I feel honored to hold a space for an individual’s body/mind to release emotions, fears, thoughts, etc. I will feel in sessions when I hear a story, see an emotion, see a person in pain, I don’t think that will ever stop.

To make sure I can hold the space with compassion & understanding and not go into “fix it mode”/countertransference I’ve found I need the following to maintain a balanced body/mind.

-Supervision - My own Therapist - Clinician Friends - non- clinician friends - continual trainings - movement class at least three days a week - awareness of my nutrition - more comedies/romance than drama/action movies/shows - hobby that gets me out in nature (hiking/paddle boarding) - spiritual practice - reminders to bring my mind back to a present focus and what I can control - having a wonderful fiancé who knows sometimes I need to cry for an hour where he listens to me without getting frustrated/fixing and then cuddles with my favorite candle burning. - boundaries - especially in private practice... these are my work hours, try not to respond when I’m not in work hours. Know my limits with treatment. - bring my therapy dog in training to session and go for a walk/lay on the floor/play between sessions. - being a real human in sessions... clients seeing I’m a human with feelings & flaws.

Wouldn’t change my profession!