Description

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Counselors Victoria Frazier and Marisa Cargilll tackle "the tissue issue," unpacking the subtle yet significant implications of how counselors handle tissues when clients cry. They explore opposing perspectives about whether handing tissues to crying clients is supportive or potentially disruptive to emotional processing as well as how:

• More traditional counseling approaches advise against handing tissues to avoid implying clients should stop crying
• Offering tissues can sometimes be a show of support and acknowledgment of difficult emotions
• Different approaches may be needed based on the individual client and therapeutic relationship
• In telehealth settings, counselors can adapt by suggesting clients keep tissues nearby 
• Using tissues as grounding tools or placing them within client's reach offers a middle-ground approach
• Many clients apologize for crying, revealing societal messages that tears are unwelcome
• Counselors can normalize emotional expression by explicitly stating therapy is a safe space for tears
• Sometimes gentle humor helps clients feel comfortable with their emotional expression
• Quality tissues matter – "one-ply tissue is just not going to cut it" 
• The "tissue issue" reflects deeper values about how therapists create warmth and authenticity in sessions

What do you think? Send us your questions or topics you'd like us to unpack!

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If you’re a counselor in Ohio and would like to get involved as part of production or as a guest, or know someone who might be interested, please email us at ohiocounselingconversations@gmail.com!

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Created by the OCA's Media, Public Relations, and Membership (MPRM) Committee & its Podcast Subcommittee

·Hosted by Marisa Cargill & Victoria Frazier

·Pre-Production & Coordination by Kailey Bradley, Marisa Cargill, Victoria Frazier, Linda Marcel-Rene & Kendra Thornton

·Editing by Leah Wood & Marisa Cargill

·Original music selections by Elijah Satoru Wood