Have you ever wondered what your therapist would say if you asked them what their favorite quote is? After all, quotes inspire and guide us. The ones that therapists love can tell us a lot about who they are, what they believe in, and whether or not they’re the right fit for your needs as a client. Therefore, in our Conversations with Clinicians interview series, we ask for our therapists favorite quotes. Here’s what nine of them shared:
1. On Denying Death and Taking Responsibility for Life
Stephanie Bain is inspired by the full quote, which reads,
“Life is tragic simply because the earth turns and the sun inexorably rises and sets, and one day, for each of us, the sun will go down for the last, last time. Perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble, is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives, will imprison ourselves in totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeples, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations, in order to deny the fact of death, the only fact we have. It seems to me that one ought to rejoice in the fact of death–ought to decide, indeed, to earn one’s death by confronting with passion the conundrum of life. One is responsible for life: It is the small beacon in that terrifying darkness from which we come and to which we shall return.” -James Baldwin
2. On What Really Helping Looks Like
Ayala Kalisher is inspired by her clients’ resilience and their personal journeys. Therapy isn’t about someone telling you how to live your life. Instead, it’s about working together to uncover the life you want to live.
3. On The Ultimate Answer To Guide You
Aidan Pelly explains, “Know yourself” is engraved at the entrance to the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. It is really instructive, I think, that the place in the ancient western world where people came for 1000 years to get their answers to their most pressing questions gave such prominence to knowing yourself.”
4. On Being As You Are and Having a Place In The World
Colette Mercier loves the Mary Oliver poem:
WILD GEESE
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things. –Mary Oliver
5. On How Thoughts Lead to Habits
Thoughts lead to habits. This also means that working on changing your thoughts through therapy can also help you to develop the habits that you want to have.
Chris Swayne couldn’t decide on just one favorite quote. His other choice is:
“Take it easy, but take it.” Woody Guthrie
6. On The Task of Becoming Open to Love
Connor Moss is a down-to-earth therapist who wants to help you break down those barriers so that the love you deserve can find its way in.
7. On Navigating The Tough Times
Julia Ward shared this as her favorite quote. We’ll never be able to stop the hard, challenging things in life from happening, even if we wanted to. However, we can learn how to navigate those challenges so that life is fulfilling, satisfying, and joyful.
8. On Finding Your Purpose
April Snow chose this favorite quote. Your purpose isn’t external to you. Therapy can help you find it and find your way towards fulfilling it.
9. On Taking The Risk to Bloom
Olivia Fae Stadler loves to watch people transform as they work together. When you feel stuck in life, it eventually gets so uncomfortable that you want to grow. This is often when you seek out therapy.
Every therapist is different. So is every client. Check out all of the links above to learn more about each of these therapists. You can find additional therapists here. Reach out to schedule an appointment today.