Clients who come in for therapy, or couples who seek counseling, are all unique in their needs and wants for personal growth and wellness. Also, the diverse nature of my professional training keeps me open to new ideas, as well as seeking out good research, about how to best assist my clients towards a path of healing, and a direction that benefits their life improvement. The common denominator why people come to Leading Light Counseling is that they want to decrease their suffering.
Through my work, I help create a space in which the client feels comfortable exploring psychological options to improve their quality of life, so that they may feel satisfied with their place in the world, and reach a sense of contentment. I believe one can experience emotional change through the examination of their social-psychological blueprint.
Part of what helps us achieve contentment and wellness is the ability to create social relationships and participate in social activities. This skill helps in building a social network system, which one can receive support, and learn to recognize personal satisfaction. Research has shown that a strong social support system is a collection of different social networks. Some of these networks includes work relations, close friends, romantic relationships, and our biological family. The World Health Organization has stated that social relationships are a key ingredient in ones ability to recover from loss and illness.
In this respect, I will be introducing social programs and resources within the blog to help in building community and one’s social support network. It is my goal that these resources will help an individual’s ability to not only to function in the community, but also enhance one’s social and professional life and wellness. Some of these may be in online formats and some, will include the local, Portland community. So, I encourage you to stay connected.
References:
Carlson, Jordan A., Sarkin, Andrew J., Levack, Ashley E., Sklar, Marisa, Tally, Steven R., Gilmer, Todd P., & Groessl, Erik J. (2011). Evaluating a Measure of Social Health Derived from Two Mental Health Recovery Measures: The California Quality of Life (CA-QOL) and Mental Health Statistics Improvement Program Consumer Survey (MHSIP). Community Mental Health Journal, 47(4), 454-462.
World Health Organization. (1949). Constitution of the World Health Organization. Geneva: World Health Organization. Google Scholar