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Protests and Resilienct Self-Care [psychologytoday.com]

 

By Alex Sitt, Pschology Today, August 29, 2020

Consider the BLM movement, Standing Rock, the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights, #MeToo, and the historic Women’s Marches. Clearly, we’re in an age of resilience actively working to uplift the unheard. As there are so many intersectional identities facing discrimination on multiple fronts, it’s not uncommon for therapists to have clients who want to engage in direct forms of social advocacy. Protests, rallies, candlelight vigils, mural paintings, and charity walks are common in activist circles, yet they're not always tame, as counter-protesters and hate groups often target such events. Add systemic racism and police brutality into the mix, and the physical and psychological risks increase exponentially, especially for people of color.  Let’s talk about how to support clients who decide to protest.

Every protester answers the call-to-action for a myriad of personal and sociopolitical reasons. To help clarify behavioral drive, therapists often differentiate between surviving and thriving. But when you’re directly oppressed by systemic racism, sexism, homophobia, or transphobia, thriving begins to sound like a privilege.  Even Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs can seem classist, as marginalized people often have to attain love, esteem, and self-actualization sans safety or security.1 This is not to say these concepts are without merit, and in the right circumstance, they're actually very useful. But when a client is getting ready to protest, this survive vs. thrive dichotomy may not fit the occasion. If anything, the pursuit of equality is often a muddled union of both. 

When minority stress compounds, a radically self-affirmative approach may be needed to uplift community, family, and self. Let that sink in for a second. For those at the heart of their movement, protests can be a direct expression of community preservation and individual self-care.

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