I’ve been very nervous about blogging about our therapup, Seren, because I am anxious she might be stolen. After I first advertised the blog on twitter I had an email fishing for my address, something I’ve never had before. Now the two things may be unrelated but the high level of puppy thefts means that I don’t want to be complacent. Plus she’s completely lovely and who wouldn’t want to steal her?!
It’s so hard to know therefore whether writing this blog is a sensible thing to do, or incredibly foolish. I don’t know whether it will generate unwanted interest or whether it’s just a good way of charting the highs and lows of our therapup journey. I have decided not to post any photos for a while, and not to advertise the blogs on twitter. That seems to be a proportionate response. But I wanted to blog because it’s what we do at Headspace Guildford.
Our practice values are all about the quality of the relationships we have with children, young people and families. And I believe that the quality comes out of being real. So often there is a fantasy that some people have it all figured out, and the people accessing Clinical Psychology are the ones who haven’t quite got it. I don’t think that’s true. For a start I think all of us are just finding our way in life the best we can. And I think everyone has times when things feel better and times when they don’t. And even more messy than that, times when things are simultaneously good and hard at the same time.
And blogging about the pup is a good example of this. It’s a real journey bringing a new life into our house and the practice. I’m more tired than I have been in quite a while, getting up early to take her to the loo. I feel very blessed we’re doing this in the summer when it’s warm and light – until this morning that it, when it’s tipping it down with rain and Seren did not want to leave the warm dry house. Cue me, on the soggy lawn at 5am trying to not wake the neighbours but also get the dog to pee before she has an accident in the house. I’m anxious about her being stolen at the same time as overjoyed to have her with us. There’s something quite lovely about having a sleeping dog at your feet whilst you work. I think she’s sometimes distracting me from getting on with the admin I really should sink my teeth into, but I think stroking her and having her come when I call feel just right.
And life is like this too – good and hard rubbing alongside each other all the time. If we want the good stuff (she has very soft ears) we have to put up with the hard stuff (she bites sometimes when she’s playing). Good stuff (living up to our values to be genuine and real and support people out there going through stuff) and hard stuff (sitting with the anxiety that someone might, even now be planning to pup-nap our therapup). Sometimes the hard stuff feels bigger. That’s when knowing you’re not alone, pulling in your support systems, seeking help, taking care of yourself, all becomes important. That’s what were here for. And sometimes there are better days/weeks/months when it’s sunshine and warm mornings. Look for the joy as well as tolerating the pain.