One of our therapists, Tiff Holdgate, joins me on the podcast this week to share her journey to becoming a therapist. It was a beautiful, vulnerable conversation, and you can listen here.
Healing through Self-Reflection
The process of healing from trauma or any emotional injury can be an intricate one; often demanding a steady stream of resilience, patience, empathy, and understanding. Integral to this journey is self-reflection, a powerful tool that aids in assessing our emotional state and recognizing our reactions and behaviors. It involves critical examination of our thoughts and emotions, enabling us to better understand ourselves and grow emotionally. Akin to stepping back from a masterpiece painting to appreciate it whole, self-reflection gives us that much-needed perspective to appreciate the complexities of our emotional landscape. When we delve into Tiffany’s journey, we see the importance of self-reflection in her healing process. She shares that during the COVID-19 lockdown, there was time for her and her husband to process their trauma. This required them to go through a range of emotions and feelings essential for their recovery. It was also through her counseling school assignments, which heavily centered on self-reflection, that she was able to better comprehend her experiences. This highlights how critically important the process of reflecting on oneself is, in comprehending and dealing with emotional challenges.
Acceptance and Honesty in Emotional Health
In the realm of emotional health, acceptance and honesty play crucial roles in the journey towards healing and growth. Acceptance involves acknowledging our feelings and understanding them without judgment or resistance. It embodies admitting our realities – the painful ones included – without trying to change or control them. Honesty, on the other hand, means confronting our true emotions and understanding our current state of wellbeing. It is about giving ourselves permission to feel what we’re feeling, bearing witness to our emotions instead of pushing them away. Tiffany’s own journey reflects the importance of acceptance and honesty in maintaining emotional health. She acknowledges that she passed through trauma, felt isolated and broken, but dealt with it by finding solace in her relationship with God. She talks about going through the stages of emotional healing, learning to sit with her emotions, to judge less, and to provide support. This amplifies the emphasis on practicing acceptance and honesty in emotional healing, and in understanding our emotional health.
If this episode impacted you, and you would like to reach out and find a therapist to walk with you, contact us today.
