Healing is Not Linear
One of the deepest truths I’ve come to understand since stepping into this field back in 1997 is this: healing is not linear. It doesn’t follow a straight line or adhere to a fixed timeline. It ebbs and flows. It pauses. It surprises us. And most importantly—it never truly ends.
Over the years, I’ve witnessed countless clients return to therapy, not because they failed, but because life has a way of unearthing old wounds at unexpected times. Sometimes it’s a new experience that echoes a forgotten memory, or a sudden shift that brings buried emotions to the surface. Each return is not a setback—it’s an invitation to go deeper, to uncover a new area of growth, or to develop a new skill for navigating life’s complexity.
I speak not just as a therapist, but as someone who’s walked this journey myself. I’ve sat in the client chair. I’ve done the hard work—through EMDR, traditional talk therapy, and the uncomfortable, transformative process of sitting with my own pain. Life has humbled me more than once. It's caught me off guard and knocked the wind out of me. And still, I rise. Not perfectly, but persistently.
I am a lifelong learner, because I believe in the power of growth. The hard moments refine us. Yes, they hurt—deeply at times—but they shape us into more compassionate, more grounded versions of ourselves. We all have blind spots—patterns, behaviors, or beliefs that unintentionally hurt us or those around us. None of us are immune. And so, we grow. We return. We heal.
Healing Often Comes in Seasons
You might go years without stepping into a therapist’s office—and then one day, life changes. Something cracks open. A loss. A transition. A trigger. And suddenly, you're back. That doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you’re human.
There is no shame in returning. Your healing is not a race or a finish line—it’s a lifelong relationship with yourself. Healing happens in layers. It deepens over time. And it often surprises us with how much more there is to explore.
Humility is often born in the fire of our most painful moments. And as healing takes root, that humility blossoms into empathy—the kind that lets you love deeply, even when you’ve been hurt. The kind that lets you know who is safe to welcome into your inner world—and who isn’t. The kind that empowers you to speak your truth, set firm boundaries, and protect your peace.
Your voice matters. Your needs matter. You matter.
It’s Okay to Ask, “How Long Will This Take?”
I remember a client years ago who walked into my office, sat down, and asked the question so many are afraid to ask: “How long is this going to take?” He hoped it would be a few months. But as we explored his trauma, it became clear that healing would take time. Not forever—but longer than he expected.
Years later, he checks in occasionally, not because he’s struggling, but because he wants to stay connected to the version of himself he’s worked so hard to become. Today, he lives a full, rich life. He’s present with his wife. He laughs with his kids. He enjoys being in his own skin. And every time he returns, he tells me the same thing: “I would do it all again. I’d go back and tell myself to be patient. It’s worth it.”
Your Healing Begins When You Say Yes to You
Healing begins the moment you say yes to yourself. And it begins again and again—every time you choose to lean in rather than numb out. Every time you ask for help. Every time you step into the discomfort of growth instead of clinging to the familiar.
Change often comes through the hard places. Transformation is born in the moment we decide to do something different than we’ve always done. And no matter how independent or strong you are, you weren’t meant to do this alone.
We are wounded in relationships—and we heal in relationships. That’s why working with a professional therapist—someone who is well-trained, continuously learning, and committed to doing their own healing—is so valuable.
You are not broken. You are becoming.
Take your next step. Say yes to the journey. You’re worth every moment of it.