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Is it the forest or the trees that you see?

'You can't see the forest for the trees' is a popular metaphor that reminds us that when we hyper-focus on the details, the parts, or the minutia, we can lose sight of the big picture, the objective, the essence, or the whole. We lose balance and sometimes, perspective.

There is a lot of misinformation about therapy, mental health, and mental illness that is currently floating around in the electronic atmosphere. It's great that people are talking. That's important. But what is being said can be misleading.

While you may have a habit that is repetitive, it doesn't necessarily mean you have OCD. While you may have experienced or are experiencing a difficult relationship, it doesn't necessarily mean you are dating a Narcissist. Being upset by something doesn't mean that you are 'triggered'. In the hands of well-meaning, but untrained folks, sometimes one 'tree' is mistaken for another or mislabeled as a whole 'forest'. This can be unhelpful and sometimes, dangerous.

Part of the role of a Therapist is to help you understand your personal struggle, in perspective. When you work with a therapist, you investigate both the forest and the trees of your experience and situation. You work together to understand, acknowledge, honour, sit with, and sometimes change, both.

So If you do have a diagnosis of OCD, or if you are dating an emotionally immature adult, or if you do have a neurological response to a reminder of a traumatic event - we see you. We can help. And if you don't have OCD and if you're not dating a Narcissist, and if you're not 'triggered' it doesn't mean that you're not struggling. You are. You know that because you feel it. We see you, too. You need to know that you are not alone and that there is also help for you. That help, will look different - Not less - just different. But it will be the right help, for you.

Worksheets and free downloads can be helpful, but what you do with them, matters. What you don't do with them, also matters. Please always remember that while blogs, social media accounts, AI advice, and other types of media can be good advice and entertaining, advice is not the same as therapy. Please connect with a therapist who can help you on your journey.

I hope by reading this blog, you will feel encouraged to sometimes step back and look at the whole; and sometimes look more closely at parts.

Thanks for sitting with me,

Cynthia