Sidney George Therapy.

I became a therapist to help and understand myself.

To understand my emotional landscape and relational triggers. To find and work towards using my voice after repeat experiences throughout life that rewarded silence, obedience, and not creating uncomfortable situations for other people.

I took a journey to learn to be with the emotions of myself and others. Now listen — I wasn’t taught to be with my own emotions and my model for others holding my emotions was being told to “fix my attitude.

I learned to practice being with my emotional self.
I increased my awareness of when I would slip into a familiar pattern of shutting down. When I became my own silencer. When the emotions felt too big to communicate, avoidance became my coping mechanism.

I practiced meeting my emotions with compassion, curiosity, validation, and fluidity. I’d ask “Do I have an attitude or am I having an appropriate emotional response to this experience?” “What are these feelings communicating to me?”. I gave myself permission to feel and took notice when unproductive thoughts creeped in to warn me of what I could lose by sharing my emotions. It required connecting to safety and trust to challenge those thoughts.

I learned to practice being with the emotions of others.
I increased my awareness of how my discomfort with navigating my own feelings trickled into my openness, curiosity, and ability to simply just be with my loved one’s in their respected feelings. Not focusing on “fixing their attitude” but instead on my own regulation, presence, and active listening.

I practiced slowing down, taking breaks, and being accountable. Enough to notice and understand the difference between the emotions being shared with me vs. my emotional response. This meant I had to make room for multiple realities to exist at the same time — they could have their emotional process, I could be present with their emotions without diminishing my own emotional process, and I could be empathetic without being in agreement.

Cool. So you must all resolved and conflict free now?

Nope, I am human.

I still have moments where I slip into shutting down when I am emotionally overwhelmed or I defensively responding back to a loved one during a tender moment. The difference now is that I am with greater swiftness able notice, slow down, verbalize my emotional process, and course correct when necessary to ensure that my behavioral responses and communication align with the type of partner, friend, etc. I’d like to be.

The goal was never to — be emotionless, un-reactive, or conflict-free.

The goal was always to feel freely within myself, within my relationships, and with the understanding that both of those places are strong enough to handle the vast emotional landscape humans are equipped with. This goal can be achieved through prioritizing nervous system regulation, bodily & emotional attunement, and holding oneself & others with curiosity and care.

It’s beautiful that years of training and experience has put me in a position to accompany people through their own vulnerable life journeys of better understanding their own emotions and the emotions of their partner/s.

Need Support?

Reach out to me via the Book Free Intake Call button to schedule a phone consultation. We’ll discuss challenges you are experiencing and work on a plan together.