About

Why is light an essential word to me?

When I was a girl, my family attended a church meeting called the Candlelight Service. During that meeting, we read scriptures and sang Christmas carols. The last song was “Silent Night,” during which the church passed the light to each other’s candles. At that time, we could leave the service with our candles lit. My family had the tradition of trying to keep our candles lit till we were in our car.

One year, my brothers could keep their flames a glow because they were larger than I was and had larger hands to shelter the light from the wind. The brisk wind caught my candle, and the flame went out. As I started to cry, my daddy reached down, relit my candle, and helped shield it from the wind with his large hands.

As we walked to the car, he said, “There will always be someone to light your candle.” I always remember those words, and they do ring true. I have found throughout my life that someone has always shown up to light my way. I have had to wait a long time, but the path eventually becomes lit when I let it happen.

I hope to help my clients have their way lit for them. It may take some time, but when my clients let it happen, someone will always help them light their way. You can find your light, too, even if it means changing the lamp.

It’s normal to feel reluctant to reveal your feelings.

Some clients come reluctantly to my office. They fear saying anything about themselves or their families to strangers or anyone.

The reluctant client usually has a long history of holding in feelings of less than or excessive hurt. Some begin fighting back the tears due to extensive trauma as they express hard feelings and subjects they never thought they could.

When new clients make a 180 turn, it surprises me. These clients relax and discuss their deepest secrets by saying, “I am so glad I came; you are easy to talk to, and I did not think I could get these things out.” These individuals are great clients and can move forward to resolve long-standing hurts and disappointments and find joy again.

Tears are part of healing.

I have had clients sit down and grab the tissue box to stop the flood of tears. In the space I offer, these clients can express their feelings with words and tears openly and without judgment.

By the end of the session, we have developed a rough plan to start healing and have lots of exercises to choose from that help people restore joy. These clients have often lived in despair, which kept them from living life to the fullest.

Regaining hope is the goal.

As we progress in our work together, clients regain lost hope in response to exercises designed to unlock the feelings and thoughts that keep them stuck in grief and sadness over life’s unbelievable circumstances.

These clients see how changing thoughts and negative self-talk make a difference.

You can be one of those individuals who find peace and understanding with therapeutic tools that make a big difference.