So many people have asked me over the years I have been in the field of child psychotherapy, specifically as a registered play therapist, “How do you do it?”
How do I do it? Well, my reply is typically, God gave me the passion, the drive, the motivation to do it. He gave me the patience. He gave me the aptitude for such work. He gave me the love of children. He gave me the talent to connect to those beautiful children. For those of you who do not have a God, I would say, I was just born with it. Right? Really, it’s no different than any of you and the work you do every day.
If we all had the same passion, drive and motivation…..well, our world would be very different. I believe that it would not work quite as well as it does. In fact, I believe our world would be in utter chaos if we only had one profession out there. Just imagine our world if we had no one interested in waste management? Or no Medical professionals? What about construction workers? I could go on, but I suppose you get my point.
We all wake in the morning with a job to do. A life to live. Responsibilities. Some days we wake with more excitement than others. Some days we can barely drag ourselves out of bed. I too have those “barely drag ourselves out of bed” days. But even on those days, I still have the passion, the drive, and the motivation to help a child. I just remember……..
I remember a young child I met many, many years ago. This child was a very special child. All children are, really, but this one touched my heart in a special way. In a way that made me love my work more than anything. This child lived through such horrific abuse, it would m
ake your eyes roll to the back of your head and your heart drop out of your gut. If that is even possible. Despite this child’s history, their story, they had a sparkle in their eyes every time I saw them. They played. They laughed. They played. They smiled. They played. They shared their story. They played more and more. They were strong while they played. They were resilient while they played. They proved to me that they were a survivor! I had the honor to hear their story. I had the honor to be present with them on their journey. I had the honor to play with them. I had the honor to help them feel special. I had the honor to watch them as they played. I had the honor to help them feel good about themselves. I had the honor to move beyond their abuse and grow into their own person. I had the honor to assist in their journey of healing in order to be who they were meant to be in this world. It was rewarding. It was what gave me my passion, my drive, my motivation. It was humbling.
Years later, I realize how many children there have been (and continue to be) like the one described above with whom I’ve worked. There have been too many to count, too many to remember all of their names, but not to forget…… There are too many children who have to go through a healing journey, not all people do, but too many children do. There are too many who need a special someone to walk with them. There are too many who need to play. They tell their story through play. I teach my supervisees (therapists in training, so to speak) to watch, wait and wonder. That is our job. To hold the space for the child. To watch, wait and wonder what the child will tell you next. Show you next. They need a safe place. They need a safe person. They need to know they are safe. They need to know they are accepted….for WHO THEY ARE!!! They need to know……..
So, how do I do it? I suppose it is really the children who give me the passion, the drive, the motivation. To help just one child find their voice, their importance, their worth…..that is what keeps me going. I am just blessed to have had the opportunity to help many, many more than just one. A career for which to live. I am pleased.
