I am pleased that The Philadelphia Inquirer published the following letter this morning, December 20th, 2024

To the editor:

I wince every time I read that Kamala Harris is responsible for the enormous Democratic defeat in November. In the most confusing of times, she ably carried the mantle and stressed that we have more in common than the issues that divide us. However, what was not faced by those managing her campaign was that for years the Democratic Party has been losing touch — taking for granted the millions of constituents it had relied upon.  

The reasons for this are extremely complicated and will be closely analyzed. To me, leadership existed in a bubble of assurance that they were undoubtedly the best and the brightest and wanted no input from those of us in the trenches who tried mightily to communicate with them about the support they were losing. 

What unsettles me most is that Harris is being largely castigated for not abandoning her loyalty and throwing President Joe Biden under the bus. In essence, she is being scapegoated when she should be deeply thanked for her example of character, her enormous effort, and her devotion to each of us and the rule of law. My dream is that before Biden leaves office he will award Harris the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The ceremony would take place before Jan. 20 and serve as a reminder that until that time, and although he doesn’t seem to realize it, Donald Trump is not our president.

Published in The Philadelphia Inquirer December 20, 2024

With gratitude to Dr. Bettie Bassett-Roundtree, social work mentor and inspiration.

by SaraKay Smullens, MSW, LCSW, DCSW, CGP, CFLE, BCD

As we approached Thanksgiving and the holiday season, many—perhaps most—in our proud, historic profession struggled with the toll of societal burnout, the simmering anger and divisions in our country, our world, also reflected within our profession. My sadness was intensified by the imminent death of an extraordinary mentor and irreplaceable friend, Dr. Bettie Bassett-Roundtree, who entered my life when I transferred to the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work (now the School of Social Policy and Practice). In all academic and supervisory contacts, Dr. Bassett-Roundtree’s underlying message was hand in glove with the moral insights of our profession: all human beings long for love, opportunity to meet basic needs, freedom of expression. All of humanity have far more in common than what divides us, and personal developmental opportunities determine our ability to grow to maturity and create and protect institutions devoted to this process.  

     I entered the movie theater on the Tuesday evening before Thanksgiving, never expecting part one of the film Wicked (part two is expected in a year) to offer the truths and depth reflected in the 2003 Broadway production. But I was wrong, very wrong. The message of this extraordinary film not only mirrors the truths seen on stage. It illuminates the foundation of social work principles—the insights, awareness, and direction the social work relationship can offer those we are privileged to work with, whatever our concentration.

     The evolution of the books, stage, and film expressions of The Wizard of Oz is long and complex, but as capsule comment, most know the Dorothy (Judy Garland) 1939 rendition, adapted from the 1900 children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum. The film’s (and Baum’s) golden messages: to succeed in life, you must follow the path (the yellow brick road) to intelligence (the Scarecrow), guts (the Lion), and heart (the Tin Man). Wicked witches can and must be destroyed, and above all, there’s no place like home.

     While the classic The Wizard of Oz is mesmerizing, it is also simplistic, skirting cruel, destructive realities. Many homes are not safe, they are tortuous; those who express hate have known its poison in formative years; sociopaths who rise to power yearn to destroy freedoms and dominate all societal attempts to provide them. Further, there is no one true “yellow brick road” to follow. We are each unique. Our individual “emotional sense of direction” helps us move toward fulfillment, learning from and strengthened by inevitable jolts that lead to altered paths.

     Enter the musical Wicked (2003), based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. Dorothy and illusion are gone, replaced by reality. The supposedly wicked witch is an innocent, rejected, tormented child, now scapegoated as evil by those who fear her moral force and vision. We see there are those who paint themselves as loving, who are anything but. We see that life is not only unfair; it can be ruthlessly unjust.

     Directed by John M. Chu, known for his full scale, over-the-top films where talent thrives (Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights), Chu does not disappoint in his rendering of truth. His ensemble casting is seamless. The expansive choreography, scores and music, and the voices and dance that give them life offer enchantment, extended to set designs and costuming, be they in Munchkinland, Emerald City, or the campus of Shiz University, where the film opens. This genius bonding keeps us glued to screen drama, despite its length. One hundred sixty minutes seem to fly by.

     Not surprisingly, Chu’s Wicked gifts audiences with two magnificent leads. We are riveted by Elphaba, played by the Emmy, Grammy, and Tony winning talent extraordinaire, Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, The Color Purple). Hated by her father, a traveling salesman as well as corrupt governor of Munchkinland, and rejected by her floozy mom who conceived her during a one-night (or perhaps two, or three) stand. To her parents, Elphaba is living proof of their curse: her skin is green. As with our clients determined, often against great odds, to rise above brutal rejection, we are with Elphaba, rooting for her, as she begins to discover her power, face her shame, and discover why her skin matches Emerald City.

     Audiences are also riveted by the delightful presence of Ariana Grande-Butera, a Grammy winning, multi-platinum superstar, who plays the adorably flirtatious, slightly awkward, narcissistic Galinda, later Glinda the Good, a living example of the impairment of overprotection and overindulgence. Molded by over-the-top privilege and fierce ambition, we watch Glinda begin to discover the importance and power of love and authentic connection. Even the Prince she yearns for, played by the multi-talented Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton), becomes captivated by Elphaba’s depth of conscience and decency.

Development of the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda, who start out as enemies but become devoted friends, caring deeply for the well being of the other, underscores the message of the film: Despite all, love must be protected. Personal, individual developmental opportunities mold this capacity to care beyond ourselves, while corrupt leadership, in our homes, our work settings, and beyond destroy it. To quote Bettie Bassett-Roundtree, the Personal is the Political. At a time when desperately needed, the blended genius that created Wicked: Part One offers the magnificent beauty of hope.

Read the full review on socialworker.com

At this time of frightening division, manifesting societal burnout, I am grateful that the Inquirer printed my Thanksgiving submission.

To the editor:

I am thankful for the millions who refuse to be constrained by knee-jerk categories. The ones who are there, rich with common sense and concern for others, asking for no thanks, recognition, or acclaim, but when the hurricane comes — in whatever its form or expression, in ways that are the story of America’s endurance — they find each other, determined to either save or restore what is precious.

This group understands that in every human catastrophe, before there can be clarity of direction, we must be brave enough to recognize what went wrong and why — regardless of how unsettling. Something “we the people” can reveal far better than polls. I am grateful that in our city, unlike in Washington and Los Angeles where presidential endorsements were not allowed by newspaper owners, we have The Inquirer committed to this process. Devoted to the well-being and endurance of our proud, historic, complex city — where owners, reporters, and columnists pinpoint truths, regardless of the stony paths they necessitate.

Published in The Philadelphia Inquirer November 28, 2024

To the editor:

When I was a young clinician in training, psychoanalysis was recommended as essential. This meant consulting a professional several days each week, where you examined your life to make sure that any of your own unfinished emotional business did not get in the way of deep listening to the hopes, frustrations, and painful experiences of others. One of the most important lessons for me was gaining an understanding of sociopathy, and how it is next to impossible to outmaneuver a sociopath.

They are human chameleons who can change their tunes and contradict themselves at every turn to achieve their goals. While most people have a conscience, this is a foreign concept to a sociopath. They are wired in ways completely different than most of us, who have a desire to love and care for others, which makes it next to impossible to outsmart them. While they care only for themselves, they are extremely skilled in making others believe they care deeply about them. The charisma of a sociopath can be so intense, so blinding, that those taken in will disregard any warning — unless and until inflicted pain teaches them that for survival, change is necessary. Unless and until they learn they have been duped.

Our president-elect is a perfect example. He knows precisely how to respond to the needs, frustrations, and pain of a large part of our citizenry, promising them that he alone can make their hopes and dreams come true. For many, his rage and vile, ugly expressions offered vicarious venting of long-simmering frustrations — “At last, I am seen. At last, I am heard.” Democracy has spoken, but together we must keep calling attention to duplicity, dishonor, and the dangers that surround us. In time, change will happen. I have seen it again and again in my work. It will also be true of our country.SaraKay Smullens
Philadelphia

Published in The Philadelphia Inquirer November 13, 2024

To the editor:

We must do everything possible together to diminish the power of Donald Trump’s most recent hate fueled, passive aggressive behavior following Kamala Harris’s uplifting, authentic democracy fueled wind up message. President Biden misspoke about hate immediately following her triumph, and his timing was harmful. However, while our president did not apologize, he clarified. Once again, Harris responded appropriately, showing the precise temperament necessary for the office she seeks. Our vice-president reminded voters that she and Biden are not the same person. She reiterated her message, her essence—everyone will be welcome at her table—and she calmly refused to throw the president she served under the bus. 

But there is something far deeper and important to understand and discuss about this unfortunate incident—in addition to Joe Biden’s failing physical strength. Down deep, Joe Biden remains furious. Not only has he been forced out of office by those he considered loyal friends, but because of the necessity of succinct messengers at this extremely dangerous time, he has also been left out of major public appearances. Joe Biden is stubborn; he is seething; he is a fierce competitor who believes he had earned the right to his Party’s endorsement and that he would have once again won his office. Surely he is not cut for the role thrust on him. This, not his age, is the primary factor that impaired his judgement.

SaraKay Smullens
Philadelphia

Submitted to The Philadelphia Inquirer November 1, 2024

To the editor:

Last week I was invited to present evidence based material at a mental health conference held in Northeast Pennsylvania. My topic: The roots of dysfunctional leadership in families, work settings, on boards, and in elected and appointed office. The number of Trump-Vance signs dotting this trip seemed more abundant than those noting Harris-Walz. My surprise was not the signs, but the tight body of Trump supporters in my field who were present at the conference.  

To briefly summarize three of several essentials noted during the session I led: In a functional setting, anxiety flows upward. There is always someone to hear your concerns, thoughts, opinions respectfully and respond to them. In a dysfunctional setting anxiety from the leader is imposed from the top accompanied by threat, ridicule, and demeaning, humiliating verbiage. The goal to control and induce fear of a thought or opinion the leader disagrees with, causing either withdrawal or discord within a group. My second point: the state of dignity, a combination of pride and humility, is the sign of both a healthy citizen and leader. In other words, one experiences self-worth, but also knows that all others are just as worthy. Thirdly, the state of dignity begins to take root because someone — it does not have to be the parent! — loves the child. 

Two walked out of my presentation, one politely, and one throwing up her hands in disgust, loudly stating, “I’m otta here,” slamming the door behind her. The next day, she found me alone at a table during a session break, approaching with an attack: “This conference is not political, and you were political.” My response: “In today’s dangerous time personal development and politics cannot be separated. My session did not cover political issues. It covered the character development necessary for trustworthy leadership.” I asked her why she did not remain in the session to discuss her views, explaining that doing so would have added depth and quality to our time together. Adding “Civil discourse is so needed today. You had much to contribute.” She responded that the majority would not have been interested. I assured her she was wrong about this. 

A few hours later someone who sat through my session quietly approached me, with these words: “A different perspective was offered in our time together. I had been caught up believing that my family no longer mattered to present leadership. I understand now what is at stake if I vote for who I came to this conference supporting.” My eyes misted as we said one word in unison, “Everything.”

SaraKay Smullens
Philadelphia

Submitted to The Philadelphia Inquirer November 1, 2024

I'm very pleased the Inquirer printed my letter addressing the Harris-Trump debate.

To the editor:

The pervasive question about Tuesday evening’s debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump: Could Kamala hold her own with a devious showman skilled in the use of invectives? A two-word response: Yes, brilliantly! For me this event awakened precious, hopeful, sleeping memories. 

Dr. Mildred Otenasak, Maryland’s national committeewoman, was a devoted John F. Kennedy supporter who became my mentor and friend. She appointed me “page” to our Maryland delegation at the 1960 Democratic Convention. Otenasak introduced me to Sen. Kennedy; many of my college friends and I worked tirelessly for him. He urged me to begin working toward my master’s degree in social work. During my first year, he was assassinated.    

Kennedy’s short time in office was filled with optimism, based on his deep belief that our brave experiment in democracy could and would succeed because — as Kamala Harris reminded us — we have far more in common than what divides us. Americans want the same things for our children, and what we hope and dream of is possible. It has been unsettling at best to see how so many wish to tarnish the positives that JFK and his brother Robert brought us. But I was there; I saw firsthand what both men believed about America’s potential. 

Not long before the 1968 assassinations of each, Robert Kennedy heard these values put into words by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” At a time of debilitating division and hatred permeating America and the world, at Tuesday’s debate we, the people, became Harris’s jury — her professional training, experience, adversarial skill; authenticity and passion; and studious prep in perfect harmony.  The vice-president’s argument that all we have in common and yearn for can be achieved together parallels the hope and promise of King’s words. Harris won handedly over a ruthless performer. And so did we.

Sincerely,
SaraKay Smullens

Published in The Philadelphia Inquirer September 13, 2024

Dear friends and colleagues, After a few moments of watching this film, extreme discomfort set in. Marketed in the "romance genre," many will see "It Ends With Us" over the holiday weekend. The film offers an alarming resolution. Women and children die at the hands of batterers, and holiday periods can be perilous. The resolve offered in this film cannot be trusted in the real world.

by SaraKay Smullens, MSW, LCSW, DCSW, CGP, CFLE, BCD

“I want people to devour my books in one sitting because the storyline and dialogue are too gripping to put down. I don’t try to write heavy books that educate, inform, and impress. My only goal is to entertain, and hopefully that’s what I’m doing.” Colleen Hoover 

What follows is a review of the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel, It Ends With Us, which addresses domestic violence. It is not a review of the book the film is based on, which I have not read. Hoover has fully endorsed all aspects of the film, describing herself as “extremely happy“ with its completion, and á la Hitchcock, is seen in a fleeting scene.   

After an introduction to Hoover, a remarkable social media genius with a strong presence on BookTok, I will discuss the film in detail. Its positives—all discussion of domestic violence leading to societal and personal awareness is meaningful. Plus, the acting and set/costume design of the film, even when in contradiction to the character portrayed, provides a gifted ensemble and A-plus entertainment/diversion until, as the drama unfolds, discomfort sets in. The film’s dangers—it presents an over-simplification of the complex topic of domestic (or intimate partner) violence, where the circumstances of the woman abused and her path to peaceful resolve offered in the film are pure fantasy.     

Colleen Hoover has seen domestic violence up close. Her earliest memory is being awakened at age two by screaming as she witnessed her dad throwing a television set at her mom, who subsequently divorced him. Hoover’s followers are aware of her respect for, devotion to, and cherishment of her mom, echoed by their matching heart shaped tattoos inside their wrists.

Read the full review on socialworker.com

The following letter was sent to the New York Times on July 7th

To the editor:

During his mother’s reign, King Charles, reportedly a supporter of newly elected Keir Starmer, was stymied at every turn in his passionate support of a revised Crown, one more responsive to the suffering of his subjects, intensified since Brexit, in ways other than appearances and public relations. So here’s an idea: Since Starmer has inherited a next to impossible task, “a legacy of ashes,” why not sell a few tiaras, and maybe some other jewels, and a property or two? Or three? What a difference that would make in housing, hospitals, and hope. And how many tiaras does one family require?

Sincerely,
SaraKay Smullens

Sent to The New York Times, July 7, 2024

I am pleased that the Philadelphia Inquirer published the following letter.

Rising hate

To the editor:

Several months after the deadly terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, my husband and I took a trip to Marrakesh, Morocco. Our guide was a friendly, knowledgeable man with whom we shared long days, meals, and informative conversations. We thought he had become a warm acquaintance we would keep in touch with. However, at the conclusion of our last dinner, his eyes and voice changed, and he gave us a prescient warning. “9/11 was only the beginning,” he said. “Do you know that as we speak, we are infiltrating your universities and the minds of your young?” The horror in Gaza today, beginning with the long-planned Hamas attack on innocents in Israel on Oct. 7, has unleashed a torrent of palpable antisemitism, staining long-respected American universities and making acts of antisemitism commonplace. How else to explain the conversation I had outside of a store where I shopped for Father’s Day cards?

While paying my bill, a Muslim woman and her daughter, about 10 years old, were next to me in line. The woman was wearing a shirt that read “Journalist” in bold letters. Walking out of the store together, I asked what newspaper or journal she wrote for. She explained that her shirt was to honor the journalists who were killed in Gaza. I then asked, “How can a two-state solution in this tormented area be achieved?” In her response, her eyes held the same rage as our Marrakesh guide, her voice the same hatred. “There can be no two-state solution,” she said. “Israel must be destroyed, along with the Jews who protect it.” Unless addressed, this overt rise in antisemitism — an expression of hate, divisiveness, and discord — foreshadows catastrophe for our country.

SaraKay Smullens
Philadelphia

Published in The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 19, 2024 

I am grateful that The Inquirer added this tragic lack of insight to their coverage.

To the Editor:

As I read about the effort by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker to rid Kensington of an encampment, I shook my head in disbelief. Where was the necessary planning and demonstrated humanity as the lives of terrified human beings were uprooted?

City officials had assured all that this action would be led by outreach teams, but as police cleared two blocks, no social service workers were on hand to support and direct those frightened and confused, scattered and clueless about where to go. Chief Public Safety Director Adam Geer called the Kensington dismantling "a good day:' But for whom? Surely not those in the encampment, forced to flee on foot, with their meager rain-soaked belongings, not knowing where.

 A neighbor, John Cacciola, was quoted as saying he'd been "sold a false bill of goods:' As reported by The Inquirer, Cacciola had been assured that those in outdoor encampments would be moved to treatment facilities and shelters. Instead, they were pushed into residential streets such as his, with no social workers available for direction. Does this ill-planned action remind you of our mayor's refusal to respect the endorsement of professionals whose lives are devoted to supporting hope and direction for substance users? They were overwhelmingly united in their endorsement of overdose prevention centers, where trained staff can oversee those using drugs - which has been shown to decrease overdose fatalities - and subsequently lead those living with addiction to treatment.

Could Mayor Parker's disregard for human frailty reveal her Achilles' heel: Does she see herself as always right about everything, requiring no input from others whose experience can contribute to the success of her office?

SaraKay Smullens
Philadelphia

Published in The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 14, 2014

Protecting the Future with a Strong Deterrent to Burnout

Dear friends and colleagues,
My daughter, Elisabeth Joy Lamotte, who chairs the NASW private practice publication section, invited me to share my research in an article for her Spring issue.  We worked countless hours together, a joy and privilege.  If you have time, we hope you find it meaningful. 💜

Read below or by clicking here.

The opportunity to review this riveting theatrical experience for BSR meant a great deal to me, especially at this dangerous time.

Our Ancestors Were Immigrants, Too
Curio Theatre Company presents Hannah Moscovitch’s Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story

By: SaraKay Smullens for the Broad Street Review

As a Jewish woman, I approached opening night of Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story, now getting its Philadelphia premiere at Curio Theatre Company, with trepidation and a heavy heart. Could I objectively assess this love story about a young Romanian man and woman who meet on Canadian shores, seeking refuge from the horror of the pogroms?

Especially as Passover descended, I wondered if I would have rose-colored glasses for the Curio artists and Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch, who is a descendent of her play’s female protagonist. Once again, the world has gone mad: sympathy for the Palestinians has evolved into justification for the actions of Hamas, and condemnation of Israeli policies has morphed into the latest worldwide epidemic of antisemitism. Would I lose my concentration to an internal scream of hold on, be strong, cling to each moment of life, embrace reason, and communicate hope, despite all?

An immigrants’ Our Town

In the first moments of Old Stock, an utterly non-syrupy love story, my anxieties about objectivity evaporated. I saw clearly that it’s beautifully, authentically written and portrayed. It’s like a profound, disorderly, delightful, fun, spirited Jewish rendition of Thornton Wilder’s 1938 Our Town—which, like Old Stock, underscores the preciousness of life through a wise, ever-present narrator who weaves together both tragedy and hope. Here our narrator is The Wanderer, in a deep, mighty, intriguing performance from Paul Harrold. He uses the joys of punk Klezmer (written by Ben Caplan and Christian Barry) to tell the story of Chaya (a talented, versatile Alana Kopelove) and Chaim (an endearing, multifaceted Jack Taylor).

The story of Chaya and Chaim is not about a couple who fall in love because they see each other as perfect—and then, if their marriage is to survive, learn to face that each surely is not. The couple meet in a special line for immigrants suspected of illness: he may have contracted typhus, which he plays down as a rash; and she may have tuberculosis (her sister has it, but Chaya is sure her own ailment is only a cough). Death and profound loss have been their only constant, and yet they live. Chaim is immediately attracted to the older Chaya, but she is initially barely responsive, having lost her husband and their baby from starvation on their treacherous journey. As a further deterrent, she is open about her every flaw.

Chaya had a strong attachment to her husband and remains in profound mourning for him and their child. Chaim, who lost his entire family in the pogroms, is alone. Although this theme is not well-developed, not only is Chaim attracted to Chaya, but also to her large, caring family. He persists in his marriage proposals and Chaya finally acquiesces. Their wedding night is a fiasco of jealousy and displaced, understandable pain, yet they cling together. Because neither is mean-spirited or unkind, and both are giving, their relationship thrives. They grow to love, and many children are born.

Remembering our immigrant ancestors

With the “Old Stock” reference in title and text, director Rachel Gluck highlights resistance to immigrants in Canada, a reality seen internationally. She hopes that the hunger and loss portrayed here will strengthen our resolve not to “succumb to the forces of nationalism and xenophobia that seek to dehumanize each new generation of immigrants and asylum seekers.” She notes the rejectors have “perhaps forgotten that their ancestors were immigrants as well.”

The show boasts an impressive set design by Curio artistic director Paul Kuhn, known for his devotion to reused materials, in the company’s black-box home in the lower level of Baltimore Avenue’s Calvary Center for Culture and Community. The space has some acoustic limitations: it was easy to hear Kopelove and Taylor as Chaya and Chaim, but some musical lyrics floated into oblivion, especially when The Wanderer’s back was turned. Some may find the lyrics lewd. I found them a delight.

Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story is a moving and uplifting production, especially meaningful during the Passover holiday, where repeated stories continue to provide insights and offer hope. Gift yourself with tickets.

To the Editor:

Peggy Noonan’s commentaries on events that highlight America’s newly faced realities and accompanying challenges are impeccable. Yes, O.J. Simpson’s explanations that he could not have killed his wife, Nicole, for he "loved her too much” illuminated what those (like myself) who work with abused and battered women know to be manipulative, seductive, and even delusional. And yes again, the reaction to being found innocent in Simpson's juried criminal trial for killing Nicole and 25-year-old Ron Goldman, whose devoted friendship most likely got her through many terrified nights, did fall along racial lines, documenting opposing beliefs in our criminal justice system. As a Philadelphian, I closely followed reactions at our two major law schools, the University of Pennsylvania, largely White, and Temple University, largely Black. The student body at the former was aghast, while the student body at the later cheered.

These astute observations noted, Noonan was incorrect in stating that the notoriety brought to Simpson's attorney and longtime friend, Robert Kardashian led to his shrewd former wife Kris's ushering in “the first reality-TV family.” This distinction belongs to the sensational “An American Family,” a PBS documentary produced by Craig Gilbert, which aired over 12 one-hour installments in 1973. “Family” mesmerized viewers, privy to the upscale Santa Barbara lives of a Pat and Bill Loud and their five children. We were there when Pat tells her philandering husband to get out and “take the Jag," and when their son, Lance, who later contracted HIV and died of AIDS, became one of the first openly gay figures to appear on television.

SaraKay Smullens

Philadelphia

Submitted to The Wall Street Journal, April 14, 2024

The preceding Inquirer letter shows why many deeply committed to their work leave the child welfare field.

by SaraKay Smullens, MSW, LCSW, DCSW, CGP, CFLE, BCD

     Alarmed by the numbers of mentors, friends, and colleagues leaving social work “burned the hell out, actually fried,” more than ten years ago I began research into this complex, often misunderstood phenomenon. Most focus concentrates on professional burnout. However, in digging into hundreds of studies, I found additional arenas where burnout originates and festers, intensifying others: personal, relational, and physical, with the body as readout for stress and trauma. 

     But there was a further arena not yet identified - societal burnout. We are overburdened by a perfect storm of unresolved, threatening societal challenges and a fiercely divided electorate. We are overwhelmed by the moral distress of war as we watch those in positions of power and influence skillfully pit citizens against each other, intensifying fear and anxieties to gain and maintain power and control.

     Although in their groundbreaking 1970 book, Future Shock, Alvin and Heidi Toffler did not use the term “societal burnout,” they warned of the impact of the breathtaking pace of our technological revolution, in which the illiterate of the future would no longer be those who can’t read or write, but those unable to keep up with the demands of rapid change, and subsequently yearn for the impossible, to turn back the clock (the italics mine, not the Tofflers’). Today’s unsettling dangers and discord were precisely foreshadowed, as was the importance of preparing for increased crime and intense divisions awaiting us.

Read more Here

To the Editor:

Yes, racism thrives in Philadelphia. But most do not realize that racism and other menacing “isms” are rooted in unfinished emotional business from one’s young years — due to terror, rejection, abuse, rage, jealousy, and envy. These feelings are then displaced onto others and ingrained in families and institutions, where scapegoating takes on malignant life. You’ve got to be carefully taught, indeed. That said, the label of racism can be dangerously misused — a misuse I was involved in that haunts me to this day.

From 1991 through 2010, I received an extraordinary pro bono professional opportunity, one used to demonstrate that intervention in early criminal acts offers a far more effective approach to change than jail, as well as one that saves our city money. Carefully selected cases involving domestic violence were referred to me for intensive psychotherapy, in lieu of incarceration. One case involved a professional woman with several children who scapegoated one, beating her mercilessly in the very same way her mother (whom the child resembled) beat her. I worked as I was trained by the extraordinary multicultural, multiracial staff of the nonprofit Society to Protect Children, telling the mom that the city of Philadelphia cared deeply for the well-being of our children and would not tolerate her behavior.

Through developing a trusting relationship with each of the children, along with marital and family therapy, the dangers ceased. However, unknown to me, the mom reported me to the agency where the case was outsourced, labeling me a racist. Long story short, the family was removed from my care. I was given an opportunity to say goodbye to the children, and I do not know who wept more.

SaraKay Smullens

Philadelphia

To The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 1, 2024

To the editor:

At this precarious time in the life of our country and the world, it is urgent to look at why the public is so focused on President Joe Biden’s age and to shed light on this damaging disruption. At first, it may seem this is due to our fear about our president’s aging, impairment, and death. However, the real reason is that when we look at someone who’s older, we are reminded of what we do not want to face in our own lives. To avoid this, we emphasize what we see as negatives, denying countless positives. In truth, there are enormous benefits to aging. For a presidential candidate, this one is major: leaders like Biden face challenges with far wiser judgment and perspective.

Biden, who boldly fought for and won the presidency, was handed what can be called the hottest of hot messes. He has done a magnificent job, yet any little thing will feed the narrative that he has issues with his mental acuity. Take a recent news conference, where, showing respect for the press, the president returned to the podium to respond to a question about Gaza. But because he is deeply concerned by impossible conditions and suffering at our southern border, he offers the name of the Egyptian president but misidentifies the border with Mexico. Why doesn’t this make complete sense? Put differently: How many times does a parent juggling countless responsibilities, and who obviously knows who his children are, look at one child and call another’s name?

SaraKay Smullens

Philadelphia

To The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 19, 2024

Peace between brothers and sisters and their loved ones must be a priority, and I am grateful that the Inquirer published the following.

To the editor:

The complex path toward resolving perilous, enduring personal tragedies sheds light on effectively addressing seemingly impenetrable political quagmires, such as the war in Gaza. Both necessitate facing unsettling truths about dangerous human beings who will not change, recognizing profiles in courage as leaders, and a community awakened to these moral imperatives. For example, abused women are told repeatedly by partners who imprison them: “If you attempt to leave, I will kill you. Or I will make your life so miserable that you will wish you were dead.” Although much work remains, domestic violence organizations provide a tireless coterie of people who provide hope, direction, and protection to those living in fear. In doing so, they transform lives.

Like abusive partners, leaders of both the Palestine Liberation Organization and Hamas have “led” with blinding corruption and a lack of concern for their suffering population, who are terrified to oppose them. Since Hamas’ long-planned Oct. 7 atrocities, the dangerous limitations of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been made shockingly clear. So, just as a determined citizenry unites to protect vulnerable families within its borders, there are powerful voices in all countries (in Israel and Gaza, as well) who insist that bloodshed between those once brothers be resolved through a two-state solution. Their commitment, determination, and grit will energize and inspire others to support this necessity and find a peaceful way to work within Israel and Palestine to make it happen.

Building a quality framework toward this goal can eventually lead to new leadership in Israel, as well as the emergence of a leader the Palestinians deserve — one with the vision, strength, and bravery of Egypt’s Anwar Sadat. Imagine his welcome to Israel by a leader like Golda Meir, who once again would ask, “What took you so long?”

SaraKay Smullens

Philadelphia

To The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 8, 2023

It meant a lot to me that the Tribune gave life to this analysis.

By SaraKay Smullens

Are you waking up with a lump in your throat that never used to be there? Is there an ache inyour chest — best described as heartache — relatively new to you? Do you look at your children, fearing for their future and well-being? Do your eyes fill with tears, but you are not sure why?

If so, I join you. We are experiencing societal burnout. We are overburdened by a perfect storm of threatening societal challenges and a fiercely divided electorate. We are overwhelmed by moral distress due to those in positions of power and influence who, rather than address grave challenges, skillfully work to pit citizens against each other, intensify fear and anxieties, and undermine the rule of law to gain control and power.

In 1974, psychologist Herbert Freudenberger was the first to identify the burnout syndrome: Due to excessive demands on energy, strength and resources, a person becomes over-whelmed, exhausted and “inoperative.” Although they did not use the term burnout in their groundbreaking 1970 book “Future Shock,” Alvin and Heidi Toffler predicted that the breath-taking pace of our technological revolution would bring unsettling change, challenge and increased crime. They warned that the illiterate of the future would no longer be those who can’t read or write but rather those unable to keep up with the demands of rapid change.

To cope, the Tofflers stressed preparing for the future with insight and creativity, implicitly calling on leaders to bring us together rather than exacerbate division.

That we as a society have failed in this eff ort became shockingly clear before the 2016 presidential election when client after client told me that America had forgotten them. This anger and frustration played an enormous role in the victory of Donald Trump, who was, and continues to be, seen as an ally of those who feel discarded and invisible.

The sense of isolation my clients shared caused me to intensify my research into the complexities of burnout — how it’s different from depression and what exactly has gone so very wrong. I’ve shared my findings at conferences, as well as social gatherings and book clubs, where I’ve focused on staying sane in a world gone mad.

Here are the basics of what I’ve learned: We are overlooking the process of how people develop into healthy, resilient, creative members of a family and a society, which is so necessary in this time of overload. There is an inevitable interactivity between personal development and the quality of political leadership.

Key to our future is offering children what they need for mature development: Specifically, children must feel loved and safe, which millions of children worldwide are denied. This said, something has gone terribly wrong in the lives of seemingly fortunate children, those who do not live in war-torn countries, are not abused in any apparent way and live in households that are economically sound. Yes, social media platforms are a monster, made more dangerous by deceptions nurtured by artificial intelligence, and tragically, our children are vulnerable to tormentors and bullies outside our homes. Yet, within our homes, far too many children are not properly nurtured.

Far too many are fed a diet of hatred and prejudice. Far too many are overindulged, raised to believe they are more special than others. And too many parents fear imposing necessary boundaries and limits. As a result, many children are denied the opportunity to develop dignity, a state of being that begins with love and is a prerequisite for mental health. It is dependent on pride — “I am a valuable human being” — and humility — “All others are as important and valuable as I am.”

Dignity is rooted in respect, self-awareness and awareness of others, and character, in other words. It allows one to listen deeply and question assumptions. It encourages respectful communication between those who disagree and fosters the ability to recognize those who cannot be trusted.

Tragically and dangerously, children denied the development of dignity express anger and emptiness through hatred and prejudice toward others. Without developing insight, they reach adulthood biologically but not emotionally. In essence, they are aging, fearful children. For them, love remains a foreign concept.

Many such “adults” become bullies and dictators. In democracies, they may assume positions of power and dominance in professional settings, on boards, and in elected or appointed office. Those without confidence or character cling to the perks their positions of power offer. Some may cling to pure fantasy: They wish to turn the clock back to a time that can never return. Still others, longing for a quality of parenting they never received, become fiercely devoted followers.

Eliminating societal burnout requires recognition of the essential link between personal development and trustworthy leadership, necessary in democracies for the survival of all we hold dear.

At the core of all trustworthy leadership is the ability to love. Dignity makes it possible.

SaraKay Smullens is an award-winning Philadelphia-based licensed clinical social worker, certified family life educator and writer whose latest book is “Burnout and Self-Care in Social Work: A Guidebook for Students and Those in Mental Health and Related Professions.”

Chicago Tribune, November 24, 2023

Dear friends and colleagues, 
I was pleased that my letter was included in The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Thanksgiving issue.

To the editor:

I am grateful that, against great odds, our Philadelphia Inquirer staff refuse to relinquish the importance of their mission in serving our historic, brave but divided, and, in many ways, tortured city. But there is more: Although it is not overt, there is poetry in our hometown paper’s editing and design, and poetry provides enduring hope, despite all. Take, as an example, the Nov. 17 letter to the editor headlines: “Poor delivery,” “Rethink location,” “Understanding,” “Enough war,” “Bipartisan effort,” “System works.” Wow! (The wow is mine.) And there is still more: The Inquirer is widely read and respected. My recently published letter to the editor led to an op-ed for the Chicago Tribune. In accepting my submission, the editor, who also knows how necessary poetry is, offered me two poems, which I now offer you: “Try to Praise the Mutilated World” by Adam Zagajewski and “A Brief for the Defense” by Jack Gilbert.

SaraKay Smullens

Philadelphia

To The Wall Street Journal, September 9, 2023