ABSTRACT
Right before my mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness, my own mortality was shaken by an illness of my own. During that time my mother cared for me. In this chapter, I explore the impact of mutual care and mourning in both my personal and professional life. Feelings of early loss and longing were exacerbated by the guilt and regret that I could not more easily bridge the geographic distance between me and my mother. This sentiment was mirrored in my work with patients.
Technology transformed immediate intergenerational and intercontinental connections, as I had previously experienced treating overseas patients via videoconferencing. Both in my practice and in my own family, I discovered the advantages and limitations of using technology such as online video and telephone calls to cope with difficult feelings and the constant struggle to keep in touch. Several years later, the coronavirus pandemic made videoconferencing ubiquitous for all therapists.
