Being a Black Woman in the Federal Government...Support is More Important Than Ever

By: Chelsea Glover-Jordan, LCSW-C, LICSW

For those who don’t know, I am from Prince George’s County, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. My psychotherapy private practice, 3 Roads, primarily serves Washington, D.C. and Maryland residents. Because I have lived in the heart of the country my entire life, I have both directly and vicariously experienced the ebb and flow of politics. This has come in the form of physically feeling the shutter of the airplane crashing into the Pentagon while walking to my second-period 9th-grade social studies class, hearing the first responders race through the city to restore order at the Capitol building on January 6th, and, most recently, witnessing the mass Federal government layoffs.

We all know that many federal government workers live in Southern Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C., so it did not come as a surprise to my practice that some of my 1:1 clients would be impacted by all the seemingly abrupt changes this new administration has implemented. I had no idea of the depth of impact, but I knew I would learn about it in time.

the U.S. Capitol Building lit up during the nighttime

As a mental health therapist, I serve about 40 clients at any given time, with an additional 40–60 clients on the caseloads of other clinicians in my practice. The most recent general consensus is that a lot of our clients are currently in crisis due to the changes brought about by this administration. It has become glaringly apparent that our clients feel disregarded, dismissed, and disrespected. Many critical issues have arisen due to the recent changes, such as abrupt layoffs, workers having to physically return to the office and deal with D.C. traffic and parking, clients not having access to adequate childcare with such short notice, and the mental and emotional turmoil of being on edge about job security.

As a mental health professional serving this area, I had not fully understood the gravity of the work I do with Black women who serve in the federal government. I had not understood the intricacies and sensitive “tip-toeing” some of my clients have to engage in just to be able to reap those highly coveted federal government benefits.

Equity and inclusion are our rights, or so we were told. With the most recent rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, it has become painfully clear, more than ever, that Black women are, in fact, not considered in the way America says we are. Is it a ruse? Have we been fed so much political jargon that policy and decision-makers expected us to sit down and take whatever we were given? Whatever the case may be, I am sure of one thing: Black women are tired. Although DEI not only refers to Black women, but also to populations that tend to be marginalized, underrepresented, and underserved, it feels like, for some reason, this continues to be a recurring theme for Black women. This is so unfortunate, but as reality and history have it, this is something not foreign to us.

Although I am not a Black woman in a federal government space, I am a Black woman who serves other Black women who happen to be in federal government spaces. Over the past few weeks, I have supported so many women who have been directly and unfairly impacted by this administration. I am so happy to be here to serve and support my sisters in their times of need, but I must admit that, at times, as a mental health professional in the D.C. area, it can be overwhelming.

If you are also a mental health professional struggling with similar issues, here are a few steps that can help manage the overwhelm and sustain your own well-being while continuing to provide excellent care to those who need it:

1. Acknowledge your feelings: As a therapist, you’re often holding space for others’ emotions, but it’s equally important to check in with yourself regularly. Pay attention to how the weight of your clients' struggles might be affecting you.

2. Journaling or Reflective Practice: Journaling about your thoughts, feelings, and responses to your clients' challenges can help create emotional distance while also allowing you to process the impact it has on you personally.

3. Clear boundaries: In times of crisis, clients can express deep emotions that may evoke a strong empathetic response from you. It’s essential to maintain clear professional boundaries. You can empathize and support without taking on their emotional burdens as your own.

4. Personal decompression time: Set boundaries regarding when you're "on" as a therapist and when you're "off." After a particularly difficult session or series of sessions, take a break to reset your mind and emotions.

5. Supervision/Consultation: Consider engaging in regular peer supervision or consultation groups where you can share your emotional load and receive support. Sharing experiences with other therapists can provide perspective, emotional relief, and a sense of solidarity.

6. Therapy for therapists: If you aren't already, consider having your own therapist or counselor. Working through your own emotional experiences with someone who can help guide you will give you the tools to manage the emotional toll your work can take.

7. Utilize self-care practices: In addition to therapy and reflective practices, incorporate self-care strategies like movement, mindfulness, meditation, or creative outlets that allow you to release stress and recharge.

By taking some of these steps, you can balance your role as a therapist while protecting your mental and emotional well-being. Supporting others through such challenging times is noble, but remember that your own health and boundaries are just as important to sustain the work you do. You can't pour from an empty cup, and taking care of yourself ensures that you can continue to care for others.

#BlackWomen #GovernmentEmployees #FederalEmployee #SupportBlackWomen