Are You Ready for More? A Fresh Perspective on Therapy

We all have “stuff”. It’s the human condition.

The “would of,” “could of,” and “should of's” of life can leave us feeling depleted, burned out, resentful, and ashamed. Often we wait to reach out, thinking we should be able to handle this on our own. We see others’ highlight reels, leaving us exhausted by anxiety, guilt, shame, and depression. Thoughts of “I’m not good enough,” “I don’t matter,” or “Why me?” are too familiar. We try to silence our thoughts and emotions, keeping us stuck. Grief and loss can tangle our thoughts in a giant knot that we have no idea how to unwind. We feel guilty for not being better, and the “shoulds” and “musts” leave us paralyzed. 

“There are three kinds of pits: 

the kind we jump into, the kind we accidentally slip into, 

and the kind we’re thrown into.”

― Jennie Allen

No matter where you are today, you’ve likely found yourself in a pit at one point. One of my core beliefs is that things don’t happen to us; they happen for us! You couldn’t have made it this far without experiencing some things that have gone wrong and lessons you’d love to unlearn! But how? How do we unlearn or “learn” from the place life has us today? Is there good that can come from this pit? 

The good news is, YES! And you don’t have to get out alone!

The twists and turns of life that led me to become a therapist.

My journey to the field of counseling has taken several twists and turns. I began my career as an elementary teacher. I loved teaching and knew early on that I was born to teach. I taught for seven years and loved making a difference; however, after the birth of my first child, I knew I needed to be home with my kids. 

I searched for several years to find a way to stay home and pursue a career I loved. Finally, I found a home-based business where I've been for the last 18 years, teaching others to live healthy, balanced lives. One of my roles in my business has been to mentor and coach people on a personal basis. Over the years, I've found this to be one of the most rewarding aspects. I love hearing people's stories and walking alongside hurting people seeking more for their lives. But I started noticing a common theme; when we get stuck, something is at the core of what keeps us stuck. I became curious to learn more about why!

My faith is my anchor, and for the last 15 years, I have been intentionally seeking to grow my relationship with Jesus. Over and over, I felt in my heart that He was leading me to pursue the field of counseling. Each time a pastor or a speaker would ask, "If you could be doing anything with your life, what would it be?" The response I heard in my heart was that I would be a therapist. But how could I do this? I had kids in high school! 

My journey to becoming a therapist has been a decade in the making! In 2012, I decided to take a leap of faith and began to pursue a Master’s in Counseling. I took classes for a year and loved them but I felt like I was missing too many of my kids' activities and decided to quit. 

A few years ago, our family experienced a personal encounter with trauma, which opened my eyes to the long-lasting consequences trauma can cause. As our family was healing, the call to the field of counseling continued to pull at my heart. After a serendipitous conversation with a friend that encouraged me to go back and complete the program, I jumped in with both feet. 

A fresh perspective on therapy

This is my third career. I’ve been a teacher, a health and wellness business owner, and now a provisionally licensed therapist (effective January 2023), which gives me a unique perspective. I believe we get stuck because of our thinking, and the way we get unstuck is to change our thinking! But how do we do that? Is it possible?! The key ingredient is you wanting to change! 

My approach to therapy is faith-based and solution focused! My method is active and engaging; we will get to work from day one! To understand what’s happening, we must look at why it's happening. The teacher in me loves digging into the why! 

When you come to my office (either in-person or remotely), you can feel safe to lay out the tangle of thoughts and feelings you’re experiencing, and together we’ll untangle that knot. Humans have thousands of thoughts daily, and we tend to believe ourselves! However, there are common “thinking mistakes” (I see them as lies from the enemy) that we can fall into. 

Together, we’ll search for patterns in thinking at the root of your pain. We’ll learn more about why. We’ll go after those thoughts and change them and you! There is hope! Doing the hard work can restore you to who God made you to be, and reconnect you with the most beautiful part of you. 

So if you’re ready for more, I’d be humbled and honored to work with you! Let’s untangle that knot and get back to living the big, messy yet beautiful life God gave you! You were born with a God-given purpose that only YOU can fulfill! 

Schedule your first appointment here. Or, feel free to reach out anytime with questions at info@vineandbranchcounseling.com or (402) 413-8841. I’d love to connect with you!