Living the Dream

Two weeks ago, I took a leap of faith and launched Growing Minds Counselling and Consulting full-time. At 55, I have dreamed about being a therapist in private practice and writing an inspirational blog for a long time.

Thank you for tuning in to read my first post!

Even though I have dreamed of this for years, sitting down to write was surprisingly difficult. Writer’s block hit me like a brick wall. I showed up, ready to connect and share, but each time my fingers hovered over the keyboard nothing happened. My thoughts would scatter, and I would find myself staring at a blank screen.

After a while, I stepped back and asked myself what was really going on. That is when I realized, there it was again: anxiety. That uncomfortable, critical voice was in control, causing me to shut down and second-guess myself. What if I said the wrong thing? What if no one would care? What if. What if. What if.

Anxiety.

So I made a decision. I could let anxiety stop me, or I could acknowledge it and keep going. I chose to move forward. I pulled out the same tools I encourage my clients to use and gave myself permission to write, imperfectly and honestly.

So here I am, sharing this first blog with you.

My name is Alisa Farina. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor and a Canadian Certified Counsellor with a lifelong passion for mental health. For over 30 years, I have supported people across ages in schools and university, a psychiatric hospital, a youth detention facility, and community outreach settings. Each of these roles had one thing in common: a therapeutic bond built on trust, empathy, and shared understanding that fosters and facilitates client-driven change.

The impact of this work truly is reciprocal. I have been humbled by the stories people have shared and the vulnerabilities they have felt safe enough to express. Over the years, I have gained insight that goes far beyond diagnoses and textbooks. I have gained insight into what it is like for others to live with anxiety, depression, and trauma day in and day out, sometimes for years. I have also learned the courage it takes to pursue change, even when it feels impossible.

There is a model I often share with clients called the Stages of Change by Prochaska and DiClemente. It outlines the six steps we go through when making any behavioural change. Whether it is applying for a new job, trying to show up differently in our lives, or writing a first blog. And if you experience setbacks along the way, these steps will help to get you back on track.

The Stages of Change is exactly what helped me move through my own resistance to writing. I was stuck in the contemplative stage, wanting to start but holding back. Once I began planning and preparing, I could finally sit down to write this. And now, I get to celebrate the action of hitting “publish.” Going forward, I will create a plan to keep writing regularly and stay connected to this dream.

If you are feeling stuck somewhere between wanting to change and knowing how to make it happen, I would love to support you. Whether you are in the early stages of reflection or working hard to maintain progress, you are not alone.

You can book a free 30-minute consultation or learn more about my work by visiting Growing Minds Counselling and Consulting. Let’s talk about what meaningful change could look like for you.

If there were no barrier in your way, what would you change?