What you seek is seeking you.
- Rumi
Can we ever be immune to emotional pain? Or wish away mental illness?
Perhaps not.
However, psychotherapy can help.
A therapeutic relationship offers a client the space to be heard without preconceived notions and reservations. It provides perspective and support to make sense of behaviors, situations, illness and confusing emotions. The insight developed based on this authentic relationship helps a client make decisions based on something within, something they can examine and live with. And most of all it instills hope. In turn, it asks for patience and trust in the process.
The process of change is an ongoing dialogue.
Cultural awareness is everything.
Cultural awareness on the part of the therapist is critical to form an accurate diagnosis and develop a treatment strategy sensitive to a client’s needs. I am of Indian origin and am particularly aware that in certain cultures due to stigma associated with mental illness it is easier to seek help for physical complaints. These somatic symptoms may need to be explored and recognized as a physical manifestation of depression prior to collaborating on treatment. Therapy seeks to create a non-judgmental and safe space for all clients to find inherent strengths and examine their mental health concerns.
