Building a Practice Around Growth, Community, Imperfection, and Harmony

Erin Bratsky

April 2024

As we celebrate Counseling Awareness Month this April, I find myself reflecting on the journey at Brighter Sky Counseling. What started as a vision for accessible, authentic and meaningful mental health care has evolved into something I'm incredibly proud of – not because it's perfect, but because it's real.

The Heart of Who We Are

What makes Brighter Sky different? It's not just one thing. It's the values that guide everything we do. It's how we show up for our clients, our community, and each other. As we celebrate our team this month, I want to share the four core values that shape our practice:

Growth: When We Know Better, We Do Better

Growth isn't just something we help clients achieve. It's something we commit to ourselves. I see it in the way our therapists eagerly share new research and resources with each other, in how we embrace feedback (even when it's challenging), and in our willingness to evolve our approaches.

I've watched one of our therapists completely shift her approach with a client after attending a workshop on trauma-informed care. The excitement in her voice as she shared what she'd learned reminded me why we do this work. We believe in the possibility of change, both for our clients and ourselves.

Growth means we don't have to have all the answers. It means we can say, "I don't know, but I'll learn."

Community: We Are Better Together

There's a special kind of magic that happens when people feel truly seen and supported. I see it in our therapy rooms, but I also see it in our team meetings, community events, and partnerships with organizations throughout Billings.

Community means recognizing that none of us heal alone. It means creating spaces where everyone belongs. Whether that's a client who's never tried therapy before, a new therapist finding their footing, or a community partner with a shared vision.

I'm particularly proud of how our team shows up for each other. When one therapist faced a family emergency, I watched as the team seamlessly stepped in to support her clients and responsibilities. No questions asked, no hesitation. Just people taking care of people. That's the kind of community we've built here. One where we understand that life happens, and we hold each other through it all.

Imperfection: Messy is Part of the Process

Perhaps my favorite value is our embrace of imperfection. In a world that often demands flawlessness, we've created a space where mistakes aren't just allowed. They're expected and honored as part of growth.

This shows up in how we talk about therapy with our clients. Not as a linear path to "fixing" problems, but as a messy, beautiful journey of discovery. It shows up in our team meetings, where we openly discuss our challenges and missteps. And it shows up in how we've built our practice, learning and adjusting as we go.

One of our newer therapists recently shared how relieved she felt when she heard our more experienced clinicians talk openly about sessions that didn't go as planned. "It made me feel like I could be honest about my own learning curve," she said. That's exactly the culture we want to create. One where imperfection isn't just tolerated but valued.

Harmony: Making Space for the Whole Self

The final piece of our foundation is harmony. The recognition that we are all multifaceted beings with different needs, strengths, and experiences. Harmony isn't about perfect balance. It's about integration and flow.

For our clients, this means therapy that honors all parts of who they are. Their struggles and strengths, their past and future, their individual journey and their connections to others.

For our team, it means creating a workplace that respects the whole person. It means flexible schedules that accommodate family needs, celebrating personal milestones alongside professional ones, and recognizing that sometimes life outside work needs to take priority.

Looking Forward

As we celebrate Counseling Awareness Month, I'm filled with gratitude for this team and the community we've built together. We're not perfect, and we don't want to be. We're growing, learning, connecting, and finding our harmony every day.

To our clients who trust us with their stories, our community partners who collaborate with us, and our incredible team who brings these values to life – thank you. This work isn't always easy, but it's always meaningful, and I can't imagine a better group of people to do it with.

Here's to growth, community, imperfection, and harmony. Not just this month, but every day.