58. Barbara the Therapist

Is it weird to write about your therapist? Or even to say you have a therapist? Probably, but I have a little crush on Barbara, so I think I’ll write about her.

One of the luckiest things to happen to me before the pandemic was to find Barbara. Just on the cusp of the world shutting down. It was one of those cool flow of events where one thing leads so easily to the next it feels meant-to-be.

I had learned about Internal Family Systems Therapy from my sister and was super curious about it. When I googled the IFS website there was only one practitioner in Maryland that took my insurance. And when I called said practitioner, she actually answered the phone. And when I talked to her she had exactly one opening. Luckily one opening was all I needed!

So it’s been me and Barbara, Barbara and me. Zooming our way through the pandemic. And that has been an amazing blessing. Because Pandemics can be rough on a person.

Even in the best of times, here we are, all these people, walking around, trying to “do it right” or “fit in” or “feel safe” or “be appreciated” or whatever other sweet and adorable things are driving us.

The gift of Barbara is the gift of one hour of being fully accepted. To be seen, and heard exactly as I am.

What a sweet and remarkable thing.

And being fully ourselves is really all we have to offer the world. Our full, free, real, abundant, selves. Which is both the hardest and the easiest thing there is.