A deepening of a client relationship

One of the things I enjoy most about my job is working with different personality types and learning about my client’s unique experiences. Lindsey hired me as her personal trainer two years ago. She’s friendly and pleasant, somewhat private, and doesn’t typically share much about her life outside of her health and fitness.

In a recent session, while she was resting between exercises, I mentioned I’d recently listened to a podcast about the Monsanto company. I learned that tens of thousands of people in Vietnam are living with health issues and birth defects from exposure to Agent Orange, the chemical weapon manufactured by Monsanto and used by the US more than 50 years ago. Unexpectedly, this led Lindsey to share something important with me.

Several years ago, her brother bought a nearly 100-year-old house in Tennessee, and as a DIY type, he started working on renovations himself. Soon after, he began developing health issues, and doctors couldn’t find a cause. He deteriorated rapidly, and it was ultimately discovered he had an aggressive form of terminal cancer. He took his own life shortly after, and Lindsey said he kept his ordeal private, telling no one in the family. They eventually learned his work on the house, including the handling of decades-old insulation and other materials, had repeatedly exposed him to chemicals no longer in use. His doctors believed this was the cause of his illness.

To help process and heal from the loss of her brother, Lindsey began attending suicide support group meetings. Over the years, her role in the organization has grown, and helping others recover from suicide’s impact has become her mission.

Revealing such a deeply personal and meaningful experience was a gift to me. I had made her feel safe enough to be vulnerable with me, and that in turn allowed me to gain deeper insights into her life experience.

These days it feels like human connectedness is in short supply, but Lindsey taught me a deeper connection can happen at any moment if we create the space for a genuine, heartfelt conversation.

Open-heartedness, sensitivity, and empathy are the bedrock of creating a safe space. Together they provide a cooling balm on the emotional burns of grief, trauma, depression, or a crummy day at the office.

Relationships thrive when people are open and authentic with each other. By creating a safe space for others, connections grow stronger, bonds deepen, and emotional health greatly improves.