A Counsellor’s Struggle with Vulnerability
As a newcomer to the field of public writing, and well-aware of how uncomfortable this can feel, I thought it would be appropriate to talk openly about my own struggle, and maybe inspire a few people to be open too.
A few years ago, when I was first starting into private practice, I had convinced myself that I didn’t need a website for people to find me (and in my defense, was told by a colleague that this was the case). I probably just really wanted to believe this – as it is so much more comfortable hiding in the shadows than putting yourself out there.
It didn’t take long to realize that having a website was absolutely necessary to a successful business, and of course I now know how ridiculous that sounds. But I remember having a really hard time defining myself professionally – what my values are, how I work, what I believe in. Even though I knew I could help people, and I know myself well, putting it in black and white seemed so final, so self-involved, and so arrogant. I think it was also hard for me to take the risk and “be seen”, because it meant also opening myself up to criticism and judgment. Especially difficult when you are first starting out.
Anyways, I finally got over that and realized that I could endure the discomfort of having publishing some basic information for people to read, and even have a picture or two of myself. Read more
