Is therapy for you?
I like to think that therapy is for everyone.
The experience of being human is a complex one full of wonder, learning, joy, and pain. But what does it mean to be human? How do we know we are living a life that meets the potential of our design?
Recent years have produced an abundance of scholarship that has deepened our understanding of the human body, and the intricate web of internal systems that exist in an ongoing feedback loop assessing and re-evaluating our well-being. In tandem, we are also experiencing a collective crisis as we witness a rise in anxiety, depression, and an overall sense of existential uncertainty. In a recent New York Times article, journalist Astra Taylor reflects that our society exists in a chronic state of insecurity. From our health, the state of our finances, and the future of our planet, to overall angst regarding our well-being, we live in a culture where nothing feels safe or guaranteed.
It makes sense, then, that as we feel less connected and more unsure of ourselves and our future, our body absorbs this information, which translates into a sense of discontent somatically. In a world in which changes in technology are surpassing our ability to fully process and understand our value as humans, it is no surprise that life has become a place where feeling disconnected and alone tends to be a familiar form of existence. We keep scrolling for those brief dopamine hits to help numb the pain of isolation. We should wonder, is this a good enough existence?
So why therapy?
Because you don’t need to go it alone.
As social beings, we are not meant to experience life in isolation. We need to feel a sense of belonging, connection, safety, and meaning as we navigate the vicissitudes of life.
One only has to look to indigenous cultures or travel back to our ancestors to see the power of community, ritual, and shared experience. It is in the shared space and in witnessing the story of YOU that the path toward healing and connectedness takes place.
You are unique in your existence. Like a tree that has endured and overcome the weather and weathering of life, and exists in a state of profound resilience, so have you endured life’s storms and survived and transformed into the NOW. Our work will honor that journey and explore ways back to parts of yourself you may have lost (or maybe have just been sheltered) along the way.
What you should know about working with me
The very core of healing is the relationship you and I form. The experience of vulnerability and connection that grows in the therapeutic collaboration is rooted in the ability to listen, comfort, and heal. Through warmth, respect, empathy, integrity, reliability, challenge, and honesty, the journey to one's true self (the work of therapy) begins.
When you step into our therapeutic space, you can expect a judgment-free, confidential environment in which your wisdom and life experience will guide our process together.
I believe that healing is a holistic journey that encompasses not only the mind but the body and spirit as well. Through compassionate listening and collaborative exploration, we will work together to uncover the layers of your experience, identify patterns, and develop strategies to cultivate self-compassion, self-regulation, and meaningful growth.
I have been working with Leora for over 2 years and the work we've done together has dramatically helped me work through issues I've had with relationships, stress, and anxiety. She is always patient, professional, and dynamic, adjusting her approaches based on what is and isn't working for me.
Our weekly sessions have enabled me to live a more fulsome life, building productive relationships and getting to the root of how I want to show up with others and engage with the world. I've come a really long way with Leora and will continue to work with her for the foreseeable future.
―JL