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How can people psychologically prepare themselves for reentering their world once the shelter in place orders are lifted? The reality is, I, as a psychotherapist, and as a person, do not know. At the time of this writing, none of us know. We do not know what the new rules and restrictions will be or how we will feel.

What I do know, from my professional experience, is that we must go slow. We must individually look around and take stock of what we observe. We must evaluate what we think and feel about these new observations.

The truth is, we know ourselves best, better than anyone else in terms of how we feel. We are the experts when it comes to our own intuition. We know individually what we feel is right for us. As parents, we know what feels safe and unsafe for our children. It is this internal compass that must guide us in addition to the rules and restrictions presented for us.

I have been practicing psychotherapy since 1995. These past few months have been a strange time of phone sessions and FaceTime sessions. But I have also noticed a strange beauty that I have not seen before. While still discussing life’s new, as well as familiar struggles, people are practicing new behaviors sparked by this slower pace, or in some cases, pause in life.

Some enjoy this new pace. Others have noticed a new awareness about their bodies. A new depth of calm in their body or a deepening in their breath. While still others have enjoyed simple pleasures they had not before incorporated in their daily routines like reading or taking a walk. I have come to appreciate the family dinner where I am not rushing off to drive someone to a practice.

Some have found that by staying inside, they are reaching out more. My 85-year-old mother has been talking to childhood friends in other states. She laughs and tells me that, ”We all seem to be available to talk”. It is these new behaviors or new awareness within ourselves that I hope we can incorporate as we listen and decide how and when we re-enter into our new world.

Joy Bassett

About Joy Bassett: Joy, her husband Gregg, and their children are long-time members of Temple Israel. Their son, Miles, has served as a Religious School Madrich (teacher’s assistant) for the past 4 years, and both Miles and daughter Emmy have worked as counselors at Camp Shook over the summer months. Joy has been providing psychotherapy services since the mid-1990s and owns Bassett Counseling Services, in Clayton, MO. She provides individual, marital, and family therapy.

Bassett Counseling Services, LLC

8000 Bonhomme, Suite 405

St. Louis, MO 63105

www.bassettcounseling.com