For many of us it can often be very challenging to take a break from our daily responsibilities and make sure that we are prioritizing our overall well-being and quality of life. Over the past several years I have had the privilege of working with people from all walks of life dealing with a variety of issues who were looking for a way to heal and improve their quality of life. I was intrigued by their stories and inspired by their courage, perseverance, and resilience. I learned that the journey to healing is unique for everyone. In therapy, I always make sure to listen to my patients and utilize creative methods that appeal to them to help them through the process of healing. Even when people are dealing with the same issues, it doesn’t always present the same way for everyone. What works for one person might not work for others. While it’s true that there are many illnesses that are chronic and life- long it doesn’t mean that we can’t learn to live a life of peace and acceptance despite our diagnosis, symptoms, or illnesses.
What I have learned throughout my training and experience is that not everyone has access to quality mental health services… and unfortunately many times the people that need it the most don’t have access to it. I want to be a part of the solution by raising awareness and education. I want to help advocate to end the stigma of mental health. I want to also inspire others to share their wisdom and stories to help those who may be struggling with similar issues.
I have found that often times there is a degree of comfort that patients report when they are finally able to put a name to the feelings and emotions that they have been experiencing. They also report feeling a sense of relief knowing that they are not the only ones struggling with these issues. Regardless of official diagnosis most people I worked with simply wanted to find healing, peace, and understanding. The good news is that all these things are possible. While it is ideal that most people go through this process with a professional, the reality is that it doesn’t always work out this way. That is why I want to share my professional knowledge and training to help improve quality of life for those looking to heal.
The process of healing typically involves a great deal of reflecting, compassion, patience, and persistence. The process is not easy, and it won’t happen over-night, but peace and acceptance are possible. I always remind everyone that stress, pain, anger, fear, and every other complex emotion is part of the human experience. Everyone at one point or the other will experience these painful and uncomfortable emotions, what matters is how we react to these emotions and feelings. What we do with the pain, with the anger, with the stress, fear, etc. is up to us. I remind all the people that I have worked with that change is possible and that together we can work on finding peace and healing. They do all the hard work. I remind them that I am merely there to guide them.
If there is one thing that I have learned in all these years and the countless people who trusted me with their pain, fear, anger, their indignation is that we all have within us the power to heal.
Dr. Velmi, Psy.D.