At Kenosis Counseling Center, we believe strongly in the power of being grateful. Research shows that practicing gratitude can transform our mental and emotional well-being, and we see this truth play out daily in the lives of the people we serve.
However, gratitude isn’t just something we talk about with our clients. It’s a practice that we strive to cultivate in our own personal and professional lives, too. We view gratitude as an important guiding principle for our work as mental health practitioners.
In celebration of the Thanksgiving season, we asked members of the Kenosis team to reflect on what they’re most grateful for in their work. Their heartfelt responses reminded us of the beauty and great privilege in what we do. We invite you to read just a few of them below!
What Our Staff Is Grateful For
Norma Chitwood, LMHC, Therapist
What are you grateful for?
I am grateful for God giving me wisdom and guidance to serve my clients at Kenosis Counseling Center.
When have you felt grateful for this thing?
I feel grateful every time I finish a session with a counseling client!
Skyla Bakus, Care Coordinator
What are you grateful for?
I am grateful for the family and caring atmosphere at Kenosis, as well as the opportunity to be a part of the client’s journey toward healing.
When have you felt grateful for this thing?
One time I felt grateful for the family and caring atmosphere at Kenosis was when I was having a particularly hard year last year. The individuals at Kenosis took notice when it felt like no one else did and sat me down to offer help and what accommodations I needed during that tough time.
Christine Turo-Shields, LCSW, Owner, Clinical Director, Therapist
What are you grateful for?
I am grateful that I have a front row seat every single day to watch miracles unfold in my clients’ lives. It is truly gratifying to bear witness to the transformations, both small and at times seismic, that occur in each person’s life.
When have you felt grateful for this thing?
As a therapist specializing in grief and trauma, I talk with clients every single day about life and death, including those who wrestle with suicidal thoughts. One dear soul was battling chronic suicidal ideation, symptomatic of intractable OCD, which was not responding to psychotherapy or medication. After undergoing a capsulotomy (a surgical procedure on the brain), the suicidal ideation has all but been relieved. The gift of modern medicine, especially in the area of neuroscience, has given this individual the gift of life—beyond just surviving, but thriving as well! I am simply in awe, each and every day, of the miracles that unfold before my very eyes!
Mindy Hughett, LCSW, Therapist
What are you grateful for?
I am grateful to work with a team who truly cares for the clients who come in the door.
When have you felt grateful for this thing?
I feel gratitude daily. When it comes to the Kenosis family, I feel gratitude when we check in with each other and share the ups and downs of our lives. We get prayer requests and follow up on life’s changes. I recently had a baby and felt so supported by Christine—she is a gift!
Sara Pollard, MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC, Therapist
What are you grateful for?
As Maya Angelou said, “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” I consider it a privilege to partner with clients along their journey of healing, bearing witness to this healing. I am also grateful to be surrounded by kind, compassionate clinicians and staff who are committed to serving clients well.
When have you felt grateful for this thing?
I am grateful daily for clients who display such courage in facing difficult circumstances in the past, present, and future. Who persevere in the face of adversity. Who sit and face hard emotions even when they want to run from them. I find absolute joy in cheering them on along the way, and I can even be found doing an occasional high front kick (I am 50, so honestly, it’s a low front kick) to celebrate change and milestones.
Trish Turo, MS, NBC-HWC, Certified Health Coach
What are you grateful for?
I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate and be witness to the growth, change, and improved health of our clients!
When have you felt grateful for this thing?
I’ve been working with a client for several months, and just recently there’s been a shift in their tone and the way they speak about their successes and challenges. For decades, this person has spoken so negatively about themselves, but they are working on that kind and compassionate inner voice, and as a result, they’re taking better care of themselves. They’ve shared many personal victories of moving more, eating well, and choosing self-care over burnout behaviors. It’s been a privilege to partner with them in their journey to a more joyful, healthier quality of life.
Alishia Elliott, MA, LMHCA, NCC, Therapist
What are you grateful for?
I am grateful for being able to see my clients’ lives improve.
When have you felt grateful for this thing?
One time I felt grateful for my client’s improvement was when she was able to smile the entire session and share with me that her happiness had impacted her entire family’s well-being for the better.
Lily Snodgrass, LCSW, Therapist
What are you grateful for?
I am grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside my clients on their healing journey. It is an honor to witness the courage and strength of all my clients daily.
When have you felt grateful for this thing?
I feel grateful for this every time I come to work. There is not a day that goes by that I am not astounded by my clients’ resilience. I am also always surprised by the power of the therapeutic process and how much healing occurs within the four walls of my office.