02/01/2025
Its the 3 year anniversary of Sonder Therapy (I'm a couple weeks late).
On this 3 year, I find that the only way to celebrate is to share what is on my heart.
I've heard several stories of devastation and hopelessness these last few weeks due to the fires. My capacity to feel empathy is at an all time high. I feel, i come home and then I see updates on topics like: babies without birthrights and immigrant raids.
My first therapy internship was at a school in east LA. i was not happy to be there. I specifically did not want to work in the school system, and I specifically did not want to work at an elementary school. It was the first day of school, and I got a call from the principal to help with a child who refused to go to class.
Was this therapy? No. But I knew i could try to help. So we sat in the hallway. On the floor.. which I was pretty annoyed by because it was my first day.
Most of the children I worked with were POC at the school. Most of their parents needed a translator to speak with me. This was the easy part of my job. What was harder, was knowing that I had a duty to report suspected child abuse to CPS- and, whether we are ready for this conversation or not, spanking your child is child abuse. DV in front of your child is child abuse.
I sat with my supervisor as I shared with her of the children who had chosen to trust me, whether I felt qualified or not- it's why I didn't want to work with children in the first place. Because at the end of the day, children are perhaps the most oppressed in society because they are voiceless. Therapists do not speak to ICE. When you come to therapy, you are safe to be yourself. But when you are a child, you do not feel safe anywhere, especially if you are a POC.
This year I hope to be trained to provide immigration/Asylum evaluations. I'm fortunate to have opportunities to grow in skills that will help children feel safe.
photographer: Amanda Burton
Location: Poplin Run, Greenup, KY.
