What Happens in Therapy Doesn’t Stay in Therapy

Imagine sitting in a room which is comfortable, sitting across from the same person for years. Imagine doing this once or twice a week for 45 minutes for years on end. Imagine sitting in front of this person and looking at her, noticing her, listening to her. Imagine thinking you have a relationship that, for what it is, is normal. Imagine questioning this person’s care and attention over and over and over. Imagine believing what you think about this person, how you perceive this person is normal…reality based. Imagine being blown away 23 years after first meeting this person to realize you never actually were sitting across from her and seeing her, really seeing her. Imagine having this realization over the course of several weeks, maybe months and having to process this intense and emotional realization. Imagine feeling this in your head, your heart, your upset stomach and not completely understanding what is happening to you. Imagine talking to this person, in that comfortable room, and explaining these confusing and amazing thoughts and feelings. Imagine recognizing that what was believed before was not quite the reality. Imagine looking to someone for constant reassurance that what is happening is okay and safe. Imagine seeing someone for the first time after only looking at them for 23 years. Imagine feeling a new sense of safety in that comfortable room and a new sense of calm as well as utter fear. Imagine experiencing something that is slightly confusing yet emotionally amazing at the same time. Imagine feeling uneasy and terrified while feeling emotionally amazing. Imagine feeling as if you accomplished something so big, so important and so vital, not only for this relationship but for others in your life.
Imagine this. Imagine this is what can be accomplished in therapy. Imagine doing the work, hard work in order to get to this point, this point of unknown. Imagine seeing someone as real, positives and flaws and all. Imagine the relief.