Today's blog is a little different. Today I have my coaching hat on and I want to share with you a conversation I had this week and why I believe we all deserve a safe place to process the challenges of life with that is equipped to offer tools for resolution.
My friend was sharing a challenging situation that continues to come up in her life. She has a couple people in her life that she loves but finds it difficult to separate herself from because they are family. This scenario could also be coworkers, etc. Now, this friend has a really intuitive partner who is a great listener and together they go back and forth about the challenges. But at the end of the conversation, even though they discussed it, there's no real solution to bring change. So, that leaves my friend rolling this same information around in her head.
Now, I will concede that there are times that we can resolve a situation this way. We may have a new thought about it. But I find that most do not. If you are growth minded and actively seeking new tools, then yes. But that takes me to my next thought. Journaling.
You know I am a firm believer in the power of journaling. There's some magic that happens when you can take those thoughts that keep rolling around and put them on paper. It gives you perspective and I think it lets the brain know that it's okay to think about something else because we have cataloged those thoughts. We won't forget them. But also, now when you read them, you see them in a new light. I think they sit differently and you can gain new perspective from reading what you wrote. Now, while I know how powerful journaling can be...sometimes, it's still not enough.
So what's the next step? Therapy. Or maybe a coach, I think that may depend on the situation, the people involved, and the training of the coach. I have helped many but there are some that I know their situation is more than I am qualified to help with and they need more than me. You deserve that! You deserve a safe place, a trusted and qualified person to speak with.
I have had a few therapists in my life. While many of them were for a season or to get me through a difficult situation I don't see therapy the same way today. I want to grow and keep growing. I want to continue to improve and find better paths toward peace and fulfillment. I want to learn more productive ways to interact with people and not need to armor up or shrink to do it. I do see a therapist and have for sometime. She is amazing and I look forward to our sessions. She has given me tools that have made a large impact on my life. And that brings me to my last point.
While talk therapy is helpful and the therapist can help you reach new conclusions, there are other things that can increase the effect of talk therapy. Therapists today have tools such as *EMDR, or *ART, among others. The point is you have options out there.
Now, let me circle back to my friend. While she finds it comforting to talk with her partner (who also deals with the same people and situations) nothing is changing. They can support one another. They can relate and empathize. But they deserve more and so do you. You know that old adage the says "If you keep doing what you're doing you will keep getting what you got." It's time to do something new.
If I can be of any help to you, whether it's me or you want to process what to look for in therapist, etc. please don't hesitate to reach out. I would be honored to help you.
Much love,
Ps. Don't forget to grab the freebie on my webpage!!
*Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a mental health treatment technique. This method involves moving your eyes a specific way while you process traumatic memories. EMDR's goal is to help you heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences.
*Resolution Therapy works directly to reprogram the way in which distressing memories and images are stored in the brain so that they no longer trigger strong physical and emotional accelerated reactions.
