Tonight’s Trans Affirming Group was smaller than usual.
Some folx reached out and said they are shuttering in place for now, but for those who showed up tonight they were seeking social connections realizing that over the next day’s/weeks things will be different…our world, our nation, our state is moving into unchartered territory.
I am a health care provider, and in times of crisis mental health matters.
If you have been in my space and in my office you know I have plenty of room to honor a six foot distance; and I have been paying attention to different insurance protocols being updated almost daily associated with making telehealth at this time a more viable option for those in need.
My plan is to keep seeing folx in my office and setting up telehealth where/when possible and preferred.
This isn’t my first pandemic; and it isn’t the first time we faced a virus that we didn’t appreciate by putting a plan in place to help those at risk and those who contracted the virus.
Today most folx do not remember, nor have experience with a virus we didn’t understand and hadn’t yet figured out how to treat. Today’s COVID-19 holds a great deal of fear and misinformation…misinformation that was unfortunately spread for too long at the highest levels of leadership.
Yesterday we finally saw a sea change by our highest elected and appointed leadership for the sake of our community’s health and well-being.
I remember another day and time when elected leaders in the highest office looked past a vulnerable community in great need facing an uncertain virus, and in times of crisis mental health matters.
During group tonight, I referenced to those present that through the highs and lows of what we are about to face, I will remain available to help my clients weather this experience.
A group member said, “Forgive me, but when you say, ‘highs and lows’ what highs are you referencing?”
“Great Question!”
During the height of the AIDS Pandemic there were plenty of lows. Each day my day would start at looking at the list of who died the night before and the list of who was admitted to the hospital. Throughout the course of the day we would have to update both lists.
I shared in group, “One thing holds true across all faiths and philosophies and that is our human condition leans toward compassion…to give it and receive it…the highs are about helping people move beyond their fear to reach out for help and reach out to help one another. This is what makes us human.”
On some of the worst days during the AIDS Pandemic, I experienced some of the best of humanity evidenced in how we cared for one another as outcast queers, addicts (active/in recovery), impoverished and non-white folx…my goal today is to support the clients I serve to discover more fully their true beautiful self and be their best person living their best truth even and especially in this uncertain time.
My prayer is that this time around we care for the “least of these” far better than we did at the tipping point of another pandemic from decades ago…and so I close with this last thought.
One of the greatest gifts I received from my grandmother was to always look toward and tenaciously hold on to hope. In uncertain and unfamiliar times, holding to hope remains a powerful weapon against fear.
In times of crisis…during this time of COVID-19 our mental health matters; and so I strive to be a hope care provider!
I remain available to serve my clients and my community.