Personal Update: Spring 2022
It has been over a year since I opened my own mental health counseling practice and less than a year since I decided to make the Creative Complement Company official. While I have always imagined this business, it wasn’t until I was primarily a stay-at-home mom with my first child that I really began to make the Creative Complement Company a reality, and it all started with creating an Instagram account.
Weird.
I am not the biggest fan of social media, yet I opted to begin this way. I find my personal account is a visual diary of sorts, and I enjoy the occasional stroll down memory lane. In the short time, I have used Instagram in a professional/educational capacity, the account creates a similar visual diary. I am learning more about how I want to “show up” and more about how to prioritize my values. I am honored to share with others, learn from others, and connect with others. Thank you for being my audience and supporting me while I navigate, adjust, and commit. While I strive to be consistent here, there are other things in my life that I must prioritize first. I will show up for others only when I’ve been fully present for myself, my family, and friends. This truly allows me to be my best for each person or group each time I show up.
The truth is that sometimes I focus on showing up for others because I don’t feel “good enough” to show up for myself or my family. I have used the excuse of being buried by other obligations to justify my absence in different roles. I have told myself that I will only be good enough to show up in my personal life if I establish myself professionally. Yet, time and time again, the reality is that my personal life is what makes me the professional I am. To continue to be my best professional self, I must put my personal self first.
Recently, I have been referring to myself as a sprinter. I was a literal sprinter in high school and college, but now it is my way of starting that I am not built for pacing myself, that I only know one speed. I have to be intentional about slowing down.
What is next?
The next phase of my life involves prioritizing my health, family, and education. I am about a year away from finishing my degree in counselor education and supervision. I will be working on my dissertation and internship experience (teaching, research, and counseling). I will continue bringing courses and content to the Creative Complement Company just at a slower pace.
Fieldwork for Degree
I am incredibly excited to be working with Jacksonville Center for Sexual Health under the supervision of an experienced sexologist for my fieldwork experience and continuing to pursue my dissertation topic, creativity, and multiculturalism in the counseling field.
Family Addition
As for my family, the last two years with my son have involved a great deal of adjusting. Uncertainty during uncertain times. This year, we welcomed another human to our family. While uncertainty remains, we are excited for this phase and prepared (as we can be) to adjust to new life. This does, however, require space and time. As a result, I will reserve as much space and time to adjust to this change.