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As we write this, we are in the middle of a global pandemic that has infected millions of people and has resulted in devastating losses of loved ones, homes and livelihoods. People are dying in isolation away from friends and family, and many people are living alone, without the comfort of the human touch in order to protect themselves and others by staying home and practicing social distancing.
Some have commented on how this virus is an equalizer since anyone can be infected. We are united in our compassion for those who fall ill, our fears of the illness itself and our concerns about how we as a global community can survive logistically, economically and emotionally.
However, despite the tragic losses and dangers that we share, the pandemic does not affect us all equally. As therapists and analysts, we have the luxury of being able to work from home, with the technology to make phone and video sessions possible. Many people are not so fortunate and have been plunged into poverty without being able to work and many small businesses will go bankrupt. In impoverished areas, there is less likely to be good medical care and undoubtedly, more deaths. We are confronted on a daily basis with news of people who still believe that the virus is a hoax and that government should not be restricting our movements.
The theme of the Vancouver conference challenged us to look beyond the relational dyad that is the focus of analytic treatment and to consider the larger context in which we all live. Who we are physically, culturally, politically, spiritually and socio-economically impacts what is possible in our lives, and also what takes place in every relationship, including the therapeutic relationship. What better time is there for us to be considering our difference and sameness than now, as we are immersed in an experience that is impacting all of us and highlights disparities in privilege?
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