Therapy is political

Since the US election result last week, I have witnessed a marked increase in clients bringing politics and their fears around it into therapy sessions.

As a therapist with an intersectional approach, I am happy to hold space for this and, where appropriate and relevant, offer self-disclosure. Intersectional therapy considers client's lives as not existing in a vacuum. Understanding that client experience and how they present is shaped by privilege and/or lack thereof.

I'm a queer woman from working-class origins. I'm white, I have children, I'm able-bodied, and I'm neurodivergent. All of these protected characteristics affect my experience. Some allow for privileges, some marginalisation. There is nuance within each.

Much of my client base is female or non-binary, and queer. My clients are affected by political shifts to the far-right, particularly where their rights are concerned, but additionally through misogynist and homophobic/transphobic rhetoric. The "Your body, my choice" misogynist meme widely circulated online in light of further roll-back of reproductive rights is one terrifying example of that.

The recent US election result has brought up legitimate fears for many of my clients. And the reality is that it is more likely to be a more challenging time for them. A more dangerous time. This can create feelings of hopelessness in those affected by hostile policy.

One way to take power back is to consider and challenge patriarchal norms which have led to a lack of equity and safety for marginalised people. This can be explored in an intersectional therapy space. Another is to build upon a support network. Create a safe community of allies in which to be fully seen and heard. For many, this may not be their current community or their relatives.

A theme which has developed in recent sessions has been one of empowerment. My clients are often activists, supporting others through protest, or low-paid not-for-profit work. They are caregivers to children, older adults or partners. They rarely have much space or financial freedom to give thought to their own needs.

They've typically been fed the narrative of being 'good'; "selfless", "caring", "no trouble". These words are deemed badges of honour, so it can become second nature to squash down their own needs and wants for acceptance and validation. This suppression regularly leads to burnout, frustration, anger, and sickness. It's a tough cycle to break, but a necessary one.

A question I regularly ask clients is "What do you need?" - and it's not unusual for them to take several sessions to answer it.

Their own needs can be buried under layers of the needs and demands of others. There's absolutely nothing radical about the question and yet the societal messaging aimed at this client base tells a story that there is.

When clients do get to this point of acknowledging their needs, it can be understandably frightening. There can be much life unravelling to be done to make getting their (generally very reasonable) needs met. It may be easier to run and hide or acquiesce to expectations.

But shining a light upon those areas which are easily abandoned due to the conditions of an unjust world can make for developments which not only impact clients' lives for the better, they can also change wider society for good.