I’m Sorry: An open letter to my clients
Dear wonderful person who is a current or former client of mine,
I don’t know if I can accurately describe the deep admiration I have for you, just for showing up.
Maybe that sounds cheesy or cliche, but I stand behind that statement because it’s true. It is so much easier to shove things down and away out of sight, to rationalize, deny or blame. You might do that in session too, but the fact that you are putting yourself out there is vulnerable and it shows a willingness for self reflection, and for that I am impressed and admire you every time we meet.
I’m grateful, too. Grateful that you allow me to be part of your life, to be the support person as you take space for yourself and consider your experiences, your thoughts, your hopes and dreams. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly, at all. And it is a responsibility. Whether it’s something I said or didn’t say, or even the way you might interpret something I said-
I know that the wrong response from me can feel especially hurtful because of the unique relationship we have. It’s a relationship of trust, where I hope to offer relational healing through showing up for you as you show up for yourself. You know that doesn’t mean I’ll never challenge you! But I always want it to come across in a respectful and truly compassionate way. I am so sorry if anything I’ve said felt otherwise, if you ever got the feeling that I wasn’t fully present, or completely caring. I’m sorry if something I said came out the wrong way.
I am sorry if you needed something from me that I wasn’t able to access at that moment. I’m sorry if your experience with me was anything less than what you needed.
My care and admiration are deep and genuine, and if you don’t always feel that, I apologize.
I want you to know that I am proud of you and it’s a privilege for me to work together with you.
Warmly,
Robin
While the situations described here may resemble real-life experiences, they are fictional examples created to illustrate common themes and are not based on any specific individuals or clients.
This article was originally published in the 5TJT.
