Flooded with Gratitude This Thanksgiving

We, at The Center for Integrative Counseling and Psychology, are grateful for many things this holiday season. We're especially grateful for our therapists who have faithfully cared for our clients, while also navigating their own challenges during the pandemic.

"The past year has been an extremely difficult one. During the Winter storm in February, my neighbor’s pipes burst and my apartment flooded damaging the majority of my belongings," shared Laurence Towner, LPC, staff therapist at The Center.

"Immediately I was overwhelmed by the support of the community around me, whether it was taking care of my dog, giving me a place to live temporarily, showing up to help move things, Client Services helping me navigate schedule changes, or taking all my clothes to the dry cleaners. It has been extremely humbling and a challenge to accept the help of those around me.

"This began a long process of replacing and rebuilding while working full time. I learned in new ways how to accept being in process. As a therapist, this is something I feel like I share with my clients on a daily basis and was experiencing in my own life in an extremely challenging way. This brought new areas of growth that continue to be revealed each day.

"This Thanksgiving season I’ve been reflecting on gratitude and how it has changed my perspective as I spent quite a few days focused on the negative and being resentful for this situation. I’m so grateful for the community of people I have around me.

"I’ve spent a lot of time in the psalms this past year and Psalm 27 is one I’ve claimed as a theme this year and especially during this Thanksgiving season. In the midst of all these earthly struggles and unexpected life circumstances, I can always come back to Truth and see His provision and care in the past and trust it is a promise and a hope for what will happen in the future."

“For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock. Psalm 27:5

Hear more from Laurence:

What do you find most satisfying about your career? I think it is a honor and a gift to sit with someone and know them and know their stories. Therapy offers a space unlike anything else in our day-to-day life that we are able to sit in the presence of another and seek restoration and healing through relationship.

How did you hear about The Center and find your way here? I was moving to Dallas from Tennessee and looking to join a group practice. I met with the Director of Women’s Ministry at my church and she mentioned a recent conversation she had with a few staff therapists from The Center and encouraged me to contact one of them. I reached out and had coffee to connect with them and quickly met a few of the team members and immediately felt that this was a group I wanted to be a part of.

What is your WHY for being at The Center? Community is the first thing I was looking for in joining a practice. Through The Center community I’ve learned from incredible therapists, received feedback, support, and friendship. The spiritual principles that The Center was founded upon drew me to this group. I am grateful for the time we get to spend as a community, growing and learning from one another.

How has the pandemic impacted counseling during the past 20 months? I joined The Center team the week before the pandemic hit. I saw two clients in-person before we went virtual so the majority of my experience at The Center has been tele-counseling. It was a huge adjustment to learn how to meet with people on a screen but has been such a gift to be able to connect in that way. I’ve loved returning to the office and being able to sit with people in-person, but still enjoy the days I work virtually and get to have my assistant (my 6-year-old golden doodle) by my side!

We're here for you

We know the holidays can be difficult. If you or someone you know needs to talk about their grief, loss, depression or anxiety, we're here for you and your family. Please call The Center to schedule an appointment with any of our other 35+ therapists at 214-526-4525 or go to www.thecentercounseling.org/team. Counseling services at The Center are covered by most major insurance companies.