reboot , so Starbucks here’s to you, no blaring music, quiet corners to hide away in
Few screaming kids
I watched the Baristas and thought about the fires in California
A sequence where some homeowners were leading their horses to safety amid a flurry of sparks only to be “interviewed” by an over zealous insensitive reporter came to mind
It’s a mad world
Having said this, this reported showed much welcomed humanity when coming across a young man fleeing his burning house with hardly anything…..
Mad? It's bloody crazy out there.
ReplyDeleteCrazy like a loon
DeleteI imagine that counselling would do your head in if not taking time out to sort out what was said in somewhere quiet. Sounds like a defense tactic to work into your schedule on counselling days.
ReplyDeleteIt is a mad, worrisome world and kindness comes in all sorts of actions.
Hugs!
Being still even with a coffee is important
DeleteYes, you certainly need good boundaries as a counsellor.
ReplyDeleteAnd in relationships debra
DeleteIt's good to see kindness in people. Thanks for sharing the video. As for counseling, I don't think I could do it. Glad you could debrief. I wonder if I could learn to do that for all the shit that swirls around inside my head.
ReplyDeleteIt takes practice to stop it swirling
DeleteI have to admire you John. You are taking care of yourself and that is paramount. You’ve had a challenging holiday period and you’ve done well. Your counseling clients are better served as well. You are learning how to handle this new intense environment and thrive. Good on ya.👍🏻. And a shout out to Roger! He’s a champ!
ReplyDeleteLou he’s my hero
DeleteI should imagine, after your many years of nursing experience, especially hospice work, you have developed many de-briefing skills anyway. Although, as counselling is 1:1, it's not the same as having colleagues to share with. I admire you. I couldn't do it.
ReplyDeleteThe wild fires are scary. It's good to know that there is humanity amongst all the madness and mayhem in the world. xx
I need to balance more self care with work as well as counselling
DeleteSorry for the fella in the clip, all he might have left will be a bike and his paintings, so sad. Good that you are able to clear your head of someone’s problems after you council them. You will be a fine councillor. Gigi
ReplyDeleteI hope so xx
DeleteBig hugs to the world. Esp. a certain John G. and his furries.
ReplyDeleteXxx
DeleteThere is the need to separate emotions from therapy on the part of the therapist. Otherwise you could not do it. But you've also reminded me that with so much going on in the world, so much suffering and fear, that all of us have to learn to separate ourselves, at least partially, or yes, we'd all go insane.
ReplyDeleteI find hospice work is too intensive without a regular holiday
DeleteWere the women and girls on laptops lap dancers?
ReplyDeleteNo
DeleteOMG. That clip brought tears to my eyes!
ReplyDeleteMe too
DeleteThe fires are horrific and some reporters can be just plain silly (and inconsiderate) while others are putting their lives on the line to give us all the news and to help out when they can. I’ve always wondered what tricks therapists have to keep their patients’ problems from overwhelming them. I don’t like Starbucks on principle, but I do like Starbucks. Damn.
ReplyDeleteTheir coffee was good
DeleteI’m not a fan of their regular coffees but I do like their specialty drinks... and treats.
DeleteGlad you are learning ways to cope with your new job as a counsellor. Hope you like it.
ReplyDeleteWho knows
DeleteSeparating the job from personal life is key. It is good to have techniques for doing so.
ReplyDeleteWhen I worked in the computer industry, as I walked out the door, I closed the door tightly.
A good metaphor
DeleteYou definitely have to debrief, shut the door and open the next.
ReplyDeleteI think you are so very well suited to the counseling profession. I've read your blog for many years and appreciate the way you navigate the human experience with wisdom and kindness.
ReplyDeleteThe wildfires are almost too much for me to watch on TV. We had to evacuate our home 4 years ago, uncertain if we would return to ashes. After a week we came home to an intact house...one of the lucky ones. This current wildfire is an absolute nightmare.
Mimi
Mimi
You will navigate this type of counseling well.If only because your childhood taught you to separate
ReplyDeleteyourself from people that
at times were,shall we say, not always well balanced nor as kind and stable as one might wish.
Be gentle with yourself
and all of your lovable
pets,-Mary xx
Hi John, Good for you for understanding self care. The video you shared helps me to focus on the good in humanity. Along with kind and encouraging words offered at Jimmy Carter's funeral and a long lunch today with a good friend, I am able to set aside thoughts of the craziness in the world.
ReplyDeleteThose poor people in LA, I really pity them. So many have lost everything. I can hardly imagine the pain.
ReplyDeleteHappy to read how you are able to disengage after a counselling session and "clear your aura". It would be a heavy burden to carry if not. Also to balance your self care with work and everyday routines. Not easy. Especially in winter when we have to create our own joy sometimes as nature is sleeping.
ReplyDeleteThe wildfires are shocking and heartbreaking too.
I well imagine the energetic load that falls upon you as a counselor. Maybe at some point, you could bring one of your sweet doggos with you to work, claiming it's for clients, but really, it would help you, too. Now that dump will be in office soon, the madness here in the states will unbalance us all, as well as in other countries he plans to subsume. We will need all the skilled counseling we can get. May the Gods be with us all.
ReplyDeleteI have never had nor needed therapy, but with tRumps threats about taking over Canada, I might soon. He is just itching for world war 3 if he tries. There is no way Canadians want to be part of his crazy. If we wanted to be Americans we would have gone there already. We stopped travelling there about 15 years ago as everytime we had to go through Porto Rico on our way home from Grenada, their border security would photograph us, make one of us take our dog, who had all her proper papers etc. out of her crate, and then swab her. We were only changing planes, not even staying there. They yelled at us and treated us like criminals, so we said enough is enough and have not stepped in USA again. Gigi
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you spent time with people, who really needed someone to listen. Listening can have more value than trying to solve their problems.
ReplyDelete"you need to roll the emotion away from yourself"
ReplyDeleteThis is what they teach you? My goodness what utter claptrap.