Peggy. The art therapist.
Peggy has started journaling again. Specifically, she is writing to her daughter Cora, who at the moment is only two years old, but one day may want to better understand what life was like during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Registered Art Therapist, journaling is something Peggy encourages her clients to do to help cope with stress, fear and trauma. But at the moment, drawing, painting and writing the realities of everyday life is proving to be an important creative outlet for her, too.
“I have never before practiced what I preach so much,” Peggy said.
The therapy practice where Peggy works, where she also serves as clinical director, is located in a village southwest of Chicago. Pre-pandemic, she would see as many as 25 clients a week in the office. Since Illinois’ shelter-in-place order took effect, Peggy has been seeing almost the same number of clients but holding telehealth counseling sessions from her home, connecting through video or phone calls with clients.
Not being in the same room with clients has created some challenges, especially for Peggy who as an art therapist often incorporates hands-on activities into her counseling sessions. But, just as she is trained to do, Peggy is getting creative. For instance, instead of playing in a sand tray with a young client in her office, she invites him to build scenes with legos and use items in his home.
“Obviously there is some face-to-face value that is lost, but most clients have given it a chance, and everyone has reported it is going more smoothly than expected,” she said.
GRIEVING ALONGSIDE CLIENTS
Peggy’s therapy sessions feel different nowadays but not just because of where they take place and the distractions of her children at home. Like her clients, Peggy is personally experiencing the stress, anxiety and other negative impacts of the global pandemic.
“What I didn't expect was — especially in the last week or so — realizing we are in this particular trauma with everyone,” she said. “I am living it alongside my clients. Usually, even if we have experienced something similar to clients, therapists have more distance from the event or feeling.”
It has also become more difficult to challenge her clients’ negative thoughts because she is having them, too. Peggy is careful not to say comforting cliches or deflect their negative reactions. She is even hesitant to challenge clients feeling extreme fear in the ways she may have done with anxious clients prior to the pandemic.
“I don't want to give them false hope, and I don't want to diminish how serious this is,” she said. “It weighs on me that we don’t know what will happen. I worry about the impact of society’s mental health going so long without big gatherings or close contact. I feel fear not only for my family and friends but also how my clients and their loved ones will be impacted long term.”
Peggy explained her mental state and that of so many others is similar to going through the grief cycle: periods of denial, anger and depression and finally, acceptance. At times, it is difficult for Peggy to hold the weight of her client’s grief alongside her own. She also realizes many people may not have reached the acceptance phase yet, and that is OK. She isn’t always fully there herself. She can block some “scary” feelings...sometimes.
“We need a light at the end of the tunnel, and the tunnel feels so long and so far,” she said. “As humans we all just want structure to it. We want a timeline, we want a plan. My default, personally and professionally, is to find that light, but I'm having trouble without some sort of timeline.”
This moment of shared grief and fear between Peggy and her clients is leading to new connections and deeper conversations during therapy sessions. No one is going through this alone, not completely. Peggy is herself finding support and guidance from other mental health professionals virtually, through her colleagues and through online forums and Facebook groups dedicated to counselors, therapists and working mothers.
“There are a ton of resources and professionals who are excited and eager to help one another,” Peggy said. “People are sharing resources and validating our experience as mental health professionals more than I have ever experienced.”
MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS TIPS
The transition to telehealth has certainly been challenging. Seeing how the executive order for telehealth coverage would actually apply with patients’ insurance companies alone was a major learning curve for Peggy and her practice. She also works closely with the owner of the practice and knows the importance of supporting the clinicians navigating this difficult time. Because she is working and living under the same roof, the barrier between work and home life has blurred, as well.
“I am not getting away from it. I am eating cookies,” she said, laughing. “And Cora has only busted into one session so far.”
Finding humor, wherever possible, is important. She said she was talking to a client recently about the main reason to stay on Facebook. It’s the memes, they decided, “they help get us through this.” If you become inundated with negative news, immediately seek out something positive to counteract it, Peggy said. Watch a silly animal video or follow the good news movement on Instagram.
“Being able to laugh even though we know something big is going on, it’s kinda what life is about,” she said. “It helps to balance it out.”
Love is another thread that will pull people through this difficult time, Peggy said. She is grateful for the love and support from her husband and cuddles from her daughter and 10-month-old son. She is also grateful for her flexible work schedule, which allows her and her husband, an elementary PE teacher, to trade off watching the children in between virtual learning obligations and counseling sessions.
In addition to seeking laughter and love right now, Peggy has these tips for our mental health and wellness:
Connect with someone everyday: Call a loved one, text or video chat with a friend. Talk to your dog, even! It doesn't have to be a human. Find someone (or something) who can lift your spirits and remind you are not alone.
Do something active every day: Make it your own and don’t pressure yourself to grow a six pack. Go for a walk around the block or an hour-long hike. If you do not want to go outside, try a YouTube workout video or turn on some music and have a dance party!
Do something mindful everyday: Take time to reflect and ground yourself. Set an intention at the start of the day or pause to reflect and take a deep breath. Peggy has been journaling, but whatever you decide to do, it should be calming and positive.
And finally, be compassionate with yourself. For Peggy, that is recognizing some of her negative feelings — stress, impatience, frustration — are valid reactions to our current situation. We are all living under a “big, ugly cloud,” she said, and we just need to do our best to give ourselves permission to feel, then get out from under it and find that light.
“Overall, it is identifying what your need is and understanding ‘What can help me right now in this moment?’” Peggy said.
LEARN MORE ABOUT PEGGY…
WHAT IS YOUR INSPIRATION TO KEEP GOING?
“I would say my faith and my family. Faith is what overpowers my fear. It is all encompassing — faith in God and in humanity. I hope this will unite people in a unique way so these lives lost brings lasting change for the good.”
WHAT ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR AT THIS MOMENT?
“I am grateful to be born where I was, to whom I was born. I know that I am privileged, I didn’t choose those things, and I am lucky. I am not in a high-risk area. I have the support of my family, and I have a job that is secure that I can do from home.”
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN THINGS “GET BACK TO NORMAL”?
“Oh my goodness, I just want my mother to feed me a meal and hug my kids! I want to be around my big family, gathered together.”