Reflections of a Therapist

This past week I walked into a coffee shop. If you know me well, you know this is nothing unusual in my world but rather more like a daily ritual in my life. A pattern I only deviate from when I am out in the wilderness hiking and even then there are times I wish a cappuccino or iced pour-over would randomly appear on the rock I am passing by. To date, this has not yet occurred.  On this busy day as I awaited my cappuccino, I was thinking about all which had already happened in my world this week and what was next on my calendar. Multiple projects were on my mind and my energy was directed to a wondering of how to keep balancing them all and remain balanced internally at the same time. As I was thinking and waiting, I noticed the art, art which reflected back to me what I felt in that moment. I could literally see all the boxes as the people I see each week and as the meetings on my calendar. I could see each box as the various things I have said "yes" to in my life. Some of ...

       Recently I was sitting at a coffee shop. This is not unusual for me but more like a daily occurrence. Just as common is me reaching for my headphones and as I am doing so, overhearing a conversation occurring nearby. These conversations are often about relationships, life, and often are ones that leave me wondering what would happen if they knew I was a therapist. I always wonder if they would change the conversation or if I would be asked questions. During these times of overhearing these conversations my brain is often screaming either “NO” or “YES”. Other times I want to go join the person and offer support. There was even one time I almost went and gave someone my business card. It was brutally painful the “advice” the person was being given as even more brutal to notice the tears in her eyes as she listening to what I called “unhelpful advice”.       During the most recent time, I was sitting and listening to a group of young people ...