The therapeutic power of belonging- even through a screen. Women's Rugby World Cup 2025

This afternoon, I watched the Red Roses take on Canada from the comfort of my living room. My family had gone out to a local carnival, but as I'm recovering from a cold, I stayed behind, feeling a bit sorry for myself.

Yet, despite being physically alone, I found myself carried along by the same surge of energy, the same collective emotion, as those in the stadium.

As a counsellor, I’m always attuned to the importance of belonging. So often in the therapy room, people describe the pain of feeling cut off from family, friends, or community. What struck me today was how powerfully the sense of connection can still reach us, even when we’re not physically present.

Television doesn’t just show us a game; it transmits atmosphere. I could hear the swell of the crowd, the roar after each try, the unison of voices rising in support. My heart quickened with theirs, and for a time I felt part of something bigger than myself.

For many people, whether because of geography, finances, health, or neurodiversity, joining large crowds in person isn’t always possible. But belonging doesn’t have to be limited by physical presence. The human nervous system is wired to resonate with others, and modern technology allows us to plug into that resonance across distance.

Today’s game was a reminder: we don’t always have to be there to feel connected. Sometimes it’s enough to hear the roar of a crowd through the speakers, to cheer in unison with unseen others, and to remember that we are part of a vast web of connection.