Guidance That Moves You Forward: How Noticing Stuckness is the Beginning of Change

Noticing "stuckness" is a Beginning — Not a Failure

It’s easy to overlook the power of simply noticing.

Many people come into therapy frustrated with themselves:

“I know I’m stuck — why haven’t I done something about it yet?”

Before change comes movement, and before movement comes noticing.

That quiet, uncomfortable sense of being stuck — of realizing something no longer fits — is often the first step toward something new. In my work, I help clients learn to listen to that discomfort with compassion and curiosity.

Because therapy isn’t just about solving problems — it’s about receiving the right guidance at the right time, so you can begin to move forward in a way that feels real and lasting

But change doesn’t begin with action. It begins with awareness.

When you start to notice that certain patterns, behaviors, or relationships no longer serve you, you’re not failing — you’re awakening.

In session, I often invite clients to stay curious with that awareness. We gently explore questions like:

What might it feel like if you weren’t stuck?

What could ease, stillness, or openness look like in your daily life?

Sometimes we visualize this together. Other times, we use Sandtray therapy to create a physical representation of the internal experience — turning the vague “I don’t know” into something tangible. This makes room for new insight to emerge.

Resisting the Urge to Rush Into Fixing

We live in a culture that encourages quick answers and clean resolutions. But when we try to move too quickly — when we rush to fix the discomfort — we often bypass the very message the discomfort is trying to deliver.

That’s why I guide clients to slow down, connect with their nervous system, and observe what’s happening in their bodies — not just in their minds.

This early phase of therapy isn’t passive — it’s foundational

It teaches your system how to stay with discomfort without being overwhelmed.

And when we can do that, we create space for deeper change to unfold.

Noticing is movement. Awareness is where change quietly begins.

This Is the Work Before the Work

Real, sustainable growth happens when we stop our old patterns, avoiding what’s hard and begin relating to it differently. Noticing is the beginning of that relationship.

In therapy, I help clients learn how to stay present with what’s emerging — before we jump into “problem-solving” mode. Because if we bypass too quickly, the same patterns will often return. But when we slow down and begin the process of exploring to gain insights, the shift becomes lasting.

If you’re beginning to notice that something inside you is asking for change — and you want guidance that supports growth, doing something different — therapy can help.

Together, we’ll make space for what you’re feeling, connect it to what your nervous system is holding, and move forward at a pace that supports the changes you want to experience.

Reach out here: https://www.houstoncounselingsupport.com to begin.

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Get to know me

I’m a licensed psychotherapist offering integrative, science-based therapy for adults seeking emotional growth. Using EMDR, Polyvagal-informed practices, and creative modalities like Sandtray, I help clients regulate their nervous systems, gain self awareness, and create change that lasts. My work blends clinical expertise with grounded, compassionate guidance to help you reconnect with yourself and move forward.