My Story: Starting Good Talk Therapy and Facing the Fear of Failure in Coquitlam

​Fall has always felt like a new beginning — a time when the air shifts, routines reset, and there’s space for reflection. For me, fall holds a particularly special place in my heart. Two years ago, I found myself at a crossroads.

I was working in an agency, feeling stuck, isolated, and unsupported. Around that same time, my shared office arrangement with another practitioner came to an end. I had a choice: I could close the chapter on Good Talk Therapy altogether, or I could take a leap into the unknown and open a space of my own.

​I still remember viewing the office space with my sister and feeling guilty, like I was wasting the landlord’s time — because there was no way I thought I could afford it on my own. But with encouragement from my family and friends, I decided to take the scarier path: I leased this office in Coquitlam, the same space I work from today. It was both terrifying and exhilarating. I set my expectations modestly — hoping I could simply make it through six months and then “see what happens.”

​Two years later, I’m still here. I officially left my full-time agency job to focus fully on my practice a year ago. What once felt like a wild risk has turned into the most meaningful and rewarding chapter of my life. I am deeply grateful for EVERY client who has entrusted me, EVERY consultation booked, and EVERY story shared. It truly feels like a dream realized.

But here’s the truth: none of this came without fear. The fear of failure is powerful. It whispers questions like “What if this doesn’t work out? What if I’m not enough? What if I fall flat on my face? How embarrassing will it be if I have to return my keys and move all my furniture back home? Where will I even put these counselling chairs — I already have chairs at home!” Those doubts were with me at the very beginning — and sometimes, they still show up even now.

What I’ve learned is that fear of failure is not something we can erase. It’s part of being human. And sometimes, fear serves a purpose. I honour my fear because the risks were real. It kept me grounded and reminded me to stay aware of the consequences so I wasn’t overestimating what I could handle. That’s why, even after leasing the office, I continued to work at the agency while slowly building my own practice. The stability of my income gave me the foundation I needed to grow into the work I do today.

When clients share their own fears of failure, I remind them that courage isn’t the absence of fear — it’s moving forward while feeling afraid. Taking small, intentional steps, setting realistic expectations, and surrounding ourselves with supportive people can make the leap less daunting.

​Looking back, I’m grateful I didn’t let fear stop me. And if you’re standing at your own crossroads — whether in career, relationships, or personal growth — I hope you remember that fear of failure is not a sign you should stop. It may just be the sign that you’re on the edge of something transformative.