After the recent democracy-affirming elections in the U.S., Brazil, and Serbia, there’s more hope in the air than before - even as we recognize that there is much work to do. The world is shifting, as more and more people are demanding accountability & change from the political systems that shape every part of our lives - from healthcare to human rights to cost of living. In this episode, I share why mental health and politics are deeply interconnected, and why we can’t afford to forget that. We’ll explore: how policy decisions, made by people in power, impact our quality of life from birth till deaththe traumas that we have collectively experienced (that disproportionately impact marginalized communities) - from ICE violence to policy brutality to the loss of human rights & access to healthcarewhy, despite the influence of politics over our lives, we’re NOT powerless to the whims of political forces - we have access to personal & collective power (which transcends borders and generations)why conversations about mental health need to extend beyond individual, one-dimensional solutions (like “try this nervous system regulation hack”) - we need to understand the larger systems that our nervous systems are interacting with I’ll invite you to reflect on these questions: How do we dismantle the systems (of capitalism, patriarchy, and white supremacy) that cause so much suffering in the first place?How do we build alternative systems to care for ourselves and each other, when dominant systems and people in power fail to do so? At the same time, how do we hold people in power accountable & make our voices, needs, and demands impossible to ignore? This episode is here to light a fire in your heart. If you’re sick and tired of the systems that keep us sick and tired, you are not alone. Let’s build a world that we actually want to live in, together. QUOTE: “We can build a world where people do not have to constantly recover and heal from man-made atrocities; where patriarchy, capitalism, and white supremacy do not run the show. We can build a world where war and genocide do not exist, where reparations are made, where every living being is treated with respect and compassion, and where every single person can live freely and safely as who they are. That world may feel far off, but that doesn't mean that it's not someday possible. In order for that world to become possible, it is so important that we do not get comfortable with the status quo. None of us should feel comfortable with the level of oppression that is present in our society.” 🌿 About the Host Liz Zhou is a neurodivergent therapist of color, coach, & speaker based in Colorado & Oregon (MA, LPC, she/her). She helps highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults & couples heal their nervous systems and connect with their authentic selves. Her specialties include: Brainspotting, EMDR, IFS, Psychedelic Integration, & Nervous System Intensives (deep-dive, accelerated therapy). 🌿 Connect with Liz >> Join my email newsletter, where I share insights on how to understand your brain & take care of your nervous system: Liz’s Neurodivergent Letters >> Follow on IG: www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist >> To hire Liz for speaking & workshops: submit an inquiry form here >> To work 1:1 with Liz: learn about Nervous System Healing Intensives here (focused sessions, using Brainspotting & Internal Family Systems, to help you heal deeply & connect with your authentic self) 🌻
