I thought I was going to become a guidance counselor.

I thought I was going to become a guidance counselor. When I was in high school, that was the plan.

I went on to study psychology as an undergraduate, and even though I did not have many people in my life who had gone to graduate or who could help me navigate that path, I moved forward. I applied to programs all over the country. Arizona State, Minnesota, Washington. Seattle felt the most aligned with the kind of life I wanted, so when I discovered they did not have a guidance counseling program, I enrolled in school psychology instead.

Almost immediately, I knew it was not the right fit.

therapy, Vulnerability, DesireKelly HerzbergJuly 31, 2026Shared Space

Holding Uncertainty: Making the Unknown Seen

When I think about what therapy means to me, it’s really about transparency, bringing light to the parts of our lives that feel too heavy or hidden. I once heard another therapist say, “My job isn’t to fix people; it’s to understand them.” That idea has stayed with me.

So much of my work is about creating safety. I pour my heart into developing trust in the relationship we have because that’s what allows the deeper work to happen. I’ve learned that safety often comes through the smallest gestures: tone of voice, pacing, presence. I tend to speak softly, especially when a client brings in chaotic energy, when it feels like emotions are spilling over after being bottled up for too long. I see that as the steam rising from a pot that’s been boiling for years. Once the steam settles, we can sit in the warmth together and really feel what’s there.

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