Healing Is Not Perfection

Many people expect healing to be consistent and linear.

Ever feel like you are making progress, then suddenly you are not sure anymore? One day you are feeling calm, and the next you are wondering if anything is working. These feelings are completely normal. Healing from experiences like anxiety, grief, or trauma rarely moves in a straight line. It includes growth, rest, reflection, and sometimes revisiting old pain which is real progress.

Growth Isn’t Predictable

Many people expect healing to be steady and linear. But more often, it unfolds in waves. Some days feel light and hopeful, others bring up past emotions. Repeating patterns or returning to difficult feelings does not mean you are moving backward. It is often a sign that your mind and body are still doing meaningful work.

A 2020 study in the Journal of Traumatic Stress highlights that healing is dynamic. Emotions and symptoms may rise and fall over time, and that rhythm is part of long term resilience.

Why Hard Days Still Matter

Difficult moments might be triggered by reminders, anniversaries, or shifts in your routine. They can also surface when your nervous system is processing what you have not yet had space to feel. These moments do not mean therapy is not helping. In fact, recognizing them often reflects increased self-awareness and emotional growth.

What Therapy Offers

In Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF CBT), we explore your experience with compassion. We talk about what healing looks like in real life; what feels better, what still feels tender, and how to meet yourself with more understanding. Together, we work through challenges with care and flexibility.

Healing does not have to look dramatic to be meaningful. It might show up as:

• Letting yourself cry without shame

• Taking a breath before reacting

• Saying no when something does not feel right

• Naming how you feel instead of keeping it in

These small shifts are powerful because they signal change from the inside out.

You Might Be Surprised

Healing is not about having it all figured out. It is about learning to care for yourself in ways that are consistent, kind, and true to you. You are not behind. You are not failing. You are responding to life in the best way you know how. You are growing, even on the days it feels invisible. If you would like support on this journey, I am here to walk alongside you.