The Year of The Chariot
2023 - The Year of The Chariot
“The lesson is to not give up on your dreams and to manifest what’s in your heart.”
Failing or Shifting?
At times this year, I felt impatient, wanting my ideas to unfold; now not yesterday. I also felt like a failure at times, worried that my vision was too big, too bold, too weird. I experienced self-doubt and my inner critic was loud. Thankfully, my support network is strong, and the people in my life that know me best were able to remind me that I know how to re-center, ground, and shift with change. The need to shift never means failure. In fact, I have so much celebrate thanks to the challenges that came my way, including my ability to navigate those uncomfortable moments with skill and the beautiful supports in my life.
If you’re wondering what I am celebrating from 2023, keep reading. If you’re over this already, skip this post. Sometimes a celebration was, “I got out of bed today,” and other days it was “I got my workshop approved to be a real live Training!” Ups and downs - that was 2023. For this post, I’m going to highlight the celebrations in my Professional Life as a Therapist.
Celebrations
I added Q&As with specialists to my growing community, “The Trauma Therapist Book Club.” Paying consultants for their time and expertise, and learning from powerhouses - one of them was on Brainspotting!
I completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 of Brainspotting Training - my first advanced trauma treatment modality, finally!
I experimented with hosting a clinical consultation group with past workshop graduates
I curated 2 Meditation and Headshot Networking Events for local queer and somatic therapists - bringing folx together, expanding my network
I hosted another round of my experiential workshop, “Taking Care of The Therapist” - empowering clinicians to show up as the Whole Self
I launched my “Taking Care of Business” Webinars - providing a more cost-effective way for therapists to learn about solo practice with me
I removed myself from providing EAP Services, which freed up time and energy to put into my Self and my work, and ensured I am paid more appropriately for my expertise when working with clients
I submitted my “Taking Care of The Therapist” workshop to NBCC, and was Approved to provide 6 Ethics Continuing Education Hours to my fellow therapists who attend my Training
I built and launched my new website with this blog to boost SEO, and better capture all of the services that I offer
I provided 1:1 Consultation to a dozen local therapists, cheering them on as they built their own solo practices
I provided 843 Individual Therapy sessions, and many of my curious folx tried Focused Mindfulness and Brainspotting for the first time
Gratitude
This list will be a reminder to those Parts of myself that doubt and worry and criticize - “Hey, we did some stuff, a lot of stuff actually, and we did it well.” The freedom that solo private practice has provided me truly has allowed me to experiment, take risks, and manifest a professional life that aligns with who I am as a person. I am grateful for this opportunity, and to all of the clients and consultees that I’ve had the pleasure to work with this past year.
To you reader, I hope this inspires you to keep going, even when things are uncomfortable or challenging - it just may be the shift you need to get you where you need to be!
And finally, reader, take some time and celebrate you! Use your calendar, journal, reminders from others, whatever you can to make a list. No accomplishment is too small, so instead of judging if something is worth noting, just write it down and keep writing.
I bet you have a lot to celebrate - I know I do.
