The client,

Courageous,

Opens the room, not knowing what lies beyond, trusting that hope is somewhere in the darkness.

In session, the client sometimes knows where he’s going and goes there striding. In session, the client sometimes discovers where she’s been and falls to her knees.

Other times, the tears just fall and the Kleenex box empties and the minutes run out. Next week is obscenely far away.

The client,

A person with a story,

Desperate

Longs for relief of long buried pain or grief or silence. Who will bear witness? Who will see this?

Unbearable history, yet borne.

Unspeakable pain, yet screamed.

Unwitnessed trauma, yet seen by many.

The client,

Resolute

Slowly turns into the pain and finds a heart filled with compassion and curiosity and kindness. There is mercy here, and light.

There is a future.

The client,

Courageous,

Opens the room.