The Wounded Healer

As a wounded healer, I understand using my own experiences of pain and healing to connect with and support my clients. I have gone through my struggles and have come out on the other side (and in some cases, things are still a work in progress) with a deep understanding of what it’s like to be in pain.

The Wounded Healer

The idea of the wounded healer is often associated with the work of psychologist Carl Jung, who believed that individuals who have faced their struggles and undergone a healing process could be particularly effective in helping others navigate similar struggles.

Being a wounded healer can be challenging because it requires a careful balance of vulnerability, transparency, and professional boundaries. It’s important to share one’s story to create a deeper level of empathy and understanding, but we must also remember that the therapeutic relationship focuses on the client’s needs.

Additionally, being a wounded healer requires a strong focus on self-care. I know I can only be effective in my work if I prioritize my emotional and physical health. This means setting boundaries and taking time to recharge and replenish my energy.

Despite the challenges, being a wounded healer is incredibly rewarding. By using my experiences to help others, I can create a deeper level of connection and understanding that can be transformative. And by being open and transparent, I can create a safe space for healing and growth.

If you’re a wounded healer like me, remember that experience can be valuable in helping others heal. Take care of yourself, set boundaries, and be open and honest with your clients. Your work can be gratifying, and you have the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives, despite being imperfect humans ourselves.

Resistance is Healing

Resistance isn’t a sign of something bad, it’s a sign of healing.

I’ve learned that struggle and resistance are often seen as negative things – signs that we’re on the wrong path or that something is going wrong. But I’ve realized that they can also indicate that things are working.

When we try to make changes in our lives, whether it’s in our relationships, our work, or our society as a whole, there will always be resistance. This is especially true when we’re challenging the status quo or trying to disrupt systems that have existed for a long time.

Resistance can take many forms. It might come from other people who don’t agree with our ideas or who are threatened by the changes we’re proposing. It might come from within ourselves as we struggle to break old habits or overcome self-doubt. It might come from external circumstances that make it difficult to move forward.

It might be a sign that we’re doing something right. But here’s the thing: resistance doesn’t mean we’re doing something wrong. When we push against resistance, we’re testing the limits of what’s possible. We’re challenging ourselves and others to think differently and to consider new perspectives. We’re creating space for growth and change.

Of course, this doesn’t mean we should always ignore the resistance and plow ahead. Sometimes resistance is a warning sign that we can adjust our approach or reconsider our goals. But when we’re confident in our vision and committed to our values, we can use resistance to help us stay on track.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of following external suggestions from others, especially when those suggestions seem to come from sources of authority or expertise. But we can remember that those sources may have agendas and biases and that our experiences and perspectives are just as valid or far better. The key is to stay focused on our intentions and make choices rooted in our values rather than getting derailed by externalities.

So if you’re facing resistance or struggling to change your life, take heart. Keep pushing, keep learning, and keep growing. The resistance will eventually give way, and you’ll emerge more robust and resilient on the other side. It might not be easy, but it’s a sign that you’re on the right track.

Meomind

I have recently started doing a small amount of work with Meomind, a mental health startup, and a top 10 therapy app on app stores. Meomind aims to create a library of simulated audio therapy sessions for individuals who may be interested in receiving psychotherapy but are unsure of where to begin. Many individuals face difficulties accessing proper therapy due to cost, stigma, or low provider availability. Meomind offers listeners the chance to be matched to the most relevant sessions in their library based on their self-identified mental health needs. Their library contains sessions where listeners can hear the client (either actual or played by an actor) and the therapist, providing insight, comfort, and strategies they can implement. Meomind’s advisory board includes esteemed clinical psychologists such as John C. Norcross and Bruce Wampold.

Working with Meomind has been a unique experience for me as a psychotherapist. Creating a psychotherapeutic session with a client where rapport wasn’t built can be challenging. The client-actor often brings their real-life experiences into the session, making the sessions very real, even when the typical clinical groundwork hasn’t been established. These conditions add a layer of authenticity to the sessions, making them a valuable option for those who may be apprehensive about seeking traditional psychotherapy.

One of the small struggles I experience with the Meomind platform as a “clinician” is navigating through just one or maybe two sessions when with real clients, there is an arc of treatment that often spans 3 to 10 sessions. Typically, there is a goal-oriented treatment plan in traditional psychotherapy, and it can be less than ideal to conduct a session without that trajectory and format.

The future of telehealth or online therapy environments is rapidly evolving. Technology is providing us with new tools to augment traditional “talk therapy.” Meomind is pioneering a unique aspect of this, and I’m excited to have a “toe in the water” as part of my involvement in the mental health community.

Overall, I’m very excited about what the future brings. The Meomind platform provides a unique way to offer psychotherapy to individuals who may be apprehensive about seeking traditional psychotherapy. As a psychotherapist, I believe that these platforms have enormous potential to augment and provide innovative ways to deliver mental health services.

See more about Meomind here https://meomind.com/.