Talking that Heals?

It’s time to talk business. Talk business—the business of talking our way to whole body health. Psychotherapy has always had a complicated relationship with the general public, Penticton and surrounding areas is no exception. And even though mental health is a common topic in the news, who, ever wants to need a “shrink” or be labelled as “mentally ill”? Most people might agree that counselling can be a real benefit… for everyone else! And then there are those that wear therapy like a badge, “oh, my therapist said this…” or “I can hook you up with my therapist, they’re great.” And if it is talk that heals, why not just phone a friend for a final answer on why you can’t get out of bed, or why your marriage is falling apart, or why you’re just angry all the time? Give me a chance to explain.

Have you ever had to clean a room that was so messy that there was no room to clean? What do you do? Well, my son used to get so overwhelmed with his mess that he would drag the entire contents of his bedroom out into the hall. Once he had vacuumed, washed, and tried a new furniture layout, he would go into the hall and pick up one item. If the item were still useful, it would return to the room and its proper place. If an item had served its purpose and was no longer needed… into the trash. Eventually, one item at a time, he would have a thoroughly cleaned and optimized bedroom, and we’d have our hallway back.

Talk therapy is your opportunity to clean your mind-room. A good therapist acts as a generous, non-judgmental, and secure holding space to sort through the thoughts, emotions, and memories that need your attention. Of course, a friend or family member can be helpful too, but sometimes it's nice to know our mess isn’t clogging up someone else’s hallway.