Counseling-The Open Road

“Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, healthy, free, the road before me. The long brown path before me, leading wherever I choose.” Walt Whitman

These words of Walt Whitman coursed through my mind as I walked along the dirt canal path in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania on a late March afternoon. This part of the path was unknown to me and I approached each new bend with anticipation and my senses delighted in the fresh vistas.

Such an invigorating experience! Stepping out in a new direction, an unknown path. So much possibility ahead, things to learn, life to be lived. Wouldn’t it be ideal if we could all feel this sense of potentiality, anticipation and growth most days of our lives?

Unfortunately, this is not a common experience. Instead, we become weighed down by our work responsibilities and daily routines. Our sense of wonder, optimism and enthusiasm dims from difficulties, heartache and loss. Sometimes, we end up feeling like the colors have drained from our sight and the world is shaded in all gray tones. Other times, we feel lost, discouraged, deeply grieved, anxious, distressed, unmotivated or confused. Sometimes our relationships are strained or we are haunted by traumas from our past. When we are feeling upset and have lost the sense of wonderment in our lives, seeking the support of a therapist can be a life changing experience.

Counseling is a process where you give voice to your own experiences. You share your concerns, struggles, feelings and desires with a caring professional who can help you reconnect with hope and purpose, set goals and work toward positive changes. You don’t have to go it alone. It takes courage to make that first phone call and schedule the first appointment. But most likely, you will be glad that you did because you will be committing to work on yourself and making beneficial changes in your life journey.