Chapter One

Felicia
Felicia
Jul 28, 2017 · 2 min read

I’m starting a professional blog on my website and the first post is up: FAQ. Since I’ve posted it, it has felt like a placeholder and I haven’t been emotionally connected to the content — even though of course I am. It’s a description of my life’s work.

A part of me feels vulnerable and freaked out about being too authentic in a professional space. Which represents one of the biggest conflicts I feel about being a therapist.

On one hand, I am the instrument of my work. My client *does* the work and I hold the space. This requires me to show up, be present, and be authentic. It negatively impacts the space when I hold back, feel insecure, or (and) don’t trust myself.

On the other hand, there are clear boundaries in a therapeutic space and while it’s necessary for me to be authentic, I believe there’s a very significant difference between being present and making it about me. Therapy isn’t about me — that’s why it’s incumbent upon me to seek out my own therapy. Self-disclosure is authentic and how much is too much? The easy answer is that it depends on the person and the situation, however how much of myself do I put in advertising my work?

My internal response is “ a lot and enough.”

So here’s another crack at a Q I want to add to the FAQ, and I am planning to break up each question into a separate blog.

Why do people seek therapy?

There are a myriad of reasons why people begin therapy; divorce, death, life-stage transitions, communication breakdowns, depression, anxiety, stress, when they’ve experienced a life changing event, would like to make changes in their life, or connect more with loved ones — therapy becomes an option when one’s symptoms become unmanageable and affect work, home, and relationships.

For many there is a specific instance or event that motivates treatment, and therapy can also be a gentle option for support in moving out of feeling stuck in one’s life, addressing intimacy issues, and in becoming more familiar with the connection between our inner and outer worlds.

By talking it out in therapy, one hears their words, sees themselves reflected in someone else, and experiences more clarity based on a different perspective. A therapist’s role is multi-faceted and begins with being a mirror.

Felicia

Written by

Felicia

Chicago. Therapist (People, not massage.) Traveler. Personal posts live here.

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