My ninth grade PE coach made us jog a mile as warm-up for our day’s activities. I experienced those four laps as an interminable distance that I barely had the strength and stamina to finish. I plodded, pounded, huffed and puffed along and felt miserable. Then one day, a classmate, who ran cross-country and was always nearly a lap ahead of everyone else, said “Come on Jay, stick with me. You can do it. Just stretch your legs out a little more.” And from that day forward, I had a companion; I ran with a friend, I ran lighter, with more energy, and with joy.

Sometimes counseling works like my friend, a little encouragement, a little coaching, and having someone alongside you during the journey.