Well... Have You Tried Therapy? Wisdom from a Failed Interview

Written by Amy Rollo, M.A., LSSP, LPA, LPC-S
Owner and Founder of Heights Family Counseling

WELL, have you tried therapy yet?!?

I was recently interviewed by someone looking for clickbait. What they didn’t know was I don’t do light, and I certainly don’t do divisive. We were going to go deep whether their article wanted it or not, hence the failed interview.

When asked what I wish people knew about others, I unexpectedly got teary-eyed and went there: “I wish people knew that no matter how close they are to someone, or how obvious their life looks from the outside, they don’t know their full story. We all hold a story that is never told, there’s always more than what others see and what we share. Everyone has pain at some point that is unavoidable… That means your spouse, your best friend, your colleague, etc. will have more to their story than you realize. A lot of times we suffer alone with a smile behind the pain and yearning to be fully seen.”

I do find myself being deep and heavy when others are looking for light and small talk, so I look up to gauge the reaction, and it’s met with an agreement from the interviewer who admits, “I don’t talk about my life problems because I don’t want to feel the emotions around others, and I feel no one will want to be around me if I do.” I sit with that trying to fully understand the weight of feeling too heavy or burdensome for even our loved ones and nod in empathy. I do that sometimes because having someone feel our story is occasionally more powerful than any words I have to offer.

I then note, trying to explain the profession to someone just looking for clickbait and a “light” story, “And sometimes a therapist is the only person in the world to fully hold all those untold stories. And sometimes the healing is having someone to acknowledge your reality is real and worth seeing and holding. Your pain is welcome here in the counseling room. You… you fully, are welcome here”

The interviewer responded, “Man, when you say it like that, I think we should all go to therapy.” I laugh, “yes, we all should be gifted that option.”

I knew the interviewer was craving clickbait to discuss the world of division and wanted something to help fuel the emotions of division. I couldn’t do light, and I couldn’t do division. As an empath and therapist in a divisive world, I have felt a heaviness inside the therapy room, as well as outside the therapy room. I know that we are quick to make up our narrative for why our partner, friend, social media comment, an acquaintance of an opposing political view, or boss is the way they are. While at the same time, we, ourselves feel the pain that others don’t understand us- we are constantly feeling misunderstood, while misunderstanding others. We find ourselves quick to judge while grieving our own untold and misunderstood story.

When I finally was able to share a quote for the article, that may or may not land, this is what I provided:

“We are all humans, carrying our goodness, brokenness, hopefulness, fears, and life experiences. We all have an untold story yearning to be understood.” ~ Amy Rollo

So, have you tried therapy?!? We don’t do shallow at Heights Family Counseling and we don’t band-aid problems and throw you back to the world to cope without fully being seen. We do embrace you. We do hear you. We do see you. We also protect you from the blind spots that keep causing problems.

We are here to hear your untold stories.

Well… Have you Tried Therapy?!?

We specialize in high achievers, those wanting more from life, high stressors, high anxiety(ers), and overall fully humans experiencing the human experience.

Our team of skilled therapists is passionate about helping you build the life you want. We are value-driven and help people navigate life to make sense of their stories. Together, we ensure they are creating meaning and purpose in their lives. We would love to work with you. Follow these steps to begin counseling in Houston, TX, or our new San Antonio office, or online therapy in Texas:

1.    Contact our counseling clinic to set up a free phone consultation

2.    Meet with one of our  therapists

3.    Begin adult therapy