As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend Proverbs 27:17
I saw a client recently, and I gave her a homework challenge which she said would be difficult. As we discussed the homework, she agreed that it was something that needed to happen at some point. The question was not IF the behavior would need to be tried out, it was a matter of WHEN. She agreed that this was true, and we laughed as she said, “I know you are right, but this is going to be difficult for me!”
I then said to her, “Well, you know my job is not to make you comfortable, my job is to help you heal and grow.” She agreed, and we further discussed the homework options. She will do them, and she will do them when she is ready. I felt that I needed to challenge her with the reality of the situation. I told her that sometimes counselors deliberately “turn up the heat” to be the reality checks they need. Like anything else, I reminded her, what we put off, we usually have to pay with interest!
This client has grown a lot, and she agreed that she was reluctant to start counseling because it was an unknown process and therefore was a bit intimidating. Yet, just a few months into counseling, she is surprising herself with healthy behaviors, and a “voice” that she did not have before.
So, like I said, my job is often not to make people comfortable where they are, but to challenge them to do things they did not think possible.
I have a pretty cool job.
Prayer: Lord, help us to challenge one another for good, Amen
Reflections of a Counselor 