A Heartwarming Adventure

I’ve mentioned the counsellor I’ve been seeing and her impact on my healing journey many times throughout my blog, but one thing I haven’t mentioned is that she lives in another province, and our time together has been exclusively virtual until this week. 

5.5 weeks ago, I decided that I wanted to hop on an airplane to go and meet her for a session “in real life”, and I am so glad I did. It was incredibly special to meet after building a really strong therapeutic relationship for the last year and a half. 

The notion of the "therapeutic relationship" was introduced by Sigmund Freud, who emphasized its significance in the outcome of therapy. Research conducted since then has consistently demonstrated that the quality of this relationship is a key predictor of success in therapy, and I would have to agree.

When someone asks, I’ve tried to describe what I’ve found in my counsellor by sharing that it’s kind of like the kindness of a friend, the warmth of a mother, the care and concern of a father, the trust of a partner, and the insight and wisdom of a teacher. Although it isn't any of those things, these elements are what create the uniqueness and sacredness of a really awesome therapeutic relationship. 

I will be forever thankful to my mom for encouraging me to find someone professional to support me. I feel proud of myself for finding the courage to seek professional help despite stigma and costs of counselling. I feel incredibly lucky to have found the counsellor I’ve found, and immensely grateful that she decided to choose a career in supporting people through their hard stuff.

The picture below is that of a fidget toy; I am, and always have been, a fidget-er, and I chose that fidget toy from her bucket of toys to play with during the length of our session. As it was time to go, she suggested I keep it as a tangible memento of our time together in her office, and I am grateful for the opportunity to hang on to it and take it home with me.