The Therapeutic Process: Healing Through Self-Acceptance

process

I attended a day long mindfulness retreat a few weeks ago designed to focus on finding and practicing self compassion and acceptance. In between powerful yet peaceful meditations we had a discussion around the difference between the words heal and cure. As I pondered these two words, I had a very profound feeling come over me. So often, clients come in desperate to be “cured” of their pain, desperate for their anxiety or depression to subside and never come back. Our society is so focused on finding fast cures to our problems that we lose the ability to sit with our pain and fully understand the root cause of our emotions. We have been trained to look for solutions that are fast, easy and effortless. But, will that actually “cure” us and is that ultimately what we want?

In these moments of despair, I can only share with my client’s that while their symptoms will lesson and possibly disappear, you may never be fully without your anxiety, depression or other mental health issue. I look at therapy as a healing process for the mind, body and soul. Through therapy you may be “healed” in a way that teaches you to embrace your full self and all of your parts both positive and negative. To me, healing represents a beautiful journey in which you are able to explore your past and present, forgive others and yourself, and develop the tools needed to work through life’s obstacles. In doing this, you may develop a stronger sense of who you are and confidence in knowing you have the ability to work through the good, the bad and the ugly. So while you may never be cured, through the process of healing, you may not want to be.

Written by Marie Thompson, MA

Photo Source: pexels.com