Psychologists tell us that losing a job can be one of the most wrenching emotional events of our lives. Many of my clients who come to me carry with them deep wounds that must be addressed before they are willing to take up the work of rebuilding their lives and careers. For some, the key emotion is anger. For others, it’s frustration. For still others, it’s grief so deep it threatens to plunge them into the abyss of depression. Many men lose all sense of their identity. Many women shut down completely and remain isolated in their homes.
As a chaplain I work with the dying and their families. For several years I led a bereavement group, offering support and encouragement to those who had lost a loved one. Losing one’s job can be a kind of death. Sad to say, there is no timetable for recovering and entering into healing. I have never purported to be a psychotherapist. When I encounter someone who has issues that are beyond my expertise, I refer them to one or more of the psychologists, clinical social workers or therapists in whom I have the higest confidence.
Fortunately, I am able to deal with most of the psychological and emotional issues my clients bring with them. As a chaplain I have been trained in various body-centered approaches which can, with commitment and ongoing practice by my clients, bring healing and self-empowerment. Crisis brings with it opportunity and renewal. Please feel free to contact me if you are finding yourself at sea because of the loss of your job.