Private Me
Getting to know your therapist is a bit like being Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. You really want to know the man behind the curtain.
Allow me to hold the curtain aside for you.
I’m Irene and I was the kid who was quiet and did not want to be noticed by anyone. I felt so different from all the other kids at school. It was hard for me to connect with others and I felt sad about it.
Why did I feel different? I have a disability called Cerebral Palsy. My CP affects my eye sight, muscles and my balance. As a child, this meant I had a hard time seeing things, walking and really doing many things that come naturally to most kids.
Growing up I learned that my brain works in a different and a unique way so I need to approach everyday tasks my own way. I learned that adapting was the key to my success.
Throughout my childhood, teens and into my young adulthood I was luckily to have many people who listened and believed in me. They helped me to learn how to adapt to my Cerebral Palsy.
So, maybe you are questioning why I have chosen to talk about my CP in such a public way. In therapy, I ask people to share significant details about their life and experiences so I believe I should do the same, while maintaining some boundaries. Our sessions focus on you and your concerns, yet if I can share bits of my personal experiences and wisdom that might help you, I want to do that.
I also want you to know I’m a real person, with real feelings, struggles and successes. I strive to always be a real and authentic therapist.
Maybe you are also wondering what it is like to work with me. I do not “fix” my clients. You are not broken. I do not believe challenges like ADD/ADHD, anxiety, autism or physical disabilities need to be “fixed”. I focus on helping people to adapt to their difficulties and find their own ways to solve them. After all, you are the expert in your own life. I celebrate my own differences and want to help others to do the same.