There Are No Small Parts

By: Andria Lyons, LLC, TLLP

After completing my first two years in private practice, I’m starting to notice that many of my original clients are starting to drop off. I know it’s to be expected that clients will come and go, but it’s the going part that has felt more bittersweet for me lately. Getting into private practice was a dream come true for me, but I’ll admit I was very green. Many of my first clients were also newcomers to therapy, so in many ways I felt like we were both doing something new together.

As we got to know one another, their successes became my success. Much like their hardships became something that I could also feel. It is interesting that while in school they train you to know the names of some famous so and so who develop this theory that no one really cares about, but I think the thing that I didn’t learn was how special my clients would feel for me. Or that letting them go is a natural part of their journey. I think in order to understand the concept of letting go, you have to get comfortable with the idea that you’re a supporting character/role in someone else’s movie.

I recently watched the movie, Good Will Hunting, for the first time (Yes, I know I’m very late to this party!) Naturally, I was drawn to the therapist character, Sean, played by Robin Williams, not only for the excellent performance by an actor I admire, but also the character’s understanding of the bigger picture. After the movie ended, I began to imagine a plotline beyond the script in which Will Hunting goes and gets the girl, has a successful career, and an all around happy life all because he met Sean who he never sees again.

As sad as the idea of them never meeting again sounds, it also seems right. Sean served his purpose and now Will is able to see his potential as well as possibilities. It’s the same for me in most cases. I come into someone's life at a time when I’m needed most. I get a peek into someone’s world and get to tag along for the events that make up their life. Once the storm is over, we walk a little more just to make sure it has really stopped raining. As time continues we see each other less until one day we don’t see each other at all.

And that’s the end.

Sometimes, when I start to feel sad about this aspect, I’m reminded that there are no small parts, only small people.