 When we hear of so many awful things happening in our communities and around the world, if not directly experience, it can be hard to find moments of joy and hope. Coping with the news without letting existential despair drown us is something that keeps showing up in session with my clients. That's why I wanted to offer you some resources that might help you find hope through despair. Naming our experienceIn the past months, some of my clients have wondered aloud what it’s like to be a therapist after major world events. Like many people the day after the US election, I found myself in a state of shock/not shock. As I said more than once that day, “How can this be happening? Of course, this is happening.” Yet rather than feeling overwhelmed, I found something comforting in naming it. The more I acknowledged that this was happening, the more I could process it. Holding space for the disappointment and disheartenment of others softened my own. Seeing other faces reflect my emotions reminded me that we’re not alone. Throughout the day, I tried to convey that sense of shared experience, assuring everyone I spoke to: yes, this is the theme of the week, and we can hold space for your experience of it here together. The rise of fascism isn’t confined to our neighbors to the south; it reverberates here in Canada in tangible, harmful ways. It has emboldened people to openly express hatred and paved a path toward eroding rights over our bodies and medical decisions, beginning with attacks on the trans community. These shifts are not abstract—they affect the safety and well-being of people in our communities, and it’s something we must continue to name and resist. Resources to find hopeWhen I was trying to think of resources to offer if finding hope during this time is something you're struggling with, I decided to ask my community via my newsletter and Instagram: what resources are you turning to during this time? I'm so grateful for the response, as it's given me so many books to discover! Please note that I haven't actually read these yet, so exercise your better judgement when deciding to give them a chance.
Have you read any of these? Are there any that might be resonating more strongly with you right now? Do you have other resources to add?
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AuthorNicole Perry is a Registered Psychologist and writer with a private practice in Edmonton. Her approach is collaborative and feminist at its heart. She specializes in healing trauma, building shame resilience, and setting boundaries. About the Blog
This space will provide information, stories, and answers to big questions about some of my favorite topics - boundaries, burnout, trauma, self compassion, and shame resilience - all from a feminist counselling perspective. It's also a space I'm exploring and refining new ideas.
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