Racquel Ghaine, Intern

I grew up not understanding why nobody would ask questions.

And understanding even less why people got angry when someone did. Being a middle child made me observant, and the more I watched, the more I noticed how often people go to extraordinary lengths of really awful behavior just to keep the peace. Counseling was the closest thing I could find to a career where I could keep observing and keep asking.

A client once told me “I’ve been to many therapists my whole life and you’re the only one that understands what I’m saying at all.” I think that happens because I don’t hide behind jargon. Therapy language has become like a popular song on repeat until everyone is sick of it and doesn’t want to go anywhere near it. I’d rather just talk to you like a person. Sometimes that means making a joke in a tense moment. Sometimes it means sitting back and not directing the conversation at all. I pick my moments based on what I think you’ll respond to, and that instinct gets sharper the better I know you.

A professor I had in undergrad, Prof. Luis Zuchman, said something I’ve carried with me ever since. “In a session you are two humans in a chair. There is no therapist or patient. You don’t know better. You are learning about a person and a life you’ve never been involved in before.” That’s how I practice. I don’t walk in thinking I have the answers. I walk in ready to learn about you.

I have a special place in my heart for kids of all ages from 5 to 17. I’ve been working with children since I left high school and I love navigating their personalities across different environments. I’ve spent three years in ABA working with kids on the autism spectrum and with disabilities, moving from knowing nothing to becoming a team lead creating daily routines, completing behavior assessments, and graphing data. I’m also open to working with adults because I’ve learned they’re just as interesting as the kids.

If you’re on the fence about starting, think of it this way. You could talk to your best friend for free, but you could also tell her about your sprained wrist and she still wouldn’t know how to treat it. A therapist brings training and perspective that the people closest to you can’t. It might be awkward at first, but it’s effort you’re putting into yourself. If nothing else has been working, that effort is worth it.