Last night I watched the original “ Top Gun ” movie ( from 1986 ) with my wife and daughter . The experience was a throwback to my childhood . You might remember that the movie uses the song “ You ’ ve Lost That Lovin ’ Feelin ’” by the Righteous Brothers , as a pick-up attempt . The song also serves as a tribute to my feelings about private practice during the pandemic : Getting to work in pajama pants was a poor substitute for meeting face-to-face .
Throwback once more , this time to 2015 . I was in my third year of grinding as an assistant professor at a private university . By “ grinding ,” I mean that I was trying hard to prove to myself and others that I belonged in the role . Often , one of the perks of teaching at a school full-time is the ability to attend that school tuition-free . Our graduate counseling department offered certificates in sexual addictions therapy and play therapy . Like any scrappy wanna-be scholar , I went through both programs . I mean , who doesn ’ t want to be a sexual addictions expert who does play therapy ? Combining the two titles is as creepy as it is compelling . People regret asking me what I do for a living .
In all seriousness , both certificates added to my skill set , which helped substantially in my role as a supervisor for students . As time passed , I noticed an unintended consequence of being trained to work with sexual issues — people wanted to see me for those issues in private practice . From infidelity to unwanted acting out to the experience of sexual trauma , people affected by these issues came to see me . While I felt honored to work with each of my clients with their respective concerns , I became worn out over time .
Member Reflections
COVID & ME : How I Brought Back That ‘ Lovin ’ Feelin ’’ to My Work
Brent Moore , PhD , LPC , LCPC , is director and associate professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Indiana Wesleyan University . A Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Kansas , Dr . Moore now has a private practice for children and adolescents in Liberty , MO .
Without a client load , but still maintaining gainful employment as a full-time graduate counseling faculty member , I figured that I could reinvent myself once the world began to reopen . It felt like being a college freshman , fall semester , when few to no people at college know your past . I noticed other therapists doing similar things — moving from school counseling to private practice , getting trained in EMDR , etc .
I Became Interested in Kids , Anxiety , and Biofeedback
I became intrigued with biofeedback during the COVIDrelated shut-downs and started the process toward being boardcertified in it . I noticed that kids were being negatively impacted psychosocially from school closures and from wearing masks . It doesn ’ t matter whether you lean way left or way right on the political spectrum , you can see that kids were getting a raw deal because their COVID-related realities drastically deviated from the norm . While training in biofeedback , I was reading a lot about polyvagal theory . The pandemic and its outcomes shattered kids ’ senses of safety and connection in many ways . Biofeedback can help with anxiety .
The CDC estimates that 9.4 percent of children have been diagnosed with ADHD ( www . cdc . gov / ncbddd / adhd / data . html ). That is a substantial proportion of the population ! And that ’ s based on 2016 data . Think about how the numbers escalate during periods of stress and uncertainty . Now more than ever , these kids need our help .
Professional Burnout — I Didn ’ t See It Coming , But It Gave Me Time to Reinvent Myself
At the risk of sounding cliché , burnout is a sneaky son of a gun . Despite teaching my graduate students about burnout and doing an exhaustive dissertation on the topic , I still fell prey to job-related exhaustion . Fast-forward to the COVID-19 pandemic , and that is where I lost that lovin ’ feeling for my work .
Surprisingly , the timing turned out to be fortuitous for me . When the entire world seemed to hit the pause button at the height of the pandemic , I safely terminated my private-practice clients over a period of time and experienced an unusual professional phenomenon — a span of rest . Rest brought rejuvenation , followed by a sense of restlessness .
What Would Reignite Your Passion for Work ?
The Righteous Brothers lament does not end with “ you lost that lovin ’ feelin ’.” Instead , with double the passion and zeal , their voices ring out , “ BRING BACK that lovin ’ feelin ’.”
I found my new niche . I now see only children and adolescents with anxiety , attention , and focus issues . It seems like a narrow area of focus , but you would be surprised at the number of people interested in my work .
So , how does this article appeal to you , my AMHCA colleagues ? I hope I ’ ve spurred your own thoughts about how COVID-19 has impacted your practice . Did the pandemic burn you out ? Did it lead you closer to your passions ? In a messy sort of way , it did both for me .
2 The Advocate Magazine 2022 , Issue # 2 American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ) www . amhca . org