My Quirky Path to Substack

My Introverted, Introspective, Quirkified Self

I am an introverted, introspective, psychotherapy geek. I’ve been a client in some type of therapy since I was 31 and I have tried it all. Well, almost all.

Rebirthing. Holotropic breath work. Support groups. Talk. Journaling. Attachment theory. Jungian analysis. Enneagram. CBT. EMDR. EFT. Acupressure. Energywork. Hakomi. Shamanic journeying. Grief Work. Reiki. Fly fishing. Bioenergetics. Art. Nature. Naturopathy. Dance. Acupuncture. Psychodrama. Astrology. Couples counseling. Somatic experiencing. Massage. Cranial-Sacral. Soul collage. Meditation. Inner Child work. Mindfulness. Yoga. Dreamwork. Blogging.

Okay, blogging isn’t therapy per se, although it has been therapeutic for me. (a life saver, if you want to know the truth)

I used to think I was deficient because I spent most of my time introspecting. I didn’t have much of an outer life. I didn’t join a bowling league. Or get season tickets to the opera. I didn’t follow the Grateful Dead around the country. I didn’t own a blender or a table cloth. I didn’t send my nonexistent kids to college. I almost didn’t have partners.

Okay, I’m exaggerating. A little. I did take breaks from introspection. I was a public school teacher of gifted children for a number of years. An actress in community theater for about a decade. Learned the Argentine tango and danced tango in Paris. Built relationships with a bevy of friends and wrote angsty emails to them regularly. Married. Divorced. Watched my most adorable niece and nephew grow up.

I have loved. I have been loved.

But I can’t deny the truth. When it comes down to it, I am excessively, undeniably, inner-focused. And it can appear a little quirky. I get it. But hey, there is a heck of a lot going on in my psyche. It is really lively in there. Very entertaining. 

So, back in my later 30’s, after about ten years as a client in therapies, it occurred to me that I ought to leave the field of education and become a psychotherapist. I had so much experience! And this would be the ideal career path for an introverted psychotherapy geek.

So, that’s exactly what I did.

And, because of my background teaching gifted kids, I decided to specialize in counseling the gifted. Not only that. I came up with a brilliant, if I do say so myself, metaphor to explain them to themselves. They have rainforest minds. Like the rainforest, they are deeply complex, highly sensitive, resourceful, creative, smart, and capable of making a contribution to the planet if they aren’t cut down and forced to be something they’re not.

And now that I have been a psychotherapist for some time, I have a good reason to continue to be living the introspective lifestyle. I get to put my experience as a client to good use. I guide brave souls into their psyches and show them around so they see what they need to see, feel what they need to feel, and find out who they really are. Then, I guide them out of the “dark night of the soul” to live their authentic life and find their purpose(s).

One person at a time. Deep diving. No small talk.

About ten years ago, I discovered blogging. (I am still at it.) Writing a blog for rainforest-minded folks is also a fine way to be an introverted psychotherapy geek. I get to meet fabulous humans living all over the world who want to deeply understand their own geekiness. And I don’t have to leave my living room. I developed a consulting practice to serve these beautiful souls. I get to spend my days in stimulating conversations with smart, sensitive, introspective folks.  

What could be better?

The blog led to book writing. Also, a very introverted, introspective, rainforest-miinded thing to do. I wrote three of them.

And then, just a few months ago, I considered what might be next. I needed a new project. A new way to be creative, to connect, to expand my audience, and reach more of those smart, sensitive, rainforest-minded seekers with a message they might need to hear.

Enter the Substack Universe. Whoa.

As I look around, I find this might be an ideal hangout for rainforest minds! It’s kind of overwhelming, though, if you want to know the truth. Where do I start? How do I not get gobbled up by all of the fascinating stories, opinions, and information? I mean, I still have to do laundry and go to the grocery store. How do I figure out the logistics of it all? I have, oh, so many questions!

But it might be worth making my way through, as I may have found a new home where I can meet other introspective, introverted, sensitive, creative, deep divers. Who might also be living unconventional lives. Who don’t own blenders or table cloths. Who might be a tad bit quirky.

Welcome to my Substack. Let us quirk-out together.