Why I Call Myself A Self-Worth Recovery Partner

I've recently changed how I describe what I do.

When I first began the It Begins To Move Studio, I called myself a "yoga therapist."  That's the certification that I had, so it seemed obvious to call myself that.  And at the time, it was prestigious.  It took a long time and lots of training to reach that high level.

I had quite a lot of trauma-informed training, and I was only interested in working with folks who had trauma histories, so I called myself a "trauma-informed yoga therapist."

But the more I reflected on the nature of healing, the more I realized that my training as a yoga therapist was still a system of interventions.  Even though the general yogic approach takes the whole person into account during an assessment and treatment plan, the practice of yoga therapy was still focused on MY assessments as a provider, and MY interventions based on MY expertise as a trained provider. 

If I truly believe that my clients have wisdom and answers within themselves, an interventionist approach is fundamentally at odds with what I hope to facilitate in my client's own healing process.

I considered other terms that I thought might embody the collaborative, yet firmly client-in-the-drivers-seat approach.

Guide. Accompanier. Doula. 

I began referring to myself as a "doula." But then learned more about the history of this word having its roots in slavery, so that wasn't going to work. 

As I thought more about what I know a birth doula does, as the term is used in current times, I thought about how the term "birth partner" is often used interchangeably.

Partner, meaning, "someone who shares the whole," from Latin pars and portio, meaning "part, portion, share" (all from etymonline.com, latindictionary.wikidot.com, latin-dictionary.net). 

Yes! Someone who shares the experience of healing, who shares the experience of pain.

This description felt much more accurate to me. 

I felt like this term truly honored the inner wisdom of the folks I work with, honored my own history as someone who has walked the path of pain and healing, and also honored the key ingredient that allows healing to unfold: CONNECTION.

I began to refer to myself as a "trauma recovery partner," because I felt able to share pain, share strength, and share company.

The way that I work involves allowing someone else to give me some of the burden of their pain, so that the sheer amount is easier to bear. 

I share their pain.

The way that I work involves lending someone else some the strength and capacity I've established within myself, to help them keep going when they feel tired, exhausted or overwhelmed.

I share my strength.

The way that I work involves understanding what the process of healing, whole-ing, and integrating incredibly tough experiences, is like. 

The way that I work involves walking WITH someone else, alongside them so that they're not alone. Validating. Connecting. Accompanying. Partnering. 

As I began to witness my clients' recovery from the aftereffects of complex, developmental and relational trauma, I began to see that what was actually happening as a result of healing, was that

...Everyone began to experience an increase in their sense self-worth!

I recognized it in clients, and I recognized it in myself too. 

So at that point, it seemed to make more sense to focus on the incredible and specific outcome of doing integrative, embodied healing work: greater and greater self-worth!

I call myself a self-worth recovery partner because that's really the goal of healing and integrating work. 

When greater self-worth comes, so does the ease, contentment, happiness and peace; the power and inspiration for taking the right actions and/or making great change; the feeling of alignment with true purpose; confidence and self-love; and of course those deep and meaningful connections with the important folks in your life.

My name is MacPherson, and as a self-worth recovery partner I will walk with you on your journey through healing, so that you might actually feel, experience and know your own incredible worth and value! 

I will walk with you, so that you might bring your gifts to the rest of the world, your communities and families, so that you might find comfort in deep and meaningful long-lasting relationships, and so that you might feel at ease in your own body, wisdom and power! ❤️