I’ve been having a lot of fun in the past several months working with a creative marketing consultant. It really has been a blast. People I’m close to might possibly be getting tired of hearing me sing the praises of Jade Consulting. Repeatedly. It’s just so much fun!
Part of what has been so fun is that we have really taken our time. With each step of the process we have met repeatedly to talk, revise, and finesse. From the visioning document to the logo and brand design to the website revision, we’ve paused each time to dive deep into the intentions and make sure what we were creating was clear and aligned. Those conversations have been juicy and deep and playful and thoughtful. They have also been incredibly well curated by the creative coaching of Jade Consulting.
The collaboration of working with someone else, the conversations we had and the reflections offered, helped me clarify my goals and how to describe my approach. It also helped me stretch out of my comfort zone in ways I didn’t anticipate. Anyone who takes the time to listen deeply to you offers such a gift in their presence. I have deep gratitude for the repeated listening I received. And for the playful, joyful spirit in which it was done.
There were also several times when we didn’t quite get it right and things had to be reworked and revised. Most of the those times, I realized it was because I needed to be more specific and take more risks. To let myself be really seen.
As a counselor it is important to me that I have clear boundaries. A big piece of that is that I rarely share anything of or about myself. When I do, it is done in support of my clients’ process. In other words, I share because I think it offers something of benefit to my client and their process, not for my own needs.
Because of that, the process of being seen in this professional space stretched me. That was at times uncomfortable. It was also incredibly important. After all, we are all mirrors for one another. If I ask my clients to be vulnerable and let me really see them, it’s important that I respect them and myself enough to do the same. When I didn’t listen in to myself and allow those vulnerabilities to surface, we ended up having to do a lot more editing.
In this case, it meant letting who I am as a counselor be seen.
It is also important to me that I not be complicit in any of our cultural or societal shaming. For me, that means stating clearly that I see people of all genders and sexual orientations, and that I hold space for all aspects of my clients – the emotional, spiritual, cognitive, and sexual.
In previous jobs when I worked within someone else’s practice, they created the image of the business and I worked within it. In opening my own practice, I have the opportunity to clearly say how I show up in the room, who I am best suited to serve, and my strengths and approach as a counselor. That’s both exciting and a little uncomfortable.
There are a lot of different styles of counseling. Each one has merit and will be a good fit for some people. And none of them are right for everyone. That’s the beauty of it. In clearly identifying my own skills and style I make it easier for clients that are a good match to find me. I also let people who are looking for a different approach know that I’m not their best fit. It saves us both time.
So here’s me:
I believe in a strengths based, social justice focused, empowerment model of counseling.
My goals are:
(1) to see my clients realize and step into their own amazingness
(2) to give them tools to use to that will serve them now and in the future
(3) to help each person who comes into my office see that they are enough just as and with all of who they are right now
If this resonates with you, please reach out. I would love to connect and see how I might be of service to you.