I have sat on classroom floors with children with special needs, settled into family couches, and campaigned door-to-door as a House candidate—all experiences rooted in meeting people where they are. This is what I love most about studying therapy: starting from the first session, creating goals, and tailoring interventions to each client’s unique needs.Although I once thought my work would center on transforming societal structures—addressing inequality through policies and advocating for workplace equity—I am now training to sit with people one-on-one in the most personal and intimate way. They show me their sore spots, and I bear witness. This work lets me connect deeply with others, honoring their individual experiences while holding space for the broader systems that shape their lives.Although I once thought my work would focus on transforming societal structures—addressing inequality through policies and advocating for workplace equity—I am now training to sit with people one-on-one in the most personal way possible. They show me their sore spots, and I bear witness. This work allows me to connect deeply with others, honoring their individual experiences, while still holding space for the broader systems that shape their lives.Over the past year, I’ve realized that working with individual, couples, and families closely mirrors the relationship tide pools have with the ocean. Tide pools are like smaller versions of the ocean—each one reflects the larger ecosystem. They capture, in miniature, the complexity of the ocean. Similarly, working with individuals, couples, and families allows me to engage with a microcosm of larger societal issues. Whether it’s men struggling to express emotions, LGBTQ+ youth grappling with suicidality, or mothers carrying the weight of household responsibilities. Though many things bring me joy—the pink glow of mountains, a peanut butter sandwich on a long hike, or finding just the right word for a poem—witnessing my clients grow, change, and become versions of themselves they’re proud of is right up. :')