Lost in the Maze to Finding Your Way:
A Therapist's Take on ‘The Alchemist’

“Honestly, who are we to fight the alchemy?" Taylor Swift 

Like the main character of Paulo Coelho’s ‘The Alchemist’, you find yourself on a journey laced with obstacles. Over time, you fight through the labyrinth of life, hearing internal and external messages of impossibility. We all have protector voices in our head that try to keep us safe by keeping us away from the paths that have these obstacles. These are the voices in your head that say things like, “Why is it always harder for me than for others?” or “I’m not good enough”, or  “I didn’t want to do it anyway”, or “I am an impostor and everyone will see I don’t know what I am doing.” You may have tried therapy before and learned the basic traditional strategies that do not work for you, further hindering your sense of direction and increasing your thoughts of “there must be really something wrong with me if these therapeutic strategies aren’t working!”

In ‘The Alchemist’, Paulo Coelho asks: why pursue our dreams if they might lead to more hardship? Here's the answer: because overcoming those hurdles (and we will overcome them!) brings a deeper joy and a surge of confidence. Deep down, we know we're living up to life's potential. Every moment becomes part of a meaningful struggle that connects us all. Sharp, unexpected pain fades faster than the quiet kind that lingers for years. As Paulo Coelho states, the secret of life is to fall seven times and to get up eight (The Alchemist, vii). While the journey is hard, and we often can find ourselves lost in the maze, it’s much easier to find our way when we have a guide to provide us with individualized strategies given our unique set of circumstances. 

As you embark on your own heroic journey through life, I can help you find a clearing in the fog. You’ll see new paths that will lead to new obstacles. I understand that everyone’s journey is different and will match the strategies to you! Expect to gain sharpened mental tools and ultimately, a symphony of well-being where all your internal parts work together in harmony.