“I understand it all, but I cannot act differently.” People often seek help with this feeling. They may already be full of guilt and shame. Another judgment about what they should have done is unlikely to help them begin talking.
I want to understand a person’s life: their experiences, relationships, feelings, and circumstances. Many things can shape a choice in a particular moment, and they are not always immediately clear to the person themselves.
My task is to help a client explore these influences and find possibilities for change. Our aim is greater ease in living, loving, and working — in relation to oneself and to others.
Understanding does not mean excusing everything we do. It is possible to recognise the consequences of our actions while approaching ourselves with attention rather than judgment alone.
When we begin to understand why we have arrived at a familiar place again, another path may become possible.