To Be a Professional Permission-Giver
Or, why this blog exists (and who it’s really for)
Hi. I’m Rachel - a therapist by trade, a writer by nature, and a professional permission-giver by necessity. That’s what I’ve come to realize over the years. My job, more than anything, is to give people permission:
To rest.
To not be productive and still have value.
To want more without feeling ungrateful.
To feel grief in weird, unpredictable ways.
To say no—even to people who love them.
To be human.
The funny thing is: I’m really good at giving that permission to others. I’m not always great at giving it to myself.
So, that’s what this blog was born from — much-needed space for me to practice. To be half-guided, full-hearted, and fully human in public. To say the quiet, cringy, complicated things out loud. To be gentle with ourselves, especially when we least deserve it (or think we don’t).
I avoided writing a blog for years, despite colleagues telling me it’s a great SEO tool, a way to build relatability, or a smart strategy to “show what you know.” All true — but that wasn’t the thing stopping me. The truth is, I didn’t feel like I had enough to say. Or maybe I just wasn’t ready to say it without sounding like I had it all figured out. I wasn’t in the place where I was ready to put my money where my mouth is and practice what I preach.
But now, as life continues to ramp up in speed and complexity, the need for a place to pause — to practice permission — feels essential.
This blog isn’t just for clients or therapy-goers. It’s also for therapists, helpers, caregivers, and feelers of all kinds — anyone who’s tired of performing “okay” and curious about what’s underneath the pressure to always be better.
Some posts will be short and sweet. Some will be rambly and a little raw. But all of them will come from a place of softness and honesty — because I need that just as much as anyone else.
So if you’re out there doing your best with a half-charged emotional battery and a full calendar, welcome. You’re not too much or too late.
There’s room for you here.
