J&L Team Reflections on Connection and Community

By Emily Brackman, PhD

“Recovery can only take place within the context of relationships; it cannot occur in isolation.” – Dr. Judith Lewis Herman

While we are more "connected" than ever before, technologically speaking, it has been a long and lonely pandemic for many if not most of us. Even with constant, immediate, and seemingly endless outlets for virtual contact, loneliness and longings for meaningful social connection are at an all-time high. 

In the Japanese art of Kintsugi, broken pottery is repaired with a bonding substance lined with gold to create a new, beautiful, shimmering object by integrating and honoring past pain. As we each reassemble the pieces of our former way of life to build an even stronger foundation, it is important to remember that our ties to loved ones, friends, family, and community can serve as the glue that holds us together.  
As a team of mental health professionals at J&L, we recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all cure for loneliness. We have put together 5 suggestions of things you can do If you are struggling to connect with others and are looking to build community. 

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