Therapy is one of those very personal things that as far as we know have mostly been in-person. That adds to the personal touch of it. But with COVID-19, social distancing, and lockdown, therapists and clients have had to adapt to a new type of session. Today, we talked to Majet about how her therapy practice has changed and where she sees therapy going in the future.
Meet Majet
Maria Reyes, MS (aka Majet) has had her own private practice, Resilient Mind Works, in Philadelphia for four years now. She specializes in trauma therapy but prior to that, she was a paramedic. During that time, she was going through her own traumatic experiences but did not understand what was going on. Why was she feeling angry and unfulfilled? It wasn’t until she decided to go to graduate school to become a therapist that she started to understand what she herself was going through.
“We are who we are because of what happened to us in the past.”
Before finally deciding to go to grad school, Majet attended a DivaGirl event in Canada. She noticed something. All the women she met there were genuinely happy. She realized that it was because they were all doing something they loved. They felt fulfillment in their lives. This is what gave her the final push to go to school. At the same time, she decided to create the first US branch of DivaGirl.
DivaGirl is a community of women that educates and empowers each other. They host workshops, events, and even international volunteer opportunities.
How has COVID-19 impacted your practice?
When the pandemic first hit, sessions began to slow down. Social distancing started being enforced and lockdown eventually happened. At that time, people stopped coming. But not much later did people realize they could continue the sessions virtually. It took some adjustment but sessions eventually got back to a normal pace.
Around the 7th and 8th week of lockdown, people started to realize that this isn’t ending any time soon. Being cooped up also started to get to people. Now, Majet is busier than ever with new clients looking to understand what they are feeling.
With all the talks of wave-2 of the virus in the fall, Majet feels there may be a wave-3. But wave-3 will be different. It will be finding ways to cope with the impact of everyone’s mental health.
“Moving on in life after this global trauma will be an adjustment.”
How are sessions now different than pre-pandemic sessions?
Technology has provided tremendous flexibility we never had before. As therapy sessions became completely virtual, people started to notice the convenience that came with it. Nature lovers began doing their session during hikes and walks. Those who still wanted some face-to-face can have video sessions while those who prefer just to talk can do calls. People have adapted pretty quickly. The most important thing for a session is not the location but how the client feels.
“People open up more when they feel safe.”
What advice would you give those who are feeling stressed or overwhelmed right now?
When we are feeling stressed or anxious, it is usually because we are thinking about things that have yet to happen. We are worrying too much about the future. When we are feeling sad, depressed, or lonely, we are focusing too much on the past. We continue to think about the regrets in our lives whether it’s something we did or did not do. In either instance, we are stuck in a time that is not current. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t think about those things. We need to acknowledge our thoughts and learn how to shift them.
“Focus on the here and now. Be present.”
What is one piece of advice you would give people?
Think about your ‘why’, your purpose in life. People who get out of adversity become stronger. Know your ‘why’ to become the resilient person you want to be.