I provided psychotherapy for over thirty years.
Attending dozens of seminars annually.
To maintain certifications, a license,
Workshops in California, Florida, Maryland,
Ohio, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, New Mexico, Georgia, the District of Columbia.
Supervisors of mine journeyed round the world:
Australia, Israel, Argentina, France.
Crisscrossing, scurrying in all directions.
But the pandemic in 2020 slammed
the breaks on business travel.
On-line webinars mushroomed.
Everyone learned to navigate the internet.
Like we learned our trades.
I didn’t anticipate a preference for on-line courses.
Since I was a reluctant virtual conference attendee.
But, not traveling saved time.
No packing bags.
No worries about taking the right clothing.
No rescheduling clients.
No coverage needed.
No additional expenses of hotels, restaurants.
No hassles booking flights, getting to airports.
No dealing with delays, cancellations.
I was a convert.
On-line was simply more efficient.
Dress from waist up.
Listen while on a stationary bike.
Carry the speaker from room to room on an iPad.
But, then I retired from practice.
Though retaining my license.
That meant continuing to take courses on-line.
Not a problem since every organization sponsored them.
Synchronous.
Asynchronous.
One hour.
Two hours.
Six hours.
Twelve hours.
Delivered by the most renowned in each field.
From all around the world!
Last night, while listening in Pennsylvania,
Mark Grant, spoke to us from Australia
on EMDR and chronic pain.
He was already a day ahead of me!
Imagine, a webinar in multiple time zones.
Almost as mind boggling as the presentation itself.
Sophisticated.
Elegant.
Delightful to hear his accent.
I took detailed notes.
Hung on every word.
Listened to every questioner and every answer.
Typed an evaluation for the sponsoring organization.
A second one to get officially endorsed credits.
By 10:30pm, my head was heavy.
In my bleary state, I said to myself:
This is wonderful information.
These skills are amazing.
But whom will I use them with?
I no longer have clients.
Instead of dismay,
I was struck by appreciation.
I had time to reflect on the complexity,
intensity, profundity of my life’s work.
While in it, I simply did it.
Applied what was necessary.
Rarely crediting myself for years of education, classes, seminars.
For teaching new therapists.
Of course, it’s true.
The patient does the work to heal.
The therapist just guides.
But without a flashlight, a map,
the patient slips and slides.
So, bravo to clinicians
who take courses to ease pain.
To lighten loads of sufferers.
So they can cope again.
And though I have no clients
to apply skills, protocols,
I will gladly share my knowledge
with anyone who calls.
Lynn Benjamin
November 20, 2021