I met interesting people in art school. I got my hands dirty. I grappled with critiques and competition. Most importantly I started to understand process. Process is how we get from "A" to "B". It starts with questions and curiosity. What are the qualities of this material? How does it inspire me? Starting with a plan and using the guiding principle of experimentation, inevitably, perhaps preferably, it involves making a mess or something unexpected. This is how creativity is cultivated. Sometimes we make a quantum leap, arriving at "Z" instead of "B".

Rapport builds trust. People want to be seen and heard. When I started as a hairstylist, I was told that I would be successful if I had technical skill or was good with people. I wanted both. I had lots of technical experience from art school and now I had the opportunity to practice warmth and authentic interest in other people while chewing gum and cutting a fringe to the perfect length. You don't need to be the loudest person in the room. Be genuine. It can be as simple as saying, "I love your shoes!"

The role of a Psychotherapist is a rich experience. I have built tolerance for others' discomfort and my own, as we explore the edges of capacity. I have cultivated resilience. There's a Buddhist concept that suggests we are as big as the sky. We have enough space within us to hold all of the emotional weather, even when we fear the storm may over take us. This approach calls for kindness and an understanding of our biology. The result is a type of self mastery.