“The ultimate goal of therapy…it’s too hard a question. The words come to me like tranquility, like fulfillment, like realizing your potential.” – Irvin D. Yalom
For many individuals, the idea of counseling can be incredibly daunting. Whether one is seeking counseling as an individual, a couple, or a family, the uncertainty of what the experience will be like can often deter someone from getting the help that they need or want. For me personally, I want my counseling experience to feel as though it is a safe place for any age and any circumstance. Life should not be a lonely experience where individuals have to struggle alone. Counseling is a space for personal growth where the individual feels comfortable, supported, and not judged.
This quote from Irvin D. Yalom, an American psychiatrist, perfectly summarizes what the counseling experience should be like for clients. Clients should feel as though they are in a serene, comfortable, and accepting environment where they can openly share what they wish to share. Counseling should also be fulfilling to clients. Clients should feel as though they are getting out of counseling what they are putting into it. They should feel as though the clinician has the necessary tools to aid them in their therapeutic goals. Finally, clients should be able to realize their full potential. One of the greatest barriers to personal growth and development that we tend to face is ourselves. As a clinician, it is my job to provide that encouragement and positivity that a client needs to realize their full potential.
