I've been questioning whether I can still call myself a psychologist as the order dictates.

Until recently, when someone asked what I did, I would say I was a psychotherapist. However, after realising that the perspective from which I now work is significantly different from what I learned in my professional training, I thought it might be a good idea to remove "psycho" from the equation and simply call myself a therapist.

But even the word "therapist" doesn't sit well with me. It seems burdened with the idea of pain and suffering. When you say "therapist," it automatically implies that something is wrong, that there's a problem or something that needs healing. And that's not always the case.

From my perspective, the biggest issue people have is the belief that they have a problem, that something is defective about them and needs correction.

The only thing wrong is the belief that we are wrong. And if we hold such a belief, we will inevitably create a reality based on it. Therefore, the word "therapist" seems more suited for medical issues.

While I was having this internal dialogue, searching for a way to define myself, I realised that a suitable word for what I do and what I want to do is "facilitator" or even better - “Joy Creator”. What I love is creating a safe space to facilitate inner, personal experiences that help people achieve a goal or access a better - joyful state of being.

So, I could say I am a facilitator, however, I refer to personal development in my own terms, not in the way this concept is understood in the market. I believe we have nowhere further to develop. By our nature, we are at our maximum potential. Yet, these limiting beliefs we hold about ourselves prevent us from manifesting this potential. So, for me, personal development means a return to the Self, a remembrance of our true nature and the inherent joy of our being.

I'm not sure what to put after "facilitator of experiences" to replace the phrase "personal development" and express what I feel. My practice is called "Space for Meeting with the Self," and I resonate with that. Maybe the right words to add after "facilitator of experiences" will come to me. Or perhaps you can help me. Any ideas?

The Window

How did my passion for people begin? I feel it is something I came with and came from. It raised me, shaped me, and continues to do so.

I realised this when I remembered the Window. Ever since I was little, I had a particular passion for looking out the window. I would climb onto the windowsill and spend minutes, even hours, watching people. I always wondered what they were doing, what they were feeling, what they were thinking; where they were going, where they were coming from, what they were talking about, and what kind of relationship they had with the person they were speaking with. I looked for all sorts of clues to construct their story: a loaded bag, a coat under the arm, a tool, a raised eyebrow, a furrowed forehead, a fleeting smile, or... silence. My window overlooked a bus stop, giving me the opportunity to see all kinds of people. Alone, in groups, sad or happy, silent or talkative, passing by… or just waiting for time to pass.

The passion for people was already there, and the fascination with them kept me glued to the Window until about the 8th grade. Then it took another form. First of all, it became conscious. That’s when I decided to study Psychology and began to read, research, experiment, and observe consciously.

Until about the age of 14, if you asked me to describe myself, I would come up with innocent attributes: cheerful, talkative, honest, etc. Then, for a very long time, all these attributes seemed inappropriate and especially inconsistent. The best description I felt for myself was: “The only constant in my life is change.” However, years have passed since then, and I realise that change is part of an overarching constant: "a concern for evolution"—my evolution and that of others, encompassing psychology, personal development, spiritual growth, knowledge, transcending limits, freedom, wisdom, happiness. And the Window was a real, tangible metaphor that indicated my direction and cultivated my openness. It was the first to teach me, without realising it, to master openness... mine and others'.

And here I am now, where passion has become my profession.

Photo

Yes, that's me there. The photo was taken by a neighbour, a kind of grandfather who looked after me and my brother when my mother wasn't home. His balcony overlooked my Window. On the back of the photo, it still says in pen: "Squirrel in the window."

Yours,

Corina-Elena Radu