Thank you
One year in….
As I take a quiet reflection on the words “one year in”, my eyes fill with tears of joy, a smile appears upon my face, and the combination fills my heart with gratitude. I am so proud of myself, and all that I have learned. May 31st, 2022 was when I first officially opened the door of my own office as SL Counseling, LLC, forever becoming the day I became a private practice owner. One year ago I was scared, and uncertain. But what brought me strength was my support and the idea that I would only fail, if I never tried.
When I first graduated with my Master’s I knew I wanted to be in private practice, but I felt it was necessary to take smaller steps, to have a safety net that allowed me to grow. I learned so much while I worked at a community mental health facility, but ultimately, I outgrew it. Then I joined a private practice, but I outgrew that quickly. I knew and believed in myself that I could do it on my own. Even though the previous employers told me I would fail, that I needed them to be successful, and that they knew others who had tried and floundered. But I was confident, and if anything else I wanted away from the toxicity of the places I had already worked. I wanted freedom to have work life balance, and to help others in the way that I knew was best, in a therapeutic space of my own creation. So I created SL Counseling, LLC.
I had my eye on an office in Rocky River, but when I first found it, I wasn’t quite ready. Periodically I would check, and it was still there when the time was right. I loved it. I loved that it had a small waiting room area, with a separate office in the back. I loved that it had a bay window that could hold my spider plant and provide views as the seasons changed. As I look around my office now, it brings me joy. I successfully created my therapeutic space, filled with scenes of nature, calmness, and peace.
My schedule started with only three clients on my first day, and steadily grew. As the months went on, my fears and worry changed to confidence and independence. I truly learned to trust my intuition to achieve what I want. I feel blessed to have so much passion for the work that I do. I feel gratitude for the broken path that led me to where I am today - living the life of my dreams.
I feel overwhelming appreciation for all of my clients. Almost daily, I express my gratitude for each one of you. I am so honored to be trusted with your stories. I feel privileged to spend time with you that I otherwise would have never gotten. Each of you are such unique and beautiful souls. Thank you for letting me be a part of your journey.
Sincerely,
Sarah
