About us
I’m Junior, Owner of Feel and Be Heard. I’ve been involved in various forms of counseling for more than 20 years and am the Lead Listener at our office. My counseling experience started when I volunteered as a peer mediator and consultant throughout my school years. I eventually evolved into the Christian, marriage, abuse, and life counseling spaces.
I’ve come head-to-head with many emotionally challenging, life-altering events, including depression, suicidal ideation, loss of loved ones, and abusive situations. I know firsthand the feelings of loneliness and isolation that come along with situations like these. All I wanted was a non-judgemental listening ear, which proved harder to find than I ever imagined. It can be challenging to know where to turn.
The idea behind my practice is not to emphasize the situations themselves but rather to help you navigate the emotional experiences that follow. My job is to provide a safe space for you to unload without fear of being judged, diagnosed, misunderstood, or overwhelmed by unwanted advice.
What Our Therapy is All About
Rest assured knowing that your time spent with your listener is free of any judgement or bias. Your session is designed to be a secure space for you to relax. Let your guard down as much or as little as you would like. Whether it be relationship struggles, guilt, shame, anxiety, depression, or even dreams and aspirations, you deserve to be understood, not judged.
Everyone longs to be heard. The need to feel understood and validated is something that is wired into our very beings, a symptom of the human condition. We were designed for emotional connection. Unfortunately, in the growing era of technology, social media, and general isolation, this connection becomes very difficult to obtain. Life often gets the better of us and we tend to get lost in the hustle and bustle of our daily existence. Now more than ever there seems to be an ever-increasing sense of loneliness within our culture. It is a professional listener’s greatest desire to alleviate this loneliness. Unlike a friend, a professional listener will not interrupt, judge, or offer unwanted advice at any time. Your listening session is a time for you to get everything off your chest and clear your mind in a comfortable and safe environment.
In short, no. There are no topics that are off limits. During your session with your listener, you are free to express anything and everything that is on your mind. Your listener has heard it all and is not here to judge you in any way. Everything that is discussed during your session will remain completely confidential. Your listener will not take notes or use any kind of recording devices. Unlike with friends and family who may “spill the beans,” your secrets are truly safe with your listener.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Professional Listener?
“What exactly is a professional listener?” you may ask. Well, let’s start with what a professional listener is NOT. A professional listener is not a therapist, counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist, life coach, psychic reader, or doctor. They do not diagnose, treat, or prescribe. They are not here to tell you what to do or how to do it, although they may offer personal wisdom regarding your situation upon request. The job of a professional listener is to satisfy the basic human need to be heard and understood. Humans are built for connection. The simple act of verbalizing emotions to and empathetic listener is an extremely healing experience.
Why Not Just Talk to Friends and Family?
Friends and family can be incredible sources of comfort in times of need. Most times, we can laugh with them, cry with them, and always depend on them as a shoulder to lean on. There are certain situations, however, that can be difficult to share with friends and family. They may offer unwanted advice or interrupt when all you really need is to be truly heard. Even worse, sometimes the people closest to us have tendencies to pass judgements on our situations and even spill our secrets to others. A professional listener is someone you can trust to keep anything you discuss completely confidential. It is your choice whether the listener will offer advice or simply give their undivided attention. You deserve to be heard.
What’s the Difference Between a Professional Listener and a Traditional Therapist?
Traditional therapy has an emphasis on diagnosis and therapeutic techniques. It is a therapist’s job to diagnose and label specific conditions and devise a therapeutic plan to treat them accordingly. While traditional therapy can be beneficial for many, oftentimes, we simply need someone to listen, uninterrupted, while we unload our burdens. Studies have shown that talking is an extremely effective way to process emotions. In fact, a brain imaging study conducted by UCLA found that “verbalizing our feelings makes our sadness, anger, and pain less intense.” The job of a professional listener is simply that—to listen. A professional listener does not diagnose, label, or conduct any form of therapy, but rather provides a safe space and opportunity for you to verbally process your emotions. More often than not, external processing is all the therapy we need.