Insights from Laura Walton: Navigating Grief and Establishing Boundaries
In a recent conversation, Laura Walton, a seasoned mental health therapist and the founder of lovelew, and CanvasRebel discussed invaluable lessons and insights from Laura’s professional journey and personal experiences. Here’s a closer look at the key points from the conversation.
Setting Boundaries for Better Care
Laura highlighted the importance of clear personal boundaries as a crucial lesson from her early career as a therapist. She described the exhausting schedule she once endured, working from early morning until late at night, including weekends. This relentless pace taught her the significance of controlling her schedule to ensure she remains well-rested and effective. Laura emphasizes that being the best version of oneself for clients starts with self-care and boundary-setting, ensuring that a therapist can offer the highest quality of care.
Introduction to Laura Walton and lovelew
Laura Walton’s motivation to become a therapist was deeply personal, driven by significant losses in her twenties, including the suicide of her father and the death of her boyfriend from a heroin overdose. The lack of adequate support during her grieving process inspired her to pursue a career where she could fill this gap for others. At lovelew, Laura offers grief and trauma self-paced online courses, group grief coaching cohorts, and logistical support for estate closures, addressing many of the shortcomings she encountered in existing grief support services.
A Story of Resilience
Laura shared a poignant story of her grief following her boyfriend's sudden death in 2007, a time during which she felt profoundly isolated and unsupported. This period of intense personal pain was transformative, fueling her determination to alleviate such suffering for others. Laura's journey is a testament to the power of resilience and the impact of personal experiences in shaping one’s professional path.
Essential Qualities for Success in Therapy
According to Laura, authenticity and genuine care are fundamental to success in therapy. She stresses that therapists must be authentic and genuinely invested in their clients' well-being to build trust and facilitate effective therapeutic relationships. Connecting on a genuine level is indispensable, as clients are quick to sense disingenuousness, which can hinder their willingness to share sensitive aspects of their lives.
Reflections and Advice
Laura’s reflections offer a roadmap for therapists and others in caring professions on the importance of self-care, authenticity, and the personal touch in professional practice. Her experiences underline the need for industry changes to support those in grief better, emphasizing that personal hardships can lead to profound professional commitments and innovations.
Laura Walton’s story is about overcoming personal grief and transforming these experiences into a catalyst for change and support for others facing similar challenges. Her work with lovelew is a beacon for those navigating the tumultuous waters of loss and grief, providing them with the resources and support they need to heal and thrive.
Read the full conversation on CanvasRebel’s website here.