Blog #48
In-Person Therapy: A Different Kind of Support When You’re Carrying a Lot
There’s something quietly powerful about being in the same room as someone who is fully present with you.
Not rushing.
Not multitasking.
Not watching the clock on a screen.
As I prepare to open my in-person therapy office, I’ve been reflecting on why this matters, especially for people who spend most of their lives taking care of others, holding responsibility, or staying “strong” through chronic stress.
Virtual therapy has made mental health support more accessible, and for many people, it’s exactly what they need.
But for others, there comes a moment when talking from home isn’t enough anymore, when your body is asking for something different.
When Your Nervous System Needs More Than Words
If you live with chronic stress, burnout, trauma, or emotional overload, your nervous system is always working in the background.
Many of the individuals I support, especially healthcare workers, first responders, and professionals in high-pressure roles, tell me things like:
“I can talk about it, but my body still feels tense.”
“I understand everything intellectually, but I don’t feel settled.”
“I never fully relax, even during therapy.”
In-person therapy offers something subtle but meaningful:
a regulated, grounding environment where your nervous system can begin to soften, often without you having to do anything at all.
The chair supports you.
The room is quiet.
Your body doesn’t have to stay alert.
Sometimes, that alone is the work.
The Importance of a Dedicated Healing Space
One thing I hear often in virtual therapy is how hard it can be to create separation:
Therapy happens in the same room where you work.
You log off and immediately return to emails or caregiving.
There’s no transition, no arrival, no closure, no separation.
A physical therapy space creates a boundary that many people didn’t realize they were missing.
You arrive.
You slow down.
You leave differently than you came.
The office I’m opening has been designed with this in mind - calm, private, and intentionally grounding. It’s a space where you don’t need to perform, explain, or hold it together.
Just being there is enough.
For People Who Are Always “On”
If you’re used to functioning at a high level while quietly struggling underneath, in-person therapy can feel like a rare permission to let your guard down.
Many people in caregiving and leadership roles spend years prioritizing others before themselves. When they finally sit in a room where someone is focused entirely on them, it can feel unfamiliar and deeply relieving.
In-person therapy allows for:
Slower pacing
More attunement to emotional and physical cues
A stronger sense of being witnessed and supported
You don’t have to explain how tired you are. Your body already shows it.
There’s No “Right” Way, Only What You Need
Choosing in-person therapy doesn’t mean virtual therapy was wrong or insufficient. It often means something has shifted.
You might be craving:
Deeper presence
More containment
A stronger sense of safety
A space that feels separate from daily demands
And you’re allowed to want that.
Some clients choose to move between virtual and in-person sessions. Others know right away what feels best. There’s no pressure, only options.
A Gentle Invitation
If you’ve been feeling like you’re ready for more support, not because things are falling apart, but because you don’t want to keep carrying everything alone, in-person therapy may be worth exploring.
As my office opens, I look forward to welcoming clients into a space that reflects the way I practice:
grounded, trauma-informed, compassionate, and deeply human.
When you’re ready, the door will be open. Stay tuned for more updates. I look forward to seeing you in person.
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