First entry: A Start, and What's In It For You

Each day, thousands, perhaps millions, of people sit with their therapists, sharing intimate details of their lives: feelings of despair over the loss of a loved one; frustration over not feeling heard by the one person they love and want to hear them the most; anger and betrayal over their own aging body that no longer lets them enjoy a vital and independent life; fear over seemingly inescapable and irrational ideas, thoughts or events that threaten their very ability to go about the tasks of daily living--and the list goes on.

I am fortunate--and honored--to sit in the other chair. The therapist's chair.

If you've ever been curious about psychotherapy and what goes on in the room, I'm hoping this blog will lessen the mystery, and perhaps dispel a few common (and threadbare) stereotypes (Think dinner conversation: Guest: "So what do you do?" Me: "I'm a psychotherapist." Guest (nervous mock laughter and a big wink): "Well, ha ha, I better be careful what I tell you or you'll be analyzing me all night, ha ha ha, right?").

I'm not sure why therapy can be threatening or scary for some, but I have a few ideas. And I'll be sharing those in future blogs and, hopefully, dispelling some myths.

I've been fortunate to sit with some brilliant, moving, dedicated, vulnerable, strong, witty, charming, fascinating clients.  What they all have in common is this: they have taken a step to get to know themselves better in order to influence the one person on the planet over whom they ultimately have immeasurable influence and control: themselves.

(A caution to self: people who are infinitely smarter about blogging than I have warned me: Keep it short. Don't ramble. So, I'm going to bring this first post to a close.)

What do I hope to accomplish? I'm hoping to share a little of what I've learned from my training, from my wonderful colleagues, and my esteemed clients.  I am often humbled by my clients' vulnerability and their courage to venture into territory that enables them to say, "Maybe this is about me."

What you'll never see here: actual client names, or any identifying information that would compromise the confidential nature of the work I do with my clients. It's possible that, after reading future blogs, you'll think to yourself: I know that person! But, trust me, you don't.  It's my goal to share my experience of the therapist's chair by using composites of a vast number of client sessions, altering any identifying details, but preserving any learning that I flatter myself to think might be interesting or valuable to others reading this.

Finally, I've long been of the opinion that blogging is, in many ways, an exercise in vanity. So be it. If it isn't of any value to you, if you disagree with me, if you think it's a time-waster, I honor your opinion and encourage you to exercise your right to dismiss this exercise. If, however, along the way, this touches someone, starts an internal dialogue about change, or motivates someone to seek help to lessen their distress, well, then, that will make it all worth it. We'll see. And so the journey begins.