Freedom, Independence & Mental Health
One of the definitions Dictionary.com gives for the word “Independence” is “freedom from the control, influence, support, aid or the like, of others,” and a definition they use for freedom is “the power to determine action without restraint.”
I’ve been pondering how these terms apply to the clients I see on a daily basis. I often say that I help individuals find emotional freedom so they can move forward with their life. What do I mean by that?
I think that I would define emotional freedom by tweaking the dictionary’s definition to say, “the power to determine action without being confined by fear so that one may live a meaningful life to the fullest extent possible.”
Independence too is something most people crave, but I don’t know that independence has to mean that you are without support or aid. In fact, I’m often helping clients feel more connected to others which often means an increase in some form of support from others in one’s life. For my client’s, independence often has more to do with having the freedom to choose. Being able to do things on your own, but also having the power to choose who you go to for support. It means being emotionally strong enough to do the things you enjoy.
Independence and Freedom are more than two values we have as a country-they are two things we as individual Americans often hold dear. But we each mean something slightly different when we talk about freedom or independence. We each want different levels of independence and freedom in various areas of our lives. These concepts are personal.
What does Independence mean for you? What does Freedom mean for you? As we approach this holiday weekend, I encourage you to take just a short moment to reflect on what these words, these values, mean in your own life. What areas do you wish you had more freedom? Do you want to be more independent or are you looking for increased support from someone you love?
If you want help examining the role these values play in your life or you would like help finding freedom from fear, anxiety or a past experience that may be holding you back, please consider reaching out to Aspire Counseling. We are a Mid Missouri counseling center dedicated to helping people live life to the fullest. Our intake coordinator would be happy to help connect you with a therapist that can help you move forward.
Jessica Tappana, LCSW is the founder, director and a therapist at Aspire Counseling in Columbia, MO. She began Aspire Counseling in May 2017 to provide mental health services to individuals in the Mid Missouri area looking for healing from trauma, grief, anxiety and overwhelming stress. The practice now has several therapists and serves primarily ages 12 through retirement. Jessica values providing clients with a safe space that promotes healing and only brings on therapists who share her vision of providing counseling by getting to know you as an individual and then providing treatments that work. If you’re interested in beginning your healing journey, you will find a safe and inviting space in our
