Many times, your clients will move you, inspire you, and challenge you. They come in with their stories trying to make sense of them, wanting to find peace. I invite you to pay attention, listen, and learn to notice the everyday miracles that occur in your office. Allow the stories of your clients, the hero’s journey if you will, to transform how you see your clients and how you do therapy. Such that, you are not fixing people’s problems but witnessing and journeying with heroes and saints to a greater glory that is to be discovered in each of their lives.

Here are only a few of so many stories I have encountered; stories of so many heroes, heroines, and saints I am so blessed to have encountered.

Courage; Stories of Heroes (1)

A beachhead full of angry shells total and deafening,

Brave men with valor willing to give and die.

Storming the foe’s position valiantly,

Do we honor them and their reasons “why.”

Yet other stories of courage are spoken and are told,

An enemy silent and deadly grave and perilous still.

Does the beloved try to grapple for their soul,

Knowing the struggle’s fate lies within the will.

A shame that penetrates, a harshness hard to defeat,

The unveiling of her perceived dirtiness.

With valor, she quells the lie and jots its dismal seat

Transforming worthlessness to the heroine’s true essence. 

In agony and despair is the beloved,

Wipes her fear of self-hatred that seeks to ruin.

Through her tears is shame and hurt transformed,

Fighting for her dignity and worth does she but win. 

An anguish like a blade, sharp and deadly.

A life with faded memories that fright and haunt.

There she stood choosing to change the melody,

Those lies released, peace regained, and freedom poured forth from a fount.

Through pain and time her loneliness confronted,

Broken trust and recement now ruminating. 

Stood the wounded warrior looking at what once was embedded,

Does she battle such evil daily and now is living.

A monster that consumes even the bravest of men,

Doe self-hate entraps, plunders, and deathly slays.

Willing to conquer, restore, and boldly defend,

His queen, his love, in her heart will he stay.

Harsh words of hate towards self and worth are said,

Inflames the great inferno of doubt and fear.

To quench does she and truth begin to wed,

When dust and ash fall a whisper of “you are loved” does she hear.

Afraid of life’s sacred vow, love’s great commitment,

She believed not deserving of intimacy’s warm embrace.

With great courage was her treacherous lie sent,

Ailing truth of worth that brings a life of peace and lace.

A sigh, an anguished look, is validation sought,

But silence pursues for fault is herself to blame.

A moment of redemption from despair was she caught,

Mercy with wisdom brings about a transformed active aim.

Oh, Viola papilionacea, torn from your roots,

You know of pain and longing for the self that was lost.

But with your humble tears and your eyes looking up bears many fruits,

Cherished sweet violet, how you learned to dance as a child, and over the bridge of torment did you finally crossed.