Regina Osime LCSW

When therapy Works - what to expect When therapy works, it's like taking the chains off of a bird's wings. Paralyzing thoughts and emotions such as guilt, shame, regret and fear can be archived. Like a sensei, you achieve a sort of mastery over the difficult life experiences you have overcome. You will be free to take risks, be present in your own life – to show up. When I first met my clients, grief, anger and/or guilt tend to be weighing them down. Their past haunts them, and their future terrifies them. This state is "dis-ease" prevents them from experiencing the full aspects of their being. Therapy can be really hard. Humans instinctually avoid pain, so approaching pain as we do in therapy or counseling takes tremendous courage and dedication. However, for people willing to push past the discomfort, the reward can be great. They start to reveal hidden aspects of themselves to themselves, and then to the world. Hobbies, interests, profound wisdom, career growth, a greater ability to love starts to emerge in unexpected ways. It's truly akin to witnessing a metamorphosis. We may not be able to erase memories, but we can erase thoughts that weigh us down or paralyze us. We can live more authentically; we can forgive ourselves for being human so that we can transform the energy of guilt into something expansive.

Person-centered, strength-focused, self-compassion, CBT, DBT

• Georgia, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, CSW004436