So for the last three weeks, my therapist has been in India. Yep – that would be the same three weeks that my husband’s been at pre-deployment training at Fort Dix in New Jersey. And the same time that one of my best friends lost two of her beloved pets, so she’s NOT been up for any kind of socializing. Oh - and the other best friend? The one who lives directly across the street from me, the one whose kids I’ve adopted as my own nieces and nephews, the friend who’s more like a sister to me, the greatest neighbor I’ve ever had, and have enjoyed for the last many years? During this same time, she told me they’re moving to Wash, DC around the beginning of 2010.
And it was only two months ago that I was suffering through a bout of severe depression, a fall that resulted in a broken hand, an awful tooth implant procedure that resulted in infection and nerve pain, and a perpetually-upset stomach from all the narcotics prescribed for the broken hand and tooth pain.
Yeah – I hit a rough patch. <wry grin>
Needless to say, I was a wreck. And with no therapist to talk to about any of it.
But if you’ve had the same therapist for 9 years, she probably knows whether or not you should see a colleague of hers while she’s away. Thankfully, mine knew that I should.
So I met Valerie Jo Taylor, a laid-back, kind, and respectful therapist with a great sense of humor who practices in downtown Ann Arbor. I’ve been seeing her for the last three weeks, and I can say UNEQUIVOCALLY that, if you’re looking for a therapist, she’s among the FEW in this town who still practice with professionalism and high ethical standards (and I speak from experience).
Besides being recommended by my own therapist, she also had a blemish-free record on the Michigan License Verification website, and a wonderful website for her practice.
Of course, one should NEVER choose a therapist based solely on his/her website (that’s almost as bad as choosing someone from the Yellow Pages, or WORSE – from a list of approved therapists provided by your insurance!), but when I saw Valerie’s website (and took into account the referral and clean record), I thought she might be a good temporary solution.
And she was. In fact, I’m sad that I won’t be seeing her anymore. Of course, I’m glad my own therapist is returning to town – although I’m REALLY mad at her for deserting me, but that’ll just make for good therapy fodder - but it’s difficult to imagine that I’ll no longer be seeing Valerie, someone I’ve come to appreciate, respect, and really REALLY like.
Since today was my last session with her, I made a thank-you gift for being my “bridge” during my regular therapist’s absence. And if you’ve clicked the link to her website, you’ll see why I chose this design. And, in fact, if you saw her business cards, you’d REALLY see the reason.
So here’s a photo of the gift – it’s titled ”Bird Song” and it measures 10″ x 14″ on the outer canvas, and 4″ x 5″ on the inner canvas. I started with crumpled blue tissue paper adhered with matte medium (crumpled for texture), crumpled beige tissue paper with text, cut-out images of birds & a nest from greeting cards & decorative papers, specialty Florentine paper with sheet music and swirls, a single large skeleton leaf, two different kinds of vintage lace, branch leaves cut from sheet music (using a Sizzix die), and handstamped black ink swirls:
So there you have it – if you’re looking for a therapist in Ann Arbor, I can highly (and without reservation) recommend Valerie Jo Taylor, whose office is located at the corner of Washington & Fourth. Give her a call – you’ll be glad you did. And then tell her that Katherine Willson said hi, and that she misses her already.
Posted by moonswings 














Posted by moonswings
Posted by moonswings 








