Imagine this: It's 10:15 on an early New York Sunday. I’m strutting down the High Line with my black framed sunglasses that take up more than half my face, armed with an iced coffee that's more sugar than caffeine. My Airpods play SZA. I am biting into an almond croissant and it is so flakey half of it falls to the floor. Dear reader, you know this feeling just as well as I do – Main Character Energy. Our generation likes to gather around, discuss, and check it off during happy hour (like *nod* “Good. GOOD ON YOU that you felt MCE last Sunday. Good job, Dave ✅🤝👍.”) 

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But a few days later, I use the term offhandedly to Julie, my therapist, saying: "I need to channel my inner Zen...just unleash some main character energy, ya know?" Then I look up at Julie. 

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Poor Julie, my dear non Gen Z therapist. I can see the wheels in her head are turning and the math not mathing (Main character energy has not yet been defined in the DSM-5.) “...main character energy? What is that?” I’m THIS close to throwing a fit and demanding a refund (“Shouldn’t you get me??? Therapy is hard enough for me as it is 😭😭. Do I need to translate for you at every turn???) But I started rationalizing that generational differences exist, and maybe it’s not the end of the world if we don’t click linguistically speaking. While there are definitely negatives to navigating the generational gap during therapy, I huffed, searched around for my big girl pants, and started to list some positives for myself (and us!!! Dear reader 💌 ) . 

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1. Creating Space for Conversation: When our therapist doesn't understand something, it creates an opportunity to build a sense of confidence. Being pushed to have to explain a concept like 'main character energy' means we lead the therapy discussion and share our perspective without any preconceptions or bias from our therapist. It’s an empowering dynamic, allowing for greater authenticity and self-expression. 
2. Better Self-Understanding: In order to explain 'main character energy' to someone who doesn't know it, we have to understand it ourselves. We need to consider what it truly means to us, why it resonates, and how it influences our behavior and outlook. In essence, our therapist's lack of understanding encourages introspection, helping us develop a more profound self-awareness.
3. Learning to Articulate Feelings: Communication is key, not only in therapy but in all aspects of life. When we are tasked with explaining something like 'main character energy' to someone unfamiliar with the term, we're honing our communication skills. This practice will make us better at articulating our emotions and experiences, which can help both inside and outside the therapy room.
4. Therapy is For You (FYP pun intended aha. okay im sorry 😭): Trends on TikTok can most definitely have an impact on mental health, but whether we have a Gen-Z therapist or a Julie, the main purpose of therapy is to go beyond the surface of online trends. Our therapist's primary job is to help us navigate our mental health. If they don't understand 'main character energy,' IT DOES NOT MEAN WE HAVE TO DITCH JULIE. While it does require us to step up to the plate anytime a generational barrier comes along, it doesn't necessarily make them less capable of supporting us through our mental health journey. We might just have to take the lead sometimes. (i believe in u soldier 🫡).

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So, if you've ever been stuck in the therapy equivalent of explaining why we don't use the laughing crying 😂emoji anymore (except sarcasm), I'm here to reassure you. It's not as apocalyptic as it may seem. Yeah, it's a bit of a drag when you have to give a mini history lesson to explain the background of a certain meme to express how you are feeling, but it doesn't necessarily spell disaster for your therapeutic journey.

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Really, it's a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, you're hoping your therapist can decode your Gen Z therapy talk without needing a translator. On the other hand, these little comprehension hiccups might just serve as opportunities for self-discovery and communication building.When my therapist went blank at 'main character energy', it didn't negate her capability to help me navigate my endless thirst for validation. She still dished out wisdom and tools for coping, even if she wasn't exactly up-to-date with the latest Gen Z jargon. 

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And let's be real, it’s always a bit fun, isn’t it, watching them squirm trying to decipher both our trauma AND vocabulary :D.

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P.s. julie i love u. u are the best <3

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