Celebrating Progress: Reflecting on Mental Health Growth  

When exploring mental health in counselling, books, or through day-to-day conversations, we can become experts at noticing what feels wrong or what is missing. The problem can stand out more and more as we try to find ways to bring relief, heal, or just make it to the next step. In the middle of this, it is easy to miss out on what is already working or on the results of all our efforts to grow. Our brains more easily form habits around noticing anything that feels off, painful, or even remotely unsafe—it is built like this to keep us protected from what could harm us. Noticing the negative can become extreme and overwhelming when we are currently or previously have been chronically stressed. Acknowledging and celebrating growth is crucial for restoring a felt sense of safety, helping us move from survival mode to being fully alive.  

Noticing What’s Difference

Taking the time to notice growth and ask what’s different about oneself, surrounding circumstances, or how one interacts with concerns takes intentionality and a surprising amount of effort. To do this, you might ask if your thoughts, emotions, or behaviour have changed in an area or be curious when you notice something new here that you like. Often this type of growth is incremental, so we must spot subtle shifts that are moving toward the desired direction, though big moments could require making space to fully take in that you have reached a long-awaited milestone.  

How do you feel different in light of the growth happening, how do you know it’s there, and what did it take for this to happen? Growth can bring up the full range of human emotions, so there may be experiences like joy, grief, confusion, or a desire for more that show up as you explore this. 

Celebrating

Celebrating, taking time to delight in growth along your journey and expanding this within yourself or with others is crucial. It allows for gains to be amplified and grounded, encouraging our brains to strengthen their habits of seeing and enjoying what is good in our life. It also can be vulnerable, as fears of inadequacy or future letdowns can crowd around whatever we want to celebrate. If celebrating feels vulnerable for you, that is so normal and something to be considerate of as you plan what celebration looks like. After noticing growth, celebration could be anything from a literal happy dance in your kitchen, planning to get a favourite treat with a friend, journaling about your experience, telling someone trustworthy what you are noticing, or whatever is a good fit for your story here.  

Here are Some Additional Resources for More Information: 

If you’re seeking to connect further, please reach out to us at 250-718-9291 or email us at info@okclinical.com.

For specialized services, our team is ready to help you explore what an embodied life can look like through our various counseling programs. You can also check out our General Counseling Services, learn about the Types of Therapy we offer, or visit our booking page here.

The following resources are excellent places to start exploring and celebrating your mental health growth, going at your own pace: 

• Try Softer by Aundi Kolber 
• HEAL exercise: four steps to taking in the good  

Written by: Emily Beckett, Practicum Student

emily@coastalclinical.com

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