Reflecting on a Decade of Therapy

I grew up in a loving, generous, boisterous, resourced, and fiercely committed multi-generational household. I was lucky and privileged, and I’m grateful and I try to pay it forward.

Through it all, it was hard for me to find my confidence and feel secure as a quiet child among a lot of strong personalities and immigrant family dynamics.

At times, this core aspect of my journey/struggle has felt VERY OVERWHELMING. Like a mountain. How do I strengthen a foundation ridden with self-doubt and a relentless inner critic?

But I started therapy a decade ago, before the field exploded during the pandemic and on IG, and it’s changed my life so many times over. Every major life transition for 10 years - moving to the east coast, meeting my partner, sticking it out in roles when I felt unsuccessful, miscarriage, pregnancy, parenthood, the loss of my mom, starting my own business, the pandemic, I’ll say it again…the pandemic, and so many more - have been supported by my beloved therapist.

Sometimes the progress in therapy feels so slow and I feel doubt about my own journey as well. Who does therapy for so long? Am I that broken? Am I that weak? How much money have I spent?

But over the last year, I’ve been able to recognize how much I have grown over the past decade, and especially over the last five years after my mom passed.

And l’ve realized that my own early struggles as a child inevitably planted the seeds for what became my strengths (empathy, active listening, connecting, creativity, community, championing others). These strengths are the foundation of my coaching practice, and I’m proud of them. I’m reminded that pain and joy are intertwined, and you can’t have one without the other.

And lastly, so much love for all mental health professionals…therapists, counselors, social workers, physicians, healers, and so many more. That is a special group of people and I don’t believe we could collectively have made it over to this side of the pandemic without their deep compassion, expertise, and care. ❤️