In this article, get to know Chris, CradleStone, LLC’s owner and on-site clinician.
Explore some of the building blocks behind his method of mental health treatment.

Why did I become a therapist/counselor?

So, this is a question I have pondered for quite a few years now. I would venture to say it goes back to when I was an adolescent and feeling lost in this vast world. I remember during this time I was seeing a counselor who met me where I was and accepted me for who I was. That memory of him has stuck with me for the past few decades. I know I could sit here and spend the next couple years writing a novel of my life and that may someday happen, however today I am trying to give everyone a sense of who I am and why I chose to become a therapist/counselor.

First let me explain I did not arrive at this career until I was in my fourth decade. For my entire life when I was helping people, I felt alive. After getting clean and sober I decided to pursue a way to make a difference in the world. The feeling of interacting and allowing space for an individual to share their story and trust in me is a gift which is something that is very difficult to describe.

You see, it’s hard to navigate this world with struggles which are not socially accepted or frowned upon by society or even our families. I have personally felt this way myself and know I bring this understanding and compassion when holding space for those I have been lucky enough to connect with. I have been fortunate in my short 8 years of professional work to walk along side of some wonderful people who have lifted themselves up from places normal folks will never experience.

The personal growth I have gained from every person I have shared time with inspires me to continue this path of providing a safe nonjudgmental space for growth within the 5 Pillars of Wellness (Mental, Physical, Emotional, Social, and Spiritual). 

I guess that is a short explanation of Why I became a therapist/counselor. 

5 Pillars of Wellness (Mental, Physical, Emotional, Social, and Spiritual)!

There are many areas in our lives in which I believe we can achieve a solid balance. A path which has equal energy spent in each of the 5 Pillars of Wellness can assist in reaching this harmonious state of mind, body, and soul.

Mental wellness is important to maintain throughout life. A strong mental wellness achieves clarity and alertness. This is reached through reading literature, mind puzzles, math, and science. Especially as we age it’s important to continue to use it or we may just lose it!

Physical wellness is a difficult one for me and probably for many others out there too. Physical exercise in healthy moderation as guided by our physicians is over all going give us benefits for decades to come. I will do better if you will as well. Let us all work towards better physical wellness.

Emotional wellness is sometimes the quiet area in our life that we tend to neglect the most. This neglect my stem from shame and guilt, or due to cultural beliefs which are long standing in our respected families. It can prevent us from accepting this is an area that needs attention, which is the key to great mental health.

Personally, I have struggled in this area for years. It was not always easy to talk to someone about how I was feeling. Once I started though with a safe person who would hold my confidence, the healing began. This can happen for you as well. Therefore, we need to work together to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. If I can do this then I know with time so can you.

We all need to have a community around us. Social wellness is just that. A supportive community of family and/or friends who allow us to feel and have deep conversations while engaging in physical activities, will work miracles on our lives.

So, then you ask, where do we find such a community if my own family/friends are not that? This is not an easy journey. However, if you are willing to climb some tough steps you can find them in many different places. There are many support systems out there that start with just two people looking to make a difference in each other’s lives by helping themselves.

This last pillar of wellness was the hardest for me to wrap my mind around. I still struggle with exactly how to define it. Spirituality for me is vastly different then religion. To me, spirituality can range from the waves of the ocean crashing on the shore, to a shooting star soaring through the sky in the darkness of night. I seek enlightenment through different things such as soaking in natural hot springs or watching a sunset from a mountain top or a prairie. I find guidance through literature that is thousands of years old from many different religions and philosophers.

What it really comes down to for me, is that I take the spirituality journey and its personal significance to me, and I share it with all those who are interested. Those who try to force me to accept only theirs, I choose to walk away from.

In conclusion this in my personal approach to living a balanced life using the 5 Pillars of Wellness.