You are the Expert in your Experience
I am not the expert in our relationship. There is a fine line between being an “expert” and having “expertise.” As much as I love the dynamic ways in which we can use words to describe ourselves, I need to be very clear on this one point:
You are the expert of your experience, not me.
I have years of experience in the fields of Mental Health Counseling, Early Childhood Education and development, Montessori philosophy and practice, Creative Arts Therapy, Play Therapy, and Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation. However, every experience is different. Every situation is unique. With my training and your targeted expertise on what’s real for you, we could make a dynamite team!
expert: a person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.
expertise: expert skill or knowledge in a particular field.
It reminds me of the way we can re-language issues in mental health/mental illness. Language such as “a person who has anxiety” can land very differently than describing someone who is “an anxious person.” One word should not define the complete and multidimensional experience that is you (or anyone).
The word “expert,” further implies that I know more than you. Although I have knowledge and experience, we are on this journey together. The work I do in consultation and therapy is based in the relationship and willingness to connect.
I think what’s so difficult about parenting is that there is tremendous pressure to “get it right.”
What’s important to realize: there are many ways to “get it right.” Through providing ourselves permission to be works-in-progress, who are learning as we go, who are building the plane as we fly it, we can feel empowered in what it means to be present in this very moment. We are in this process together.
