It’s a common experience to struggle with how we see ourselves. Our internal dialogue is often harsher than anything we would ever say to another person. In therapy, one of the most transformative shifts can come when we begin to see ourselves through someone else’s eyes—especially through the eyes of a therapist. A therapist’s perspective is often shaped by compassion, curiosity, and a genuine belief in the worth and potential of the person sitting across from them.
**How I See You**
I see your goodness, your inherent kindness,
the care that threads through your words.
I notice how tenderly you hold the world,
even under the weight you carry alone.
I see a light—a shimmer—beneath the layers,
hidden under scars, defenses, and beliefs
that you’ve convinced yourself are truths.
I see the strength you can’t always name,
the courage it takes just to show up here, to be seen.
Through the hurt and the pain,
past the masks you’ve worn to protect yourself,
there remains the real, raw you—
the genuine, loving human
so often obscured by the narratives you’ve been given,
by the lies that tell you, “You are less.”
But here, you are whole. You are more than enough.
You are beautiful in ways you forget,
or maybe never learned to see.
If only you could see what I see—
the inner strength,
the goodness,
the love that radiates, even through the hurt.
And when you finally begin to see it,
I hope you hold that vision close.
May it remind you, in your darkest moments,
that even the parts of you that feel broken
are still worthy of love,
and that your story, just as it is,
is one of incredible beauty and grace.
—
This poem reflects what I wish every client could internalize: the truth of who they are, stripped of the distortions that trauma, self-criticism, and societal pressure often impose. It’s a truth that reveals the beauty, the courage, and the inner strength that remain even when life feels overwhelming.
In therapy, clients often wrestle with deeply held beliefs that they aren’t good enough, that they’re flawed beyond repair, or that they don’t deserve kindness or love. These beliefs are usually the residue of old wounds—echoes of past pain or critical voices internalized over time. And yet, from the therapist’s chair, what stands out isn’t those negative beliefs but the quiet strength it takes to keep going despite them. What I see is the determination to heal, the willingness to be vulnerable, and the deep capacity for love and connection that lies underneath the layers of defense.
Therapy becomes a space where you are seen not just for your pain, but for your potential, your growth, and the small victories that you may overlook. It’s a place where the stories you tell yourself can start to shift, where the focus moves from what’s “wrong” with you to what’s true, valuable, and worth celebrating.
**What Would Change If You Could See What I See?**
Imagine, for just a moment, seeing yourself through a lens of compassion and gentleness. How would it feel to recognize the goodness that others see in you? What would it be like to hold your flaws with kindness, to acknowledge your pain without letting it define you? If you could step back from the relentless self-criticism and instead notice the shimmer beneath, you might find that you are far more than the sum of your struggles.
Therapy invites you into this shift of perspective. It’s an invitation to let go of the lies and the limiting beliefs that keep you small. It’s an opportunity to embrace your wholeness and to realize that, even in your messiest, most vulnerable moments, you are deserving of love, understanding, and grace.
The journey to seeing yourself as you truly are can be long, but it’s also profoundly liberating. Along the way, remember that in the eyes of those who truly care, you are already more than enough—beautiful in ways you might not yet fully grasp, but that are undeniably there.
Embracing Shadows, Illuminating Hope,
Chelsey Fjeldheim, LCSW
Empowering Souls on the Path of Healing
Copyright © 2024 Chelsey Fjeldheim, Courage Speaks Counseling
