Reflections on 2024 and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year!
Written by : Crystal McCreary
We made it through 2024, a year of dizzying and topsy-turvy social, spiritual, political and physiological challenges and let downs for so many of us. This feat is not to be understated, and now I give thanks to every client I have had the honor to work with.
As a therapist, coach, and yoga and mindfulness educator —
I observe a direct connection between my clients’ external environments and their physical, emotional, and social experiences. We are multidimensional beings, and while our minds and egos may try to compartmentalize the effects of a heartbreak, career disappointment, or unsettling political event, my work consistently reveals how these elements intertwine. Life’s varied experiences inevitably converge into a confluence of biopsychosocial stress, regardless of our efforts to avoid discomfort.This was especially evident in 2024.
Poet Rupi Kaur encapsulates this truth beautifully, writing: “What we lived through is living in us.” Our bodies, hearts, and minds hold the cumulative impact of being human. This makes having a treasure chest of creative, life-affirming resources to process and “gently cleanse” the residual build up of life’s hurts, anxieties, and disappointments invaluable. As a therapist, this is where my work begins..
The journey I embark on with clients is sacred in my view—a collaborative, experiential, dedicated and compassionate process. It fosters curiosity and a loving connection to oneself, paving the way for richer relationships with others. This work is emotional, mindful, embodied, and somatic, with a deep focus on how words create our worlds, shape our thinking and experiences. My experience with clients leads me to this poignant truth articulated by Parker Palmer, “Our deepest longing is to be witnessed and accompanied, not fixed, saved, or advised.” My role is to support clients in exploring skillful strategies to manage, digest, and even transform stress–and its myriad expressions–into personal power.
One of the most rewarding aspects of being a therapist is witnessing resilience in action.
Some clients “bounce back” from truly devastating blows, much like an inflatable boxing balloon. Over time, I notice the duration it takes to rebound grows shorter. These incremental shifts often translate into tangible improvements in work, intimacy, family, personal goals, and overall quality of life. Stressful experiences don’t disappear, but clients who commit to therapy learn to address and process challenges one at a time, gaining strength and insight along the way.
When I reflect on my professional “why,” I see it rooted in a deep desire to contribute to collective wellbeing. Regardless of socioeconomic status, political beliefs, or views on issues like reproductive rights, social security, the housing crisis, or climate change, 2024 was a year of shared grief and upheaval. Personal and collective suffering has unmoored many of us. The courage it takes to meet oneself in therapy extends beyond the individual, impacting the relief of suffering in our broader communities.
As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, I feel immense gratitude for the sacred healing, connection, and resource-building that therapy offers. Here’s to continuing and expanding this vital work together!
