After a particularly challenging session last week, I asked myself the other day how many times along the journey of becoming a therapist someone wiser, more experienced and often older in years told me to “Trust the process.” By the third stressful year of graduate school, hearing that phrase led to feelings of anger, sometimes rage, and frustration. What I have discovered since developing my private practice is…they were right.

In the past few months I have made decisions that align my life with what I am truly happy doing. Leaving the community health realm after four years of grueling, stressful and often soul wrenching work, I am finding my own path to provide services to those in need of counsel and support. There are, however, moments of doubt that creep into my psyche commenting on the “unorthodox” approach in which I choose to make a living. I have decided that success for me is not based on financial gain. Success is seeing the faces of clients continuing to show up to sessions even when they do not want to or have a hunch we are going to delve into difficult arenas. Success is hearing my phone ring and it is a client from long ago reaching out for help in a difficult moment or just to say thank you. Success is feeling less stress, more time with my family and better connection to the souls of others because I am choosing to follow my authentic path. In the moments of doubt and panic, there always follows a moment that feels validating and fills me with gratitude for the trust others put in those of us who choose the healing path. This moment may come months after the initial doubt and pain but it does arrive. The universe will let you know that the effort we put into others’ journey to self-discovery and wellness will come around to heal US in the long run.

The past few months have led to several questions arising in my mind.

I wonder what the experience of well-established healers, of any modality, was at the moment when clinical training merged with intuition and allowing the process to unfold. What does it mean to live an “authentic” life or even an authentic day? What are you willing to sacrifice if it means you can more readily engage in what brings your soul to life? What gifts to we receive from the universe when we truly engage in the art of healing with others who trust us to guide them along the path?

Just curious…