Psychotherapy/Life Coaching areas served: Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Calabasas, Malibu, Camarillo.
In the last few months as most of my readers know, I have been finishing up my book, “The Law of Sobriety: Attracting Positive Energy for a Powerful Recovery.” After you write a book, many of you may not know that there is so much more involved than just writing. There is the editing of the book, the marketing of the book, the publicity of the book, and now the social media efforts of getting your book out to the masses. Sometimes I find myself so caught up in all of this, that I forget why I wrote a book in the first place.
When I entered graduate school at the later age of thirty-five to become a Social Worker, I just thought I would be helping single parents. Then my career morphed into other areas such as Hospice care, working with the elderly, facilitating child custody mediation, and eventually I found myself working in the area of addictions not only professionally but personally.
Working in addictions at various rehabs branched out into my opening up my own private practice. I found that I truly did have an entrepreneurial spirit, which ultimately lead me to writing the book. However, it was doing talk radio and Celebrity Rehab on VH1 with Dr. Drew Pinsky that allowed me the platform to get a book published. I am so grateful for all of the experiences that brought me to this amazing journey of having a book published. However, I realize this Memorial Weekend that the ultimate reason I am grateful is because my book will hopefully make a difference. When I put out quotes on Facebook or Twitter or publish a blog or article for my readers to witness, I am amazed by the comments I get such as “I needed to hear that today,” or “God bless you for sending out these quotes.” I am in awe that I have touched people’s lives in a way I never dreamed possible. I love doing one on one psychotherapy and life coaching, as well as running groups, but touching someone’s life across stateliness and continents is just un-believable.
I just wanted to put out there today for my readers, as well as to remind myself, why I do the work I do. Yes, I spend endless hours writing articles, blogging, Facebooking, Twittering, as well as soaking up all the social media knowledge I can, but ultimately it is to help others. Just as my goal to become a social worker was simply to help single parents, I do what I do because I simply wanted to make a difference in someone’s life. I am honored I have helped so many beyond single parents, and I just am in complete gratitude for being able to do what I am so passionate about on a daily basis. My work is a spiritual exercise and the fact I have touched so many lives, what I do is sacred and transformative, and I never for one minute take that for granted. The goal of becoming a Social Worker and writing a book was just the beginning; a leap of faith. Now what I do is so much more; it is an awakening not only for my readers, but for me, as well. Who would have thought driving to USC so many years ago would bring me to where I am today. It just goes to show you just never know where you will land when you stay focused on the footwork and get out of the results. The outcome is a mystery, but worth the wait.
Sherry Gaba, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and life coach in Agoura Hills, CA. She is the author of “The Law of Sobriety: Attracting Positive Energy for a Powerful Recovery,” and life coach and psychotherapist on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew Pinsky on VH1. To learn more about Sherry go to her web site at www.sgabatherapy.com or email her at [email protected].
