I recall that the graduation ceremony for my master’s program in Counseling Psychology was a hectic and intense day; I was overwhelmed with emotion. I could not actually believe that I had completed graduate school and would have the opportunity to work as a psychotherapist. The ceremony was filled with pomp and circumstance, comradery with friends who would soon become colleagues, joy at the accomplishments of myself and my peers, and sadness that we would not be sharing this experience again, but there is one moment that stands out to me the most. It was the moment that we uttered the Oath of Affirmation and Diversity in unison. There is one line from the Oath that I often recall: “That I shall diligently protect the welfare of those who seek my service, and that I shall use my skills only in the furtherance of human welfare and the integrity of the individual.” I think of those words as I sit and have the privilege to hear the stories of others. It is my job to diligently protect my clients. It is my job to advocate for them with integrity.
Sometimes advocating happens during a session. It can look like helping someone navigate a confusing and oppressive system, reinforcing new messages, reframing, checking in, boundary setting, and listening with empathy.Sometimes it happens when we are not sitting with people, but when we are therapists walking through the world. When we don’t stand by quietly as someone speaks racist, sexist, or homophobic words. As we answer the store clerk who wants to know how many “crazy” people we work with by saying “no one we see is crazy, but there are a lot of people who experience pain.”
Advocating is part of the fabric of our work. Advocating is the work.