Empathy & Compassion

Are empathy and compassion partners in healing? I firmly believe they are.

Lately, I've been hearing a lot about them, almost as if they’ve only just come into existence!

When people ask me how I manage to cope with hearing my clients' worries and struggles, I often remind them that those of us in the holistic field are here because we are compassionate and caring, that is the thread that binds us. Our experiences, combined with our desire to help, come together to shape what truly drives us!

Listening to and supporting clients through deep-rooted trauma, sadness, and grief is a part of my daily work. I feel privileged to be able to offer therapies that comfort and reassure those in desperate need.

Even in the darkest times, I help clients see that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes, that light is their own—something they often forget when faced with challenges.

Supporting others through sadness and grief requires us, as therapists, to be empathetic. However, it's crucial to recognize that holding sacred space for someone is a serious responsibility, and empathy is essential in fulfilling that role.

Many therapists will tell you that they are constantly working on themselves in order to give their best to their clients. This is, once again, a crucial part of our journey as evolving therapists. I always remember the words of my first tutor, a truly remarkable man: "The most credible therapist is the one who lives the life they encourage others to lead." And that, my dear friends, is the most challenging of all! We cannot truly "tune in" to another’s pain if we have not first tuned in to our own. This is absolutely true. It is often easy to help others and see their difficulties, but sometimes not so easy to see our own!

So, therefore showing ourselves compassion is a mission I have been on for a long time. I must say I did find it uncomfortable at first, but I am getting better at it all the time.

However, the joy of seeing clients recover and become very well, and improve their health and healing habits, knowing that I contributed is worth all the effort and so rewarding.

If you are a therapist and you’ve been a bit hard on yourself, maybe today is the day to offer some healing through empathy and compassion, to yourself.

You might just get a big surprise!