A Kind Note Of Encouragement

The key is to acknowledge a setback when it happens and to continue working toward your intended goal. There are many people who might be just at the very beginning of their own heroic journey, people who could use an ally just like you. For example, you might want to send them a kind note of encouragement, or you might want to let them know that you have been through something similar. Or perhaps you can join or start a cause that helps people who have been through similar experiences. This is your call to be your own version of Batman, or another superhero, in real life. Please list a few steps that you might like to take to help others who are going through similar situations and experiences as you went through. You can write or draw your answer below. Let’s call her Lisa. Lisa struggled with anxiety and depression and went through a lot of bullying in school. Lisa believed that no one cared about her and that everyone hated her. Lisa struggled with discussing her mental health, often asking her parents to speak for her. She struggled with disclosing her mental health experiences, seemingly ashamed of them.

Disconnected For Too Long

She stated that she felt a strong sense of connection with the leading character and identified with her. Having never previously heard of Veronica Mars, I decided to go home and watch the first episode of the show. I accidentally ended up watching the entire first season. The show is psychologically rich and very powerful in terms of portraying a variety of issues that teenagers might face. And all of that occurs before the show even opens and the rest of the show has to do with Veronica learning to pick up the pieces. This is a very powerful example of the protagonist displaying posttraumatic growth. When I returned to see my client the following week, I informed her that I understood why she was so drawn to this show. When I asked her if anyone else in school might have been struggling with mental health, Lisa said, I don’t know. Maybe one or two people. I then asked her, What would Veronica do? She looked up at me. She thought about it. And then she said, Veronica wouldn’t keep silent.

Big Daddy of Them All

My client had never before volunteered to talk about her mental health to me or anyone else, let alone make a speech. I asked her, So, is this what you want to do? She said, Yes. We spent 2 weeks rehearsing and practicing. And then she did it. She spoke about her mental health struggles and her experiences with bullying, and her feeling alone. She disclosed that there were times when she thought about suicide but also shared that she was in therapy and was starting to feel better. She invited people to talk to her at any time if they were either struggling or had any questions about their mental health. The results of this were unlike what either of us anticipated. At the end of her speech, her classmates rushed to her, hugging her and thanking her for speaking out. Everyone was crying, including the teacher. By the end of the week, everyone in school found out about her speech. People were messaging her and stopping her in the hallway, sharing their stories and thanking her.

That'll Be the Day

After a few months, she started a mental health peer support group in her school. And although there are still times that Lisa struggles with her monsters, she now doesn’t have to struggle alone. Like Lisa, like Batman, like Veronica Mars, chances are that you too have faced numerous monsters in your life, and probably continue to face many of them still. And yet, like these heroes, you are both a hero and an ally to those who need your help the most. Even when it’s hard, even when you might be feeling overwhelmed, you still show up for not only your patients, but for so many people in your life. And that is the true definition of a hero. Thank you for all your hard work. Thank you for making a difference. For this reason, in addition to reviewing the client’s progress prior to their termination of therapy, it is also helpful to arm the client with practice tools, including learning to identify signs of a potential resurgence of past symptoms and a plan for how to meet these challenges. The following activities are designed to assist clients in identifying issues as they arise and as a plan for relapse prevention. For Frodo, who is carrying the cursed ring, sometimes taking a few steps toward his destination to Mordor is excruciating, not to mention exhausting. Depression can feel that way sometimes, as can grief and trauma. When times are challenging, it might be easy to forget the skills that we have learned and the allies that we have made along the way. That’s why we are going to create an emotional safety plan for how to approach old problems and new obstacles when they arise. First, please list or draw some of the previous challenges you’ve struggled with whether or not you continue to experience them today, for example, depression, anxiety, and other concerns. Please write out or draw some of the symptoms that you might need to look out for, some signs that you might be facing these monsters again. Let’s think about which skills you can use to help you support yourself and find a sense of emotional safety if you are faced with these obstacles again. Please write out or draw some examples of skills you can readily use if these problems were to arise again. However, sometimes our goals can be vague and long term, such as finishing school or completing a project. For example, you can set an intention to focus on being more patient with others on a given day. You write down your intention and commit to practicing being more patient throughout the day.