On the far side of the world sits one of the grandest natural wonders – Mount Everest. Towering over the earth at 29,029 feet, it has long stood as a challenge to the adventurous spirits of the world. In May of 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary became the first man to summit this majestic mountain, a feat that many thought impossible. But Hillary would not have been able to make this ascent without his partner, a Sherpa named Tenzing Norgay. Even now, nearly 70 years later, anyone who hopes to summit Everest must work closely with a Sherpa to help guide & support them all the way to the top.
The Sherpa has a unique skillset that makes them invaluable to the climber. They help their climbers reach the top by providing expertise & local knowledge, and the necessary tools and assistance required for the arduous journey. They help the climber navigate over or around crevasses, scale cliffs, and ultimately stand victoriously on the summit.
The journey to the top of Everest is long and physically taxing. Months of preparation and training are needed before arriving at the base of the mountain, and once there, it takes another two months or so to then reach the summit. During this time, climbers acclimate to the changes in altitude and temperature. Even with all the preparation and support, there are obviously no guarantees. According to the Himalayan Database, in 2018, for those relatively few who actually made it to base camp, only about 70% went on to summit Everest.
While not all of us have the dream of climbing Everest, many of us face personal challenges which can seem just as daunting, difficult to manage on our own. Navigating the struggles of mental health or emotional issues, for example, often requires the “Sherpa-like guidance” of an experienced clinician. The working alliance between a therapist and a client can create a powerful team – a team absolutely as important as the team climbing Everest.
What is your Everest?
Are there challenges in your life that feel insurmountable? Are there difficulties you sometimes keep hidden from others, to appear that you’ve “got it together” even though you’re crumbling on the inside? Depression and anxiety are fairly common, and the rates continue to rise, especially among adolescents and young adults (these issues are prevalent among older adults as well). But whatever your Everest – be it overcoming mental health or emotional issues, physical challenges, relationship struggles, etc. – Find. Your. Sherpa.
Can you imagine the thrill of deciding to climb Mt. Everest, preparing for the journey, and teaming up with an experienced Sherpa to realize your goal? As exciting as that may be, the decision to embrace a level of vulnerability and work on ourselves with the guidance of a therapist is no less important.
Sir Edmund Hillary is quoted as saying, “It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” Perhaps the same wisdom applies to those conquering their own “Everest,” traveling the challenging journey toward improved mental and emotional health. Thankfully, there are caring, competent, and committed “Sherpas” ready to travel the journey with us.
At STRiV, our mission is to help our young adult clients recognize their potential and develop skills to move confidently towards independence – Sherpas carving steps into the various mountains our young adult students are climbing.
By Joel Wallis, CSW – Primary Therapist @ STRiV
Share this:
Leave a Reply