Take back your power

I am constantly amazed at the determination, courage and resilience of the human psyche.   The strength that people show in the face of a crisis and adversity never ceases to astound me.

I have the privilege of working with some of the support services in the south and each one of them comes to me in some sort of crisis, where their lives have been so severely affected by the job of protecting us, that they are struggling to live their own lives .

But, every one of them is determined to work through their stuff – they want to help people again. They are open to trying anything to get them back to where they were before the trauma. This takes an immense amount of courage and a fearlessness of which I am often in awe.

Therapy is hard, it’s not just two people sitting around having a chat, it’s hard work. It’s exhausting and it’s painful and can take a client to their most vulnerable but, in doing so, the results can be life changing.  It is this bravery and courage that defines these people who walk into danger everyday so that we don’t have to.

I recently finished doing some short-term counselling with two exceptionally brave officers who have overcome so much more than just a work trauma. Through eight sessions they each managed to literally turn their lives around from just existing to living their lives to the full. I am so proud of them – they have risen from the crises and are thriving in their personal and family lives and are ready to face the next chapter in their lives.

I love seeing this transformation – when a client goes from tearfully telling me their story in the first session to being able to speak with strength and conviction, finally feeling in control of their emotions, thoughts and lives, by the last.  

This is the reason I became a therapist – from my first experience of therapy, I remember that feeling of being empowered, of realising my own potential and knowing I had the strength within to be whatever I wanted to be.

Years ago, I read an amazing book by Iyanla Vanzant called ‘In the Meantime’ where she talked about ‘taking back your power.’ It has been a motto I have adopted since and feels even more fitting for these brave clients who overcome their debilitating traumas and rise from the proverbial ashes to be the special people they are.