The Bittersweet Beauty of Watching My Clients Heal

A happy couple living their best life.

I have one of the most emotionally rewarding, and emotionally challenging, jobs in the world. I get the privilege of sitting beside people in some of their darkest, most terrifying, most vulnerable moments… and then I get to watch them slowly, courageously, beautifully come back to life.

Honestly? I still can’t believe this is what I get to do for a living.

People often assume that therapy is a one-way street. That the client comes in, spills their guts, and the therapist nods thoughtfully, possibly with a clipboard and an occasional “Mmm.” or "tell me about that.". Let me clear something up real quick:

Not in my office. Not even close.

Therapy with me is a relationship. A real one. Messy, honest, compassionate, sometimes hilarious, and full of mutual growth. Yes, I’ve got training, tools, and experience. But I also have a heart, and I bring it to every single session.

From Panic to Peace

There’s nothing quite like seeing a client log on for their first session, eyes wide, shoulders tense, voice shaky, and then fast forward weeks or months later to that same client sitting taller, laughing more, and saying something like:

“I forgot to even worry about that this week.”

Do you know what that does to my soul? It cracks me wide open. Every. Time.

When someone with a phobia starts to live again, to go out to dinner without panic, to travel, to go to a movie without casing the place for the nearest bathroom, it’s like watching someone be reborn. That might sound dramatic, but if you’ve ever lived with a phobia, you know it’s not. Fear steals life. Getting it back feels like magic.

Yes, I Get Attached

Let’s talk about the “goodbye” part.

It’s the weirdest thing, people often assume therapists are somehow emotionally distant. But I’m going to let you in on a little secret: I get attached to my clients. Deeply. Genuinely.

We go through so much together. We cry, we celebrate, we problem-solve, we swear (hey, no judgment in my office), and we dig into the messy stuff of life. I end up knowing so many incredibly intimate things about my clients, and they know a lot about me, too.

Because no, my therapy isn’t one-sided.

I share stories from my life. I bring my own experiences into the room, not to shift focus, but to connect. To normalize. To say, “You’re not alone. I’ve been there. I get it.” When my clients are knee-deep in fear or grief or shame, they don’t need a perfectly polished guru, they need someone who’s walked through their own fires and came out the other side.

And when they do the same? When they rise up out of fear and reclaim their joy? That connection doesn’t just disappear. It stays with me. Always.

Life After Phobia Is Real

Here’s what I need everyone to know: Life after a phobia is 100% possible.

I’ve seen it. Over and over again.

I’ve seen the girl who couldn’t eat in public go out for brunch with friends and laugh until she cried. I’ve seen the teen who avoided school for months walk across the stage at graduation. I’ve seen the mom who panicked at every stomach bug sit with her sick kiddo and stay calm.

These transformations aren’t miracles, they’re earned victories. And watching them unfold is, quite honestly, the greatest honor of my life.

You’re Not Alone. Not Ever.

When we finish our time together, please know: my door is never really closed. I am always here for my clients. Whether it’s months or years down the line, I will remember you. I will root for you. And if you ever need a reminder of who you are and how far you’ve come, I’ll be here.

Because we don’t just “do therapy.” We build a bond. We create safety. We form a relationship where you’re free to fall apart, rebuild, and come back stronger.

And let me be clear: it is an absolute honor to be a part of that.

To My Clients, Past and Present

You have impacted me in ways you’ll never fully understand.

You’ve taught me courage. You’ve shown me resilience. You’ve inspired me with your honesty, your humor, your humanity. I am so proud of each and every one of you. Watching you step into your power, quiet the fear, and reclaim your life, it doesn’t just change you. It changes me.

Goodbyes are hard. I always feel a little lump in my throat when we reach that final session. But that lump is mixed with so much pride, joy, and deep, deep gratitude.

Thank you for trusting me with your pain.Thank you for letting me witness your healing. Thank you for showing up, even when it was hard. And thank you for reminding me, again and again, why I do this work.

You are never alone in your healing. You are stronger than your fear. And you are so, so loved.