September 26th, 2011
Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves.
–Rainer Maria Rilke
I love this quote. It encourages what I think is at the heart of my therapeutic technique- encouraging folks to develop kindness and compassion towards oneself as they try to solve the problems, issues, and questions of which they initially came to therapy.
People often sit in front of me – angry and shameful with themselves – wearing a cloak of self-blame for experiencing the problems going on in their lives. I am glad to help people figure a way out of these situations.
However, to do so effectively and with lasting change, I think it’s essential to approach one’s self with kindness and compassion. Therapy is difficult. You are called to create intimacy while exposing your human foibles while sitting with a person you hardly know. I appreciate that Rainer Maria Rilke gives us this powerful reminder of our inherent humanity and goodness, even when so much of life feels unsolved.
If you’re looking for a therapist in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC, feel free to contact me at Mike.Giordano.MSW@gmail.com or at 202/460-6384.