Stuff My Therapist Says (I)

As a therapist, one of the most beautiful things to see is when a client who meets you on one of their worst days become the client who hasn’t had a “worst day” in months.

A lot of people get into therapy because there are things about themselves or their childhoods that they just want to understand. But for me, this certainly wasn’t my “why”.

I became a therapist because I love the period between “worst day ever” and “I’ve never felt better”. I love providing the tools, the psychoeducation, insight, challenge, listening ear and accountability that clients and patients need to get from their “hard place” to their “best space”.

Each week, I feel like there’s at least one session that sits with me, or at least one gem that I take away for the week and I’d love to start sharing those tidbits here.

This past week, I was able to reconnect with a client who had made big changes in her life because things were simply not right for her. Her environments were depressing, her relationships unfulfilling and she was met with disrespect at every turn. I challenged her to make big changes if she wanted to see big changes. I challenged her to set big boundaries and actually enforce them — meaning, set your intentions and make action when things aren’t aligned with those intentions.

With this challenge, she was able to make one of the biggest changes that she’s ever experienced which not only empowered her in knowing that she has the strength and the follow-through necessary for big life changes, but it also changed the way that those around her treat her. She was no longer a pushover running through the hamster wheel of a cycle that everyone was used to. She was a force who was willing to walk away when things were not right. This resulted in respect, honest conversations, empowerment, and hope that wasn’t present prior to.

I ALWAYS SAY: “IT TAKES ONE DAY TO COMPLETELY CHANGE YOUR LIFE.”

This is the perfect example of that at play. In one day, you can make the choice to do something extremely different. You can envision what you want that change to look like throughout your life. And you can get a head start on the baby steps that are required to reach your end-goal. Sure, it’s a day of long and hard work, but it’s a day that has the potential to change the flow and trajectory of your life, so isn’t that worth it?

Speaking from personal experience, I re-evaluate my steps in life bi-monthly so I often take days where I put a million little things into motion so that I can see the tides change three months from now. I’ve always been about the long game, even when it hurts to wait, so I’m no stranger to delayed gratification at all. I actually think that wins feel better when you’ve planned, worked at and executed them over time. That slow build (or simply build) towards something for yourself… oh, it’s amazing and it’s truly why I work so hard at so many things. I may be minimally suffering now, but I’ll always be good later.

Anyway, enough on this, but do take with you the fact that it takes one day to completely change your life.

Best,
Bree 🤍