The Ides of March (or something like that)
At Home with Laurel Counseling
“We could all use more play in our lives.”
-Sriju of Laurel Counseling
When did you start Laurel Counseling? I started Laurel Counseling in January, 2021.
How long have you been a counselor? I've been a counselor for 8+ years.
Tell us a little about how you got to Harrisonburg from Nepal. I was born in Nepal but spent four years of my childhood in a suburb of Chicago, while my dad attended seminary. Our family moved back to Nepal after he received his doctorate degree. I attended middle and high school in Nepal. Our family had Mennonite connections, which is how I ended up in Harrisonburg at Eastern Mennonite University. After college, I lived in other places in the U.S. (Austin and Chicago) before moving back to Harrisonburg in 2015. I consider this little piece of heaven in the Shenandoah Valley my home away from home.
What makes the most difference in seeing people change? I think the most critical part of therapy is the therapeutic relationship. When a client feels seen and heard, and genuinely cared for, they feel safe enough to be fully themselves. When they can be their true selves, they can begin to cultivate trust - trust in me as a therapist and supportive companion, trust in the therapeutic relationship, trust in themselves and eventually in the wider world. I believe this is how true change and healing happens.
What is the most rewarding part of your job? Oh my! Where do I begin? I am daily humbled by people's courage and resiliency. I feel privileged that they allow me to walk beside them through their darkest valleys and allow me to share in the joy of them coming into the light. This work is sacred to me.
What would you say to anyone looking to find a therapist? You are brave and you are worth it! Take the time to find the right therapist for you. Trust your instinct. Find someone who aligns with your values and someone you can trust. Don't settle.
Your counseling space is beautiful! Do you find this to be helpful in your work? Yes, I definitely think that a therapeutic space should exude beauty, a calm and peaceful energy. As you can tell, I love plants. They are living beings that are a true gift to us. They literally give us the air we breathe. I love to share that with my clients.
Tell us about the figurines. One of the tools I use in therapy is the sand tray. The figurines are meant to be placed in the sand - to express through symbols what we might not be able to express through words, through the cognitive (thinking) brain. They can help unlock what may be hidden in our unconscious or subconscious minds. Also, they are just so much fun to play with. We could all use more play in our lives.
What is your favorite type of therapy, if you have one? Hmmmm....I consider myself to be a holistic and eclectic type of therapist. I love having and using various therapeutic tools from my toolbox. I'm not sure that I can pick a favorite. The types of therapy I tend to use are compassion-focused, mindfulness-based, existentialist, spiritual, interpersonal/relational and trauma-focused. I am trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Sand Tray therapy. I also love working with couples and families - helping mend broken relationships and build healthier bonds.
March Review
Recommendations from me and you!
March felt long and short. The time change allows me to stare at my lawn in the evenings with indecision paralysis. This is the phenomenon of my entire yard needing help, therefore, I don’t know where to start. So I don’t, and instead watch (some good but mostly bad) tv. Oh, and if you’re like me and off the wagon (on the wagon? I know there’s a wagon involved.) Bella Luna has some great mocktails using Ritual (Non-Alcoholic Spirit). It’s allowed me to enjoy a sipping beverage every now and then.
Shows I’ve watched this month:
TOM SELLECK: Is Tom Selleck a genre? YES. I started watching his movie series, Jesse Stone, based on novels by Robert B. Parker. Tom Selleck is 60 when he took the role. And he and his mustache do not disappoint. There are plenty of reasons I sincerely enjoy the genre of solitary, heroic man, but for this particular series, the why is simple. Sexy doesn’t have an age limit.
The Night Agent: I watched this in mostly one sitting. Solitary, heroic man genre. Check. I could say more, probably will one day, but it was good enough to keep watching.
You Recommended:
Courtney & Hiba - The Last of Us: I’ve heard only good things about this series. Pedro Pascal is having a moment. I’m not opposed.
Books I’ve read this month:
Tatiana: written by Martin Cruz Smith, this series follows Arkady Renko, Russian detective. It is a fun, quick read. Not too serious, not too violent, but there’s a murder and some bad guys and chess (because Russia).
City of Girls: As one friend described, this is a romp. Written by Elizabeth Gilbert, it’s my first time reading her fiction. The second book I’ve read in the last month that followed a lifetime. First person narrative, it takes place in New York City in 1940s and beyond. I like books that follow one person through time because it shows how time is its own character. Defining moments in our youth, tragedy, love, and all the in-between can be seen through the lens of time. Thank goodness for Time.
You Recommended:
Hiba - Educated: “Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent.”
Roxanne - Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: “ How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World” Well, that sounds about right…
Roxanne - Gentle + Lowly: “This book draws us to Matthew 11, where Jesus describes himself as “gentle and lowly in heart,” longing for his people to find rest in him.”