You Have to Start Somewhere

If you're on this page, you’re likely at a point in your life where you want something to change. I get it—I’ve been there many times. Maybe you’re feeling stuck, needing more out of life, or just wanting someone to talk to before you reach a breaking point. That makes perfect sense to me.

I’ve faced my own difficult transitions. One such time was when my father moved to Texas because he needed help. My dad has Parkinson’s disease, a debilitating neurological condition, and he required a lot of care. But the hardest part for me wasn’t just the physical support—it was the fact that I barely knew him. My parents divorced when I was young, and our home was anything but functional and happy. As an adult, I saw him on and off, but we were never close. My dad struggles with alcoholism and bipolar disorder, and relationships are tough for him. After three failed marriages, he was alone, and I was the most likely person to step in.

However, stepping in created a lot of resentment within me. I needed to talk to someone. At that time, I was managing a career, raising a family, and had even decided to go back to school to earn my counseling degree. Looking back, it seems almost absurd to take on so much at once, but as women, we often overestimate our ability to juggle it all. Still, I did it. I felt stuck in my career and wanted something more. I sought counseling to learn how to set boundaries with my dad because I knew I couldn’t survive without learning to take better care of myself.

My dad and I never had the ideal father-daughter bond that some people are lucky enough to experience. But he needed help, and so did I. My help came in the form of a compassionate, skilled counselor who gave me the space to unload the weight of what I was carrying. Sometimes, you need to talk to someone outside of your usual circle of support, even if you have wonderful people like a supportive husband or best friend.

Counseling gave me the strength to finish school and find a way to have a relationship with my father that didn’t destroy me, my marriage, or my sanity. We all have stories like this—if you live long enough, and especially as a woman, you probably have multiple stories to share. I’m sharing mine to encourage you to reach out. You don’t have to carry these burdens alone or let them damage your health and relationships. There is another way, and I’m proof of that.

Let’s talk! Click on the tab Contact Me on my webpage www.ClareTherapy.com for a 10 minute consultation or a counseling session. If I cannot help you, I want to help you find the resources or person who can.