The Heart of Counseling

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10/30/2025

Retreat

noun
1. an act of moving back or withdrawing

🎨 An important and crucial practice in the work of a counselor 🍂

10/25/2025

With deep humble gratitude I share the exciting news that I have sold 1000+ books. Thank you for those who have supported me and this process.

Am I proud of this? Yes. But moreover, I am thankful my words are out there reaching therapists who need to hear them.

*You* are your greatest intervention.

This world needs YOU.

10/22/2025

We walked into the classroom and collectively gasped

The changing trees cast a pink glow on the whole room

So instead of starting class we rearranged the chairs

And sat, facing the brilliance, and paused life

Therapists. With a million things on our minds, stopped.

I witnessed…
Slowing
Gratitude
Deep breaths
Tears
Calm
Closed eyes
Presence
Peace

We sat for over 20 minutes together, facing the trees, and connected.

Learning looks a lot of different ways. 🍁

10/19/2025

Therapist friends can be the best kind of friends. They “get it” in different ways than non-therapist friends.

This morning one of those therapist friends asked me “Where are you finding pockets of both peace and joy? How are you making time for you?”

After teaching all day Friday and Saturday I found pockets. I admired the trees holding joy as I left the parking lot. Before I got home I stopped at the local joy trail and walked to clear my mind and heart before settling in for the evening with family.

My ask for you today is the same…where are you finding pockets of both peace and joy? How are you making time for you?

You’re worth it!!!

10/15/2025

Life is heavy right now for a lot of people

And when life is heavy for society, nationally and locally, that means it’s *really* heavy for therapists

So today some therapists and I PLAYED

We walked to the coffee shop, talked about non-counseling related topics…finding a new house, learning to play tennis, being introverted, and thrift shopping at Goodwill

And then we played games. Together. And LAUGHED. A lot.

If you are a therapist or a therapist in training, this is my encouragement to you to play this week. Laugh. Chat. Play.

10/11/2025

It was so fun to see a former student turned colleague doing their thing, keeping me up way past my bedtime.

Amazing guitar work Jake!

Self care looks different for different therapists and Jake is sure good at his artistry.

10/10/2025

Thank you, Rolling Hills Church, for inviting me to come and speak to your mom’s group.

I shared about helping little kids with big emotions. And as I was putting together the presentation, realized it’s the same skills for helping teens and adults with big emotions too.

It’s the same stuff…
Feeling feelings is normal
Big emotions shut down our ability to process
Being calm helps others be calm
Validation really works
Add calming practices into the day when it’s calm
Presence over perfection
Repair is important, model apology

And it was a good reminder that we’re doing our best and sometimes it feels like our best isn’t sufficient. And we all need reminders that good enough is sometimes good enough.

You, my friend, are enough

09/21/2025

This weekend the students in my family therapy class had a lot to say about “family”.

We reflected and grieved and celebrated the weight and joy of the work of a family therapist.

09/18/2025

I love a lot of things about my job…tonight I get to sit with a whole bunch of counselors in training and tell them what I love about being a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

While the job comes with stress, burnout, and imposter syndrome, it also comes with great reward, witness to growth and change, deep vulnerabilities in the process, and celebration of deepening relationships with self and others.

Counselors in training, I see you.

09/03/2025

Last night I drove into the office for a 7:15 session. It’s been YEARS since I’ve done a session at night. The parking lot was deserted. The building was eerily quiet except for the distant sounds of vacuum cleaners. The bathroom was messy, the water in the sink was cold, and the hallways so quiet. The light from the lamps in the office hit the walls differently.

For you therapists out there doing sessions at night. I see you. Your nighttime work is important and crucial. And it’s a bit lonely work. But the shifts happening in that space are priceless.

Thank you for seeing clients who can’t come during the day. Thank you for walking to your car at night. Thank you for going to bed for the night with sessions not that long before. Thank you for the extra load you carry for all those things. I appreciate you.

08/26/2025

Started my 16th year as a professor today teaching a three hour first class on counselor ethics and professional orientation.

All 24 students were brand new graduate students in their first ever counseling class. The zoom room was filled with feelings of imposter syndrome, excitement, nerves, reassurance, and lots of learning.

I love being in the classroom again. Counseling students are the absolute best.

Here’s to a great year of learning and leaning in.

Address

Portland, OR

Website

http://michelleengblom.com/

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