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Video: Mental Health Impacts and Wellness during COVID 19

Posted on by Martin Reinsel

I was asked to participate in an interview for public television in Thurston Co WA (TCTV) last week for their program “Stay Safe Thurston County.” In addition to de-escalation trainings and personal safety consultations, I like to do these “public” interviews to share my knowledge with the general public.

I’ve had the good fortune to work more in Thurston County in the last year and I’ve witnessed the work of a range of professionals doing what they can to provide outreach, support, empathy, and care to a wide range of needs. All of this work is amplified during this pandemic, where issues like Isolation, Anxiety, Depression, and Domestic Violence are on the rise across the country and world.

Embedded is the full 20 minute interview. Thank you for your time.

Stay Safe Thurston County on YouTube

“You are not alone” – a look back at 2022

Posted on by Martin Reinsel

“You are not alone”

I believe these four words to be the ones I spoke the most in 2022, equally as part of my life and my work.

I believe that this is the same statement I’d have made for 2021. Quite possibly, it was one of my most frequent statements of 2020 too.

Yet it has been these last two years – namely these last 18 months – when this statement seems most important and relevant in my entire life of over a half-century.

I am a psychotherapist. I’m not the kind with a couch or chair in a private office (or Telehealth location).

I work in the community. I always have since I began in 1993.

These days, I work as a Consulting Therapist and Clinical Educator with an eye towards crisis situations and providing/fostering Psychological Safety in the workplace & and any community-based location where care and compassion are sought and provided. I have an interest in supporting people who are on society’s fringes; the people most likely to ignored, whose lives may be minimized or, worse, are seen as a deficit in the larger-scaled view of our society.

I like – yes, like – to work with people who have active mental health issues; with people who have lives filled with traumas (personal & historical), and with other persons who are trying to survive the cruelness & harms present in our society, namely for folks who do not have the resources, appearances, or privileges of those promoted by our society.

What’s more, I really like working with people who also choose to work with the persons I mentioned above.

What I’m writing today is not meant for just those people (who I will refer to broadly as “staff” in this text), but more for the people who may not know of the inner workings of these people that staff our hospitals, our community outreach teams, our homeless shelters, our supportive housing locations, senior centers & our food banks. These individuals, along with many others, provide valuable & compassionate services spanning the widths of health care, social & human services, education, and almost any other sector that serves our community’s most vulnerable members in ways you’d not immediately consider (e.g., the library staff that helps hydrate and warm unhoused neighbors, or the community center staff member that makes sure people get fed and showers).

You see, I get to interact with a few thousand people a year that work in our community’s service sectors. I’ve had this good fortune for many years prior to the pandemic, and the need for supporting folks doing this work has only expanded these past 3 years of pandemic, often while the resources & supports for staff persons have been less available, typically due to funding issues, staffing issues, or other acts of omission or commission.

I “see” something in so many colleagues with whom I work: They are isolated. They tell me this, usually not immediately; at least not until they feel as if I am safe and not going to judge them as weak or insufficient.  What’s more, when they open up to me, the next powerful phrase I hear is something like “I feel broken.” I’ve had dozens of people tell me this directly in 1:1’s these last 2 1/2 years, again, with this number really increasing in mid-2021.  I’ve had a few brave souls say this around in a meeting or workshop with others present.  The quiet nodding of their colleagues often made it look as if someone had magically initiated an army of bobbleheads in agreement.

The suffering of staff working in service settings is real. The significant suffering of those that work with our community’s most vulnerable members facing layers of trauma and suffering is nearly unimaginable, and also comes at a low rate of pay that indicates society’s dismissal of these staff member’s value. So many people feel ignored, isolated, and alone. I find that some of my most important work is simply letting them know that they are not the only person feeling that way.

“You are not alone” has been in my personal and professional vocabulary for so long I cannot recall when I first uttered the phrase. Yet now I cannot seem to go a week without uttering it multiple times. It’s so reflexive now. It up there with breathing, eating, and drinking fluids. It’s a constant for me these last 3 years.

In January 2021, I got a verbal gift from Amanda Gorman, the first youth Poet Laureate in the US. She did not give it to me directly, instead she gave it to all of us in her Inaugural Poem in Washington DC on 1/20/2021. Speaking about our nation, she wrote that it “isn’t broken, simply unfinished.”

This was wording I wanted and possibly needed. For I too had been feeling at least partially cracked if not fully broken. Who wouldn’t? (Well, that’s for another post: Related to those whose eyes are not yet open to what the amount and array of suffering that permeates our society in so many ways, often unnecessarily).

In mid-2021, I believe that most of the people with whom I interact thought we were past “the worst of it.” Then came a series of issues: compounding episodes of harm and hate in many ways, the rise of the Covid variants (first Delta and then all of the Omicron ones, hastened by ongoing misinformation about vaccines and public health in general), plus an abundance of ongoing, dare I say leftover, political and social grievances.  When so many people thought “we were going to get back to normal” people started to see that this was not going back to normal. Most of the folks I communicate with came to these realizations in isolation, even if their everyday functions were surrounded by people. The real existential eye-opening moments almost always occur in solitude. This was a sort of collective solitude that spanned these last couple of years. I have a window into these worlds because of the work I do and the numbers of people I interact with on a regular basis.

For all of us, I offer this: You are not alone. You are not the only one feeling broken. That may not make you feel better, yet I want you to stay connected. It’s extremely unfortunate that it is via our suffering that we at times feel connections. I facilitate discussions with teams that are at greatest risk for developing “trauma bonds” as a result of the primary and secondary traumas that we’ve experience and continue to witness in our lives. Sometimes it feels like only those that have also been harmed can understand us. And, often that it true that the easiest connections are due to the inherent understanding of harm felt by others.  Yet it important to not dwell too long in our suffering or it can encompass us (I believe that, unchecked, it WILL encompass us), and find an authentic way to address, confront, and manage this suffering.

Retreating back into isolation will not help us heal. It can “buy us time,” so I do not wish to judge those that need that space and time to simply not be exposed to our world’s suffering. Yet we must find a way to keep going.

When I’ve offered to people “You are not alone,” I get an array of responses. Some “don’t want to hear that now.” Most do. Some look deep into my eyes, as if I’ve uncovered their lonely secret and they are looking at me for more. Sure, I can help but I do not have a cape and I don’t wish to be a savior. That’s not me and that’s not really therapeutic. Yet I can help people re-find their way. I’ve had people tell me this during this year. Thank you to those that have. You help me keep going and therefore help me help you and others like you. Again, I appreciate you since you help me continue to show up to strive to improve the miserable conditions that exist on this earth.

For those of you reading this as if you were peering into another world, as if you were outside someone’s home and could see in through their large window, I invite you in closer. Please look, not at me but at my world. There’s an abundance of suffering. I invite you to be kinder, more thoughtful, and more compassionate. These are not signs of weakness, they are signs of strengths. People that are vulnerable and real are the most attractive people. All of us are unfinished. How do you want to do you finishing work? I invite you in closer. There’s a lot more room for warmth, compassion, empathy, and love in our world. Please join me.

Finally, I will share this video, which was probably the one I shared and reference most in 2022. It is a 14 minute by the incredible Professor Loretta J Ross from August 2021. It is timely, it is inspirational, and it is love packaged in an under-15-minute video link. Please do watch it and practice accordingly. LINK:  Loretta J. Ross: Don’t call people out — call them in | TED – YouTube

Know that you are not alone. You are loved, even if you do not know it yet. Remember, we are all simply unfinished. What is the next thing (action, attitude, or behavior) that may help you?

2021 Review – a Year of Significance

Posted on by Martin Reinsel

2021 was a YEAR OF SIGNIFICANCE – in ways we may not fully know for quite some time

I hope this finds all of you doing as best as you can, given what you have and what is going on around you.  Life is obviously so hard for so many people right now – – and it has been this way, during these last two years of pandemic – – and beyond for many of the people in my communities where I live, work, and play.

I have had the opportunity during this past year to witness some of the finest in people, and I’ve also witnessed some of the worst of human behaviors, attitudes, and communication practices during the last year+. What’s more, I’ve had a number of specific, unique experiences over this year that gave me reason for pause and reflection.

I’ve felt confused, sad, elated, impressed, worried, disappointed, frustrated, and concerned often in 2021. I know I’m not the only one. I continue to search for meaning and clarity when there’s often not a lot of either directly in front of me.  I know that, for many of us, this past year has been one where we “keep going” against numerous obstacles, including an abundance of those that are unseen.

SHOWING UP IN THIS WORLD

I choose to show up in life in a number of settings where people are suffering. This has been so for me for most of my life, going back to childhood. I was drawn to seeing what was/is behind the curtains and veils of our society. Something about growing up in the world I was raised in and observing an abundance of inconsistencies around me made me curious. Why did we seem to be prospering as a society, yet so many people around me were suffering in plain sight? Why was so much blaming/shaming/harming being done towards the most vulnerable people around me while others – often those with significant means and influence – be able to act in ways minus accountability?

I grew up understanding that life isn’t fair, yet I was taught to strive towards fairness. I learned that people are not all the same, while also seeking out the similarities and consistencies among peoples (for example, my experiences lead me to believe that all people want to be respected and treated in a manner that is non-harmful).  I was encouraged to understand people & situations as thoroughly as possible in order to make sound decisions and choices, yet to be careful to avoid significant judgment of others as I do not know the reasons & justifications they have for some of their actions.

This year was yet another test of my humanity and I figure I’m not the only one. Again, these extremes of witnessing the best & worst in people this year – sometimes during a 24-hour period with the same person – made this year all the more interesting.

SEEING THE BEST IN HUMANITY

In terms of seeing the best in people, I had the great fortune to be involved in some truly amazing professional, clinical interactions this year. I continue to work across many professional groups: healthcare staff, social service providers, educators, civil servants, and other community-based professionals.  In 2021, I was able to see an abundance of complex situations faced by individuals, teams, and organizations.  While this has been part of my professional journey since the 1990’s, these past two years have provided a wealth of new challenges that most of us were not anticipating.

Of note, my current service contract with Public Health Seattle/King County (PHSKC) and the local HealthCare for the Homeless Network (HCHN) has been a gift. In the spring of this year, I was contracted to provide clinical support for PHSKC / HCHN staff & volunteers for the sake of managing the intense burdens of providing compassionate care amidst significant hardship and struggles related to the pandemic. We focus a lot on the Compassion Fatigue & Burnout issues that face individuals and teams. We talk (process) a lot and strive to generate ongoing support efforts that can be sustainable beyond any one meeting.

I cry a lot with frontline healthcare providers.  I cry whenever I hear their struggles. I cry when I hear their stories of witnessing hardship, despair, and death as part of their jobs. I cry a lot when I hear the stories of people’s personal suffering outside of the job (the loss of loved ones from/during covid, their experiences of suicide and/or overdose in their family & friend communities, their sleepless nights afraid for their clients, their families, and their own well-being).

I’m so impressed with the people that can continue to show up in life with as much grace and gratitude as possible, amidst the grief and hardships that they witness and they may be experiencing in their immediate lives & world.

SEEING THE WORST IN HUMANITY

I’ve also seen some of the worst in people this year. Their anger. Their fears manifesting in ways that harm others (verbally, physically, socially). Their outright denial of truths unfolding right in front of them. For many of us, it seems easier to focus on these elements of humanity. Especially now. There’s so much fear and suffering that it seems more contagious than the current Omicron variant emerging internationally.

I’ve been present in conversations (training workshops, formal debriefings, clinical consultations, and a few casual, personal discussions) where people have shared what they have witnessed and experienced in this world of suffering over these last two years.  It can be / has been staggering. The levels of depression, anxiety, substance use, violence (intimate partner violence / domestic violence, self-harm, random acts of aggression or hate, etc.) seem hard to calculate {Note: links below}. I unfortunately believe that the data will not be clear to us for years, yet I have an immediate understanding based upon my work & life that we will look back on these years staggered by the number of losses of lives to overdoses and to our unhoused neighbors with non-covid-related ailments.

The pandemic’s immediate impacts for most people cloud over what many of us with boots on the ground know now: the suffering experienced by those historically underserved and marginalized is only getting worse. Vulnerable people are being immeasurably harmed during this difficult period of our life. Our minimizing of their life situations prior to the pandemic only makes those clouds denser and block our ability to see what is all around us: People who already had it hard are bearing the brunt of the suffering of this pandemic, directly and indirectly.

REFLECTION AND MOVING FORWARD

This year has had me experiencing this range of emotions, sometimes over just a couple of hours.  This year has brought me hope and doubt. I strive to lean towards the hope. Hope is different than optimism for me – and apparently others, as I’ve been having this conversation a lot these last couple of months.

My hope is that the presence and ongoing nature of suffering can offer us opportunities to see the benefits of mutual support and collaboration efforts. Yet I know that some people will go in the opposite direction and double-down on the harm, fear, hatred, shaming, blaming, and lying that offers no healing and only serves individuals, rather than the collective.

I’ll conclude this note with this: To those of you who continue to strive to be genuine, honest, authentic, transparent, vulnerable, responsible, and loving towards yourself and others: I believe in you. Keep going. Please.  We must continue to be strong amidst all of the suffering, deceit, gaslighting, and oppression in this world. It is hard. I know this personally. Yet it is worth it. Please do not let the Haters lead you, me, or us in other directions.

Life is absolutely not all unicorns and rainbows (I phrase I use a lot when discussing “Balanced Perspectives” as part of my work). Yet we must be careful to not let toxicity overwhelm us. I wish for you, me, and us all the best in the ongoing efforts it takes to stay strong & balanced in life. It is work. It is effortful. It is challenging. Hopefully that makes it worthwhile as well.

I look forward to standing with those that are able to keep on working towards improving the miserable conditions that exist in our world.  Thank you for reading and joining me.

 

Research & Data Links of note:

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2021/20210714.htm

https://www.ncadv.org/statistics

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7013e2.htm#:~:text=During%20August%202020%E2%80%93February%202021%2C%20the%20percentage%20of%20adults,health%20care%20need%20increased%20from%209.2%25%20to%2011.7%25.

 

911: To Call or Not to Call, that is the Question

Posted on by Martin Reinsel

Like almost all of us, my life has been altered in 2020 namely due the effects of the pandemic. The direct and indirect impacts of Covid 19 have been numerous for me.  Notably, I am doing trainings & consultations almost completely remotely. One thing has not changed: I am regularly asked to do “De-escalation & Personal Safety” trainings for an abundance of people that are interacting with people with behavioral health concerns, either professionally or personally.

While the presentation of remote educational in-services is a notable tangible change for me and the people & organizations with whom I work, there are other changes happening as well. I appreciate that people have been willing to share with me some of there greatest concerns around safety, whether it applies to them or others around them. You see, I am comfortable talking about that which is often uncomfortable to discuss, and I trust that people see & hear that whenever they delve deep into an interaction with me.

Consequently, I appreciate whenever anyone in my in-services asks a difficult, challenging sort of question. One question that I’ve been accustomed to answering during my professional career is one that I’m getting with greater frequency in these past few months: Should I Call 911 or should I Not Call 911 in this situation …?

Again, this is a question that is worth asking and, realistically, has been worth asking for decades. Almost no one asked me this sort of question in most of my trainings when I began doing these sorts of in-services in the early 2000’s. Sure, I had a couple of individuals who felt brave enough during the training process to ask, but honestly, very few people would engage with me or others openly about this topic. This year is different and I am glad that I am being asked more about it. Hence my writing today.

 

“I AM A PROFESSIONAL – AND I AM SEROUSLY CONCERNED WITH CALLING 911. I AM AFRAID IT’LL MAKE IT WORSE”

I got this question in a Zoom training last week.  Again, the frequency and intensity of this question has been increasing in my recent in-services. Yes, I heard this sort of question occasionally the last few years with the consistency of this question being asked of me increasing noticeably this year and for good reason.

With heightened awareness of 911 calls leading to deadly outcomes in a number of high profile police interactions – Elijah McClain, George Floyd, Daniel Prude as recent examples, let alone the long list in recent years including Tanisha Anderson and, locally here in Seattle, Charleena Lyles – it is extremely important for people to consider how best to address reporting concerns to police, whether they be Behavioral Health issue or petty crimes. This is on top of countless other examples (such as the murder of Breonna Taylor in her home as a result of a “no knock” warrant and video examples of police escalating situations involving non-violent protesters in the last few months) leads to a crisis of confidence in how law enforcement approaches situations that otherwise could have been avoided or managed without harm to the public; a public to whom they are supposed to be protecting and serving.

In short, while it is extremely unfortunate that we are dealing with this increased awareness of situations where police are serving as first responders to a multitude of concerns of the human condition, the reality is that this issue has been present for years. We have simply become more aware of these escalated situations and questionable tactics employed by select police officers, & their departments in general, as a result of the proliferation of video and reporting that is magnifying the scrutiny of emergency response in our communities.

During my professional career that has had varying levels of overlap with law enforcement professionals due to my work in crisis intervention and response positions as a clinician, I can say that I have seen the entire range of police responses: from ones that were skillfully managed to ensure de-escalation and safety for all involved, to ones that were escalated the moment police began to interact with the individual who was experiencing a behavioral health emergency. There is not a uniformity and consistency to how police may respond to a situation. When you add in systemic racism and bias in policing and the confusion, disorganization, and potential unpredictability of someone experiencing a mental health crisis there are a lot of variables that can negatively impact the success of this interaction.

Consequently, the question of calling the police, notably calling 911 because of a minor crime or unusual behavior (whether involving or exacerbated by substance use or not) is one that people ought to consider with greater depth if they have not yet done so. I’ll add, it’s especially important for white people to open up honestly about this question and admit to what they do not know, specifically as it relates to the experiences of persons of color and their experiences with law enforcement.

 

“I DON’T WANT TO CALL 911 … I DON’T THINK ANY OF US WANT 911 CALLED … CAN WE FIGURE THIS OUT? WE NEED TO BE SAFE.”

This quote come from an informal debriefing from over a year ago.  For the sake of confidentiality, I will address this situation in generalities.

I was asked by a long-time professional colleague to informally debrief a potentially dangerous situation that she had just experienced. The outcome was a positive one, but it was still one that was very emotionally charged and I applauded her for reaching out to me to debrief.

Here was her situation: She was working in clinical capacity as a counselor in a “residential” sort of situation and she was alerted to two clients in conflict at this residence’s common area. She carefully moved toward the two people who were in a verbal argument. Threats were being made and, while there was not a weapon present, the reality was that either of the verbal combatants had materials around that could be used as a weapon at any given moment.

The clinician used her usual verbal and situational skills to attempt to de-escalate the situation. However, the verbal threats between the two people escalated and they were not seemingly ceasing, despite attempts to re-direct and de-escalate by the clinician.

The clinician was seemingly patient and spoke intermittently and selectively. She wanted to allow the two clients to “vent” their frustrations and hoped it would subside and calm. This did not occur. Instead, the situation was escalating.  To summarize her report, since the verbal threats were escalating and the tangible risk of violence was high (due to the proximity of potential weapons), she offered the following (paraphrased):

“Hey, we are all People of Color and I know none of us wants the cops called. (Pause) What can we do now so that I do not have to call the cops? (Pause) I don’t want to call them, but if we can’t calm this down, I gotta call them.”

While this did not lead everyone to immediately calm down, it did help de-escalate the situation. Essentially, the clinician gave a “big picture” insight that the two verbal combatants were not able to see with apparent “tunnel vision” in the heat of the moment.

The clinician noted that both clients were still upset after she made this statement, but they were able to follow her verbal direction to separate. The statement served a purpose: It was life a verbal mirror that let these two people know what others were seeing from the reflection of this interaction. The subsequent separation that the two agitated clients equally participated in (going separate ways) allowed both upset people the time and space to calm down enough to not escalate it further.  911 was never called. Police never responded, as there was no need.

When I was debriefing with the clinician, she was visibly upset. I noted “You did great!” and she said she wasn’t so sure. I let her know that I thought that she found a way to “name” the situation in a compassionate manner aimed at de-escalation and that she avoided making a “threat” to call 911. Instead, she found a way to talk about the potential 911 call in order to facilitate a shift in perspective: She truly believed that all involved (including her) did not want police to respond to this situation. She named it and by doing so she let all involved know that there was a seriousness to what was unfolding. If she had not have named her experience and what she was witnessing and the potential “next steps” for separation (“taking a break”), we do not know if the same outcome would have occurred.

 

TAKEAWAY CONSIDERATIONS

As I communicated to my training group last week, the big takeaway is this: Have you considered a way to talk about the potential 911 call in a way that can help lead to de-escalation of the situation; notably while being careful to not use the potential 911 call as a threat to those involved?

Honestly, I do not believe that most people have given this question much thought. I invite you to do so.  Please make an effort to consider when & where you might say this. What would you say? How would you say it (e.g, not being too loud or sounding punitive or threatening)?

If you are struggling with this, I invite you to reach out to someone – – you are welcome to email me.

I am also going to list a few additional considerations for how you may want to prepare your approach to a potential 911 call, if you need to make one.

 

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IF YOU MUST CALL 911

I provide a lot of training and clinical consultation for a wide range of people, so I may have specific insights to offer people facing unique issues that go beyond what I list here.  That being said, there are some general insights and considerations when someone is calling 911 & police are the First Responders to a behavioral health emergency (as opposed to a First Responder who is not a uniformed police officer, like the ones provided in the CAHOOTS program in Eugene, OR) to consider:

  • How you communicate with the 911 Dispatcher can help influence the direction of the initial interaction. For example:
    • When first on the call with the Dispatcher, consider saying something like “I’d like Crisis Intervention Trained professionals responding to the scene/situation.” This immediately alerts the dispatchers and the first responders that this is a Behavioral Emergency more than a criminal situation. Hopefully, in the jurisdiction that is responding, officers with extensive, 40-hours or more of “Crisis Intervention Training” (CIT)*** are the responders.
    • When on the call with the Dispatcher, please be consistent with your messaging and your descriptions of events. Namely, please be careful to:
      • avoid “catastrophizing” a situation
      • avoid using words that “speculate” about a threat
      • avoid using “emotional” terms more than “descriptive” ones

 

  • When police are present on the scene, consider how best to proceed as a bystander:
    • Consider how best to keep a Safe Distance, while also being an Active Bystander, in that you can still serve as a Witness to what is going on.
    • Be consistent with your language when interacting with Police in person that you want to see this situation “De-escalated” and that you want everyone involved to be safe.
    • Encourage the responding Law Enforcement officers to communicate with you if they need more information. Let them know that you want to give everyone involved the “Benefit of the Doubt” and if the officers could benefit from more information, you want to encourage them to pause their interaction with the agitated individual to return to talk with you (or others around would can offer support, insights, and other potentially valuable information to lead to a safe resolution of this situation) for the sake of De-escalation.

While none of these items cannot ensure that there will be a safe, non-violent, de-escalation presented by the First Responding officers, my experience indicates that these approaches align with our greatest goals to “Do No Harm” and to help serve and protect any individuals impacted by a potentially dangerous behavioral situation.

Please remember: the person who is “acting out” behaviorally is a vulnerable individual. It may be counter-intuitive to see that in the moment of their hostility, yet it important to remember that they are a human being “having a hard time” (I invite this way of thinking, as opposed to thinking “this person is giving Me a hard time”).  If we can safely get this person to help, that will likely help all involved – including our community. Again, it is often hard to acknowledge this in the moment, that is why it is important to consider this as part of preparation and desire for preventative measures, rather than “interventions” that may make the situation worse.

I wish you all well with navigating these situations. As usual, if you have questions or comments, I welcome them.

{***If you are unfamiliar with CIT programs locally and internationally, I encourage you to check out www.citinternational.org or your local state branch of CIT. I’ll add that I have been an Advisory Board member for the WA State Criminal Justice Training’s CIT program since 2016, and have done local and regional presentations dating back more than a decade in conjunction with this program.***}

Black Lives Matter: Shining a light on inequality and bias

Posted on by Martin Reinsel

{Please note, this was an extremely challenging writing task … it took me days of processing and reviewing. Please read with as open a mind as possible.}

A month ago I posted a lengthy Blog entry on “Coping, Validation, and Normalization during COVID 19.” In that blog entry, I noted how many of us do not want to go back to the “old normal;” as the harmful, biased, and inequitable conditions & systems that have existed in our world for hundreds of years were not something to which I wish to see re-established or normalized. I could not have predicted what we have seen since my entry in early-May.

The homicide of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 and the demonstrations that have followed in the two+ weeks since have shown evidence that there are many people who do not wish to maintain a status quo. The preponderance of inequitable and unjust systems in our world is something that no one can nor should turn away from. It is imperative to shine a light on the inequities and unjust histories of systems in our nation and in our world.

MY PRIVILEGE

I write this as a privileged white male. I was born and raised in the latter-part of the 20th century in middle-class America. I have multiple college degrees, including a Master’s degree in Psychology from the clinical program at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA.  I am cis-gendered and a parent. I have a clean legal history and I have found success in more than one professional field.

The paragraph above makes it all the more imperative for me to speak up at this time.  It is important that during this historical moment I along with other people with any sort of privilege speak up about the cumulative systemic injustices that have worsened our societies. This is not a “black person” issue. It is a human rights issue and it is imperative for white folks like me to stand up, speak up, and also listen up – – I have no interest in trying to “white-splain” or “man-splain” what is going on. That said, silence at this time is absolutely not ok.

With all of this being said, I feel it is important for people to know a little bit more about me: I have witnessed a great deal of suffering in my life. Of greatest importance, in my life I have witnessed horrific suffering of multiple people. I’ve witness violence, injustice, and a great deal of physical and mental suffering that is not easily apparent to all.  Of a personal note, I grew up with a mother who had a debilitating condition that worsened over the course twenty-five years (beginning in my childhood and ending with her death while I was an adult), whereby my family watched her loose functioning of her limbs from Multiple Sclerosis until her last years were lived as a quadriplegic. I believe that growing up with an abundance of suffering in my home had a variety of impacts upon me. I feel that my thoughts, feelings, values, and behaviors were shaped as much by my early experiences of suffering and family hardship as they were by anything else in my life. These early experiences started me on a path.

EXPANDING MY JOURNEY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND SUFFERING

Similarly (and perhaps consequentially), I’ve chosen a personal and professional path that has afforded me the opportunity to get very, very close to individuals and groups of people who have been historically under-served,  marginalized, and/or oppressed in our communities. Decades of working in Crisis Intervention and Inpatient (often, Involuntary) Psychiatric settings provided me a window into the worlds of other people that many do not get to see up close. Additionally, I am a musician. In that capacity – back in 2008 – I sought out the opportunity to be able to play music and help support the touring and recording for a very, very unique individual: James T-Model Ford. 

The opportunities that I had playing multiple tours over a four year period with James afforded me the opportunity to spend time with the man – literally thousands of hours – far beyond the time people saw of us on stage or heard on an album. Time spent in vans, on planes in a restaurant or hotel often were the hours I most came to appreciate the opportunity to connect so closely with a man who had experienced things I could never understand … and things I’d never wish for anyone to ever experience again, like witnessing hangings, having their homes burned to the ground, and other atrocities that never entered into the consciousness of the white-control legal systems of Mississippi and Tennessee {James was imprisoned in Humboldt, TN for the killing of a man during a dice-game melee … James said it was self-defense, but that there was no “self-defense” recognition for a Black man in the Tennessee legal system, so he served time … until he got “bought” off the chain gang by a “boss man.” I have no proof of James’ story but even if just a portion of it is completely true, it shows a number of examples of the systemic injustices he was up against}.

James (he liked when I called him “T”) had grown up as a Black man in rural Mississippi during the “Jim Crow” era. He witnessed a great deal. Spending those hours together travelling tens of thousands of miles, he’d occasionally discuss the racial violence he witnessed and the near-misses he had with the KKK and police.  Along with my fellow musicians who traveled with him over the years I’d toured with him, many of us especially enjoyed the mornings with “T” when we were not hurrying to check out of a hotel. It was during his morning coffee, when we were all relaxed and well-rested, that he often shared the most powerful and in-depth stories of what he witnessed and/or experienced during his nine decades on this earth. I was drawn to work with T-Model because of his music and his apparent resilience. James – like all people – was not perfect. That being said, he had qualities about him – grace, calm, joy, enthusiasm, etc. – that burned brightly. He’d note that he had it better in life than many people. For him to see it this way during the final years of his life left a lasting impression on me.

Many of the people with whom I’ve had the honor of working with have helped me learn and grow as a person. I’ve learned from patients in crisis, from co-workers who provide compassionate care, and ordinary people who enlighten me about what I did not know or see.  I appreciate all of the gifts I have been given … even if I was not immediately able to fully appreciate the gift(s) being presented to me.

MY INVITATION TO ALL OF US (ESPECIALLY WHITE PEOPLE)

It is with this attitude that I invite all people to view the current historical events in our world. The world is turning. It is changing. I invite all of us to be open and present to the change. One person cannot be expected to be able to drive all aspects of desired change by themselves. Instead, it is the collective of many people that are going to help us drive tangible, measurable, and honorable changes for our communities. We all want safety. Yes, all lives matter … but we have to take a historical look at our country and our world: There has been injustice to black people, brown people, native people & other non-white persons that has lasted too long. Black Lives Matter now because for too long they have not mattered to the degree that a just society can abide. Black Lives Matter.

The homicide of George Floyd was a Tipping Point. I know more about manual and mechanical restraints than most people. As part of my years of work in psychiatric and crisis settings as a “Clinical Educator” of De-escalation and Trauma-informed care trainings, I had a unique role. Since I worked as a Clinical Educator who trained professionals in a setting where manual and mechanical restraints were a “last-resort” for the management of imminently dangerous behavior, I had the opportunity to become a trainer to staff about the safe application of retraints. This involved me being “restrained” a lot. Hours upon hours. I cannot tell you how many people in the Seattle area have learned how to safely and non-violently provide de-escalation and restraint techniques as a last resort by incorporating aspects of practicing how to manually and mechanically restrain me.

In short, I was the person most often “restrained” by staff at a psychiatric hospital here in Seattle for the better part of a decade and a half. I may have been the person most restrained in the state of Washington (or perhaps anywhere) during the 15 or so year period that ran from 2002-2017, as I trained hundreds of people over thousands of hours of training. That experience and the perspectives gained were & are extremely valuable to this day.

With this abundance of experience, I want people to know that I was horrified watching the entire video of the officer with his knee on the neck of George Floyd (and the additional airway restrictions from the weight of other officers on Mr. Floyd’s back).  There is no reasonable explanation that can be used to rationalize this aggressive example of police brutality. It was horrific and to those that might say “if he can talk, he could breathe” or something else trying to explain away what happened, I request that you Please Stop any rationalizations. The reality is that the officers involved either “over-responded” via the use of excessive force or “under-responded” by not trying to intervene.  George Floyd would be alive today if it were not for the police’s actions. I hope that we see Justice for George Floyd in the weeks and months to come.

TRAUMA: SEEN AND UNSEEN

During my professional clinical work, I’ve learned a lot about restraint-related trauma, both in terms of the physical and psychological impacts. Restraint-related positional asphyxia was clearly listed as a “Risk of Restraints” in the De-escalation intervention manual I authored for a local psychiatric hospital. The research has been available for years.

Additionally, the “Trauma-informed” aspects of my various trainings shined a light on the often-invisible impacts of trauma on individuals and communities; the lingering harms of violence and injustice to those that are not in positions of power or advantage in our society.  Many people – and I’m directly looking at people that are White here – do not get it. We live in a world where “seeing is believing.” Well, for those of you that have not yet seen it or experienced it with your own eyes, or hear it with your own ears, or felt it in your own body, the suffering and harm that people of color have experienced in America is real. America literally has used chains in the past. These days, there are chains you do not see but they are there.

Let me conclude this post with an expansion of my insights from my hours of being manually and mechanically restrained in a psychiatric hospital for the sake of training my colleagues: Even when I was being restrained in a seemingly “safe” training environment, it did not feel completely safe to me.

Everyone is imperfect. There were the risks of someone’s individual imperfections intersecting with my ability to maintain safety. Basically, when I was being restrained, my safety was in the hands of those restraining me. I witnessed multiple examples of people maintaining safety … but I also witnessed examples were not in control of themselves and put me and/or others in harm’s way. Multiply this by a million (or more) and this is what we are facing today: a society where many millions of people’s safety hinges upon the acts and behaviors of people who may or may not understand the impacts of their decisions and their behaviors.

That is why I stand with those demonstrating and protesting for systemic changes and improvements. I will use future posts for giving examples of what is working across the world to help re-imagine a more just and equitable future for all people. Now is the time. Thank you for reading and thank you for keeping your eyes open, your ears open, and your hearts & minds open. We need as much light shining on this moment as possible.

Allostatic Load: The cumulative burdens we bear

Posted on by Martin Reinsel

During times of great burden, people typically feel overwhelmed. These experiences are equally physical emotional, and cognitive. The brain and body equally share the burden of the stress we experience in our lives. The name for the cumulative effect of all forms of stress is called the Allostatic Load.

I’d used this term in de-escalation trainings before. A former colleague of mine joined me in co-facilitating a number of Trauma-informed trainings for mental health and general medical practitioners and this phrase was part of my colleague curriculum. I’d heard it before but during this series of trainings, the repetitive exposure to these two words in her work on the neurobiology of stress resonated with me. I recall a few other people appreciating learning this new concept to understand the physical toll of cumulative stress.

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Coping, Validation, and Normalization during time of pandemic: maintaining consistency while striving for a new normal

Posted on by Martin Reinsel

I’m a mental health professional, educator, and consultant focusing on de-escalation training. Consequently, I am involved in frequent discussion about how we can “cope” and “manage” through difficult situations, challenging interactions, and unexpected stressors.  I use two terms carefully in my consultations and trainings with people: “validation” and “normalization.” These are two words that often come up during the course of my work with individuals and groups/teams. While they are terms that most people understand in general, my interpretation and vision of these terms may be slightly different from most people’s.

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Managing “Stress Response” during COVID 19.

Posted on by Martin Reinsel

Prelude: Appreciation & Gratitude

I’d like to start this article with a simple Thank You to all who continue to work in a capacity serving the public. Whether it is providing health care, outreach, social support, protecting & serving the community, or performing any other “essential” capacity: Thank you! I had to go to the grocery store two days ago and I could say nothing except “Thank you” repeatedly to the store’s few employees with whom I interacted. There’s almost nothing else to say except “Thanks.” I feel like saying “Stay safe” is disingenuous: they know they need to Stay Safe but they really cannot do what is being asked by the CDC (to stay at home) as they go about their work. They are in a very difficult spot – likely one that did not anticipate when signing up for that sort of service employment.

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De-escalation training benefits for 5 unique professional settings & groups

Posted on by Martin Reinsel

During this COVID 19 pandemic, we are all adjusting to life in its current form.  Our collective response to the Coronavirus has made some aspects of life completely different and, hopefully, some things remain the same.

One of the constants through this time of challenge is being able to identify and embody the qualities and characteristics of composure and calm amidst all of the changes and unpredictabilities around us. For many years, I have been providing “De-escalation & Personal Safety” courses for an array of professionals. As our lives have changed and will continue to change as a result of the COVID 19 outbreak, the need for more de-escalation training, consultation, and support services will remain in demand.

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Connect before Correct: Preparing for addressing behavioral concerns

Posted on by Martin Reinsel

“Connect before Correct.” Technically, I found a rock that had the words “Connect b4 correct” written on it in blue paint. The once-bright blue had faded over time. The rock was given to our family years ago when my child was in preschool.  “Connect b4 correct” was a theme of a parent-education night at our cooperative pre-school. Now, years later, I found this rock as the calendar turned to November.

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