Welcome to Brenda Braaten Modern Counselling and Coaching!
Here I am writing a blog and announcing the opening of my private counselling practice – I can hardly process it.
I have made the choices, done the work, and gathered the experience to do this and do it well, yet I find myself in disbelief! It is so exciting for me yet so terrifying at the same time – I marvel at how those two places can so often live together. Change and giving up security can be very difficult. As a recovering perfectionist, I continue to ward off the what if’s, the catastrophizing, and the “what if I fail” thoughts. But I am doing it anyway! In this moment of great celebration, I can’t help but reflect on my life …. the joy, the pain and the in between.
My dream to have my own practice began in 1992- yes over 30 years ago- when I completed my degree in Educational Psychology. In the past 3 decades– wow where did the time go– my greatest accomplishment without a doubt is nurturing and parenting my dear daughter Grace who is now almost 22 and someone whom I admire, respect, and simply love to be around. Her dad and I both chose to co-parent collaboratively and with respect - I am immensely grateful! 30 years has brought a lot… Endless beautiful memories, quite a few not-so-beautiful moments, the joy of parenting, the challenge of parenting, the loss of people I love the most (mom and Mary Anne – my practice will have your heart in it), the juggling act of home and career, stay-at-home parenting, break-up, divorce, loving again, and on and on. Life is not all good or all bad but a mish-mash of everything. I have certainly lived some messy and been messy! From it all, we become who we are and we create a story that is only ours, a story to celebrate and authenticate no matter what. Today, part of my story is making a 30-year dream come true and I give you my promise to be the best counsellor I can be. If you choose to honour me with your story, I will hear you, see you, and support you! You are not just a client, but a beautiful, imperfect, and messy human whom I would love to walk with on your journey.
After 30 years of dreaming, I can tell you that it is never too late and you are never too old to live your life, take risks even when you are terrified, and make choices that bring you joy and fulfillment.
I can assure you that life will be messy, it will sometimes be hard, unfair, and unpredictable, and it will not likely always be easy. But life can also be exciting, joyful, fun, and full of beauty. It is in this mish-mash that we have an opportunity to grow, learn, and become the best version of ourselves. Together let’s work through the messiness, honor the messiness, and also see more beauty in yourself, in your life, and in those you love.
