Posted On March 6, 2023.

Let's take a minute away from the formality of a therapist's website and talk about real life and real situations for a minute.

In the song Life Ain't Always Beautiful, Gary Allan sings

“Life ain’t always beautiful

Sometimes it’s just plain hard.

Life can knock you down.  It can break your heart." 
(Gary Allan, 2005, track 7)

Simple (hard) truth, right?  In some way or another, we have all had "$&@%  happen".  Struggles come.  People can be hurtful.  Situations happen that are not controllable yet still have a huge impact on life. Unresolved trauma, old trauma, or new trauma may begin to impact life.  Relationships become damaged or disconnected.  Partners fight and argue, criticize and become defensive, and maybe even put up walls and stop communicating beyond the superficial.  Maybe there are thoughts or talk of a break up.  There might even be issues around infidelity.  Work gets impacted. Maybe it seems like everything  is critical and shaming. Nothing works to stop it anymore. Feelings of loneliness, sadness, anxiety, and that NOBODY could possibly understand come strong.  here is no easy way out and nothing seems to fix it.  Everything is overwhelming and feels out of control. There is muck and mess and darkness.

Chances are that some of this sounding familiar.

"Life ain't always beautiful
You think you're on your way

And it just a dead end road at the end of the day"  (Gary Allan, 2005, track 7)

When talking about empathy being the antidote to shame, Brené Brown states, "The two most powerful words when we're in struggle:  Me Too."  (TED, 2012. Timestamp 19:18).  Things happen in life and I am no exception.  I, too, have been in the muck and the mess and the darkness.   In those tough spaces, we all need just one person who can show up with empathy for us as a human, can hear the story, and create space for hope and healing.

"But the struggles makes you stronger
And the changes make you wise
And happiness has its own way of takin' its sweet time.

No, life ain't always beautiful
Tears will fall sometimes
Life ain't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful ride"  (Gary Allan, 2005, track7)

Struggling with our own muck and mess keeps it real.  We can be imperfect and human on our journey to healing.  It also created in me a passion for showing up and creating space and opportunity for healing for individuals and couples - no matter where they are in their journey.   My approach to therapy is to show up with empathy, validation, and compassion to create a safe, non-judgmental space where we collaborate and find how healing can begin to take place.  I am dedicated to meeting you where you are and journeying with you to where you want to go.

"No, life ain't always beautiful
But I know I'll be fine
Hey, life ain't always beautiful, but its a beautiful ride
What a beautiful ride" (Gary Allan, 2005, track 7)

So, if life has gotten messy and trauma has shown up or your relationship with your partner is struggling, I hope you reach out to see if we are a match for your healing journey.  I look forward to journeying with you on that beautiful ride.

Gary Allan. “Life Ain't Always Beautiful.” On Tough All Over, MCA Nashville, Nashville, TN, 2005.

TED. (2012, March 16). Brené Brown: Listening to shame. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psN1DORYYV0