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         Welcome. The arena is a place of contact; it is a place of imperfection, but also of showing up. It is not always a comfortable place, but rather a place of courage and risk. And, if we allow it, it can also be an incredible place of discovery.

 

         At Arena, we often work with the “inner critic” of clients, that discouraging voice in our heads that tells us to play it safe or give up - that we aren’t good enough, that we can’t do it. We strive to overcome this by echoing these words of encouragement and daring from Theodore Roosevelt:

 

        "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

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          Not only does this reflect the struggle to show up authentically in the world, it can also reflect an internal conflict. It is often said "we are our own worst critics" Working on developing and nurturing our relationship with ourselves can be one of the most foundational places of healing. This is what we strive to do here. It is our hope that Arena is a place of healing, of life, of hope, of freedom, and of coming home to oneself.

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Looking forward to walking on this journey alongside you

Kelly Gregory M.Ed., Ed.S., LMHC

Owner and Founder at Arena Counseling and Wellness