Pamela Tansey, RN, LCSW

We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time T.S. Eliot I believe that self-knowledge brings self-compassion. We are often our own worst critic and that internal critic can be a barrier to a stronger, more positive sense of one’s self. Understanding how you developed your own view of yourself and of the world is an important lifelong journey. Developing a coherent narrative, Identifying your personal patterns in relationships and how they often get repeated, exploring how your negative thoughts can impact your responses, and understanding enactments from the past within your relationships and how these may get triggered in present day life are important avenues to real change in your life. Gently exploring these aspects of the self within a collaborative relationship with a therapist in a warm, safe, nurturing, and empowering environment can move you toward a greater sense of self -acceptance and self-connection. Achieving these goals can lead to more authentic, connected relationships with others-which as human beings is what we all ultimately seek. Making the decision to enter therapy is one of the most difficult aspects of this journey. Taking this first step is often made in the context of a life crisis, dissatisfaction and chronic difficulties within important relationships, struggles with a life transition or developmental phase, depression, anxiety, and coping mechanisms that lead to self-sabotaging patterns. Difficulties in school, work, career choices or other important roles in life, dealing with aging parents, medical illness, and parenting concerns are some of the other life experiences that can also lead to considering seeking therapy. Often we struggle with these issues alone; fearful of vulnerability or shame or a lifelong pattern of doing things on your own and having a deep rooted struggle with asking for help. You are not alone.