Home is not just a physical house or place that we come back to. Home is a feeling of attachment, a sense of safety, belonging, and comfort to be who we are. Homecoming Therapy was created as a therapeutic space for clients to ‘come home’ to themselves through a process of self-discovery, awareness, and reconciliation.
In my work with clients and as a fellow human being, I recognize that we may not always feel at home with ourselves. We may struggle to accept parts of ourselves that don’t meet our self-expectations or others’; parts of ourselves that don’t fit into societal norms; or parts of ourselves that we think aren’t good enough. No matter what parts we struggle with, journeying home is learning how to reconcile with ourselves, to be who we are, and not who we’re supposed to be.
Journeying home is more about the process, than reaching a fixed destination. In this ‘instant culture’, it’s tempting to want a quick fix to the problems we face, but it’s through the process that we gain valuable insights into how we think, feel, and behave. These insights are largely drawn from our history and the people of our past and present who shape us. So, while we work towards counselling goals, the goal itself is not the only aim. The insights derived from the therapeutic process are part of the growth journey.
Journeying home also requires clarity. I often use this metaphor of therapy akin to holding up an imaginary mirror for my clients by facilitating conversations that help them see themselves with greater clarity. Unknowingly, our self-reflection can be blurred by distorted thinking patterns and perceptions at times. With clarity, we can learn to make better-informed decisions using our hindsight, insight, and foresight.
Journeying home also requires tremendous courage. The courage to be vulnerable, to look inwards, to accept our imperfect selves, and to respond in adaptive ways that create healthier relationships with ourselves and others.
“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do. We own our stories, so we don’t spend our lives being defined by them or denying them. And while the journey is long and difficult at times, it is the path to living a more wholehearted life.”
Brene Brown