06/02/2026
What if the most powerful thing you could do for someone isn't to fix them—but simply to be present with them?
Susan shares a heartfelt reflection on the healing power of holding space and why being heard can be one of the greatest gifts we offer each other.
The healing power of holding space
May 28, 2026
The other day, there were a lot of things happening all at the same time for me.
And really, isn’t that how life often works? It is usually not just one thing. It is multiple things happening at once. Then the feelings begin to rise. Old patterns start showing up. Something gets triggered. Before we know it, we can feel overwhelmed, frustrated, sad, angry, or whatever emotion comes with the situation.
That is where I found myself. A few different things were happening at the same time, and I felt frustrated and overwhelmed.
I usually do pretty well looking at my own stuff. I can pause, reflect, and ask myself what is really going on underneath the surface. But sometimes, it is nice to have someone else help you move through it. I am no different than the people who come into the center. I help others see things they may not be aware of. I help support the flow of energy so they can feel better and become clearer. But I need that kind of support too.
As I was feeling all of these emotions and running things through my head, I reached out to a friend and asked, “Are you able to hold space for me?”
I knew this friend would understand what I meant because she has done that in her career and in her life. And she said, “Of course.”
Now, if I asked my husband to hold space for me, he would probably look at me like a deer in headlights, not quite knowing what that meant. But if I said, “Can I just vent to you?” I am sure he would understand that.
But to me, venting and holding space feel very different.
Venting can be helpful because sometimes we need to let the energy out. But venting can also keep us circling around the same story, the same frustration, and the same pattern. Often when someone is venting, they are not really looking for suggestions, feedback, or constructive criticism. They just want the energy to come out. Hopefully, the person listening does not take it all on.
Holding space feels different.
When I ask someone to hold space for me, it feels more like a practice of reflection. It gives me room to be vulnerable. It gives me room to let my emotions come forward without needing to be fixed. My friend does not need to tell me what to do. She does not need to solve it for me. She understands that holding space allows me to understand another piece of myself and what I may need to do next.
And this is what we do at Healing Waters.
We hold space for people’s emotions, patterns, vulnerability, grief, confusion, and healing. I think this is such a sacred and empowering practice. We are not there to tell people how to live their lives. We are not there to fix their problems for them. We are there to create a space where they can become clear enough to hear themselves again.
That is powerful.
Because when someone is on the table, or sitting with us in their own process, the healing does not come from us telling them what to do. It comes from them becoming empowered to choose what is right for them.
Denise, my friend, used to say that we know our answers, but we have to get clear enough to hear them. Sometimes I would look at her and say, “Well, I do not know what my answers are. That is why I am here.” But deep down, I think she knew, and maybe part of me knew too, that the answers were there. I just needed space to open up, listen, and get clear about what I was really feeling.
She created that kind of space for people. She was a beautiful teacher, and she held space in such a loving way.
That is why I feel called to share this with you.
Holding space does not mean you have to fix someone. It does not mean you have to figure everything out for them. It does not mean you need the perfect words. Sometimes holding space is simply saying, “I hear you.” Sometimes it is saying, “I can imagine that feels really hard.” Sometimes it is saying nothing at all. Sometimes it is just being present and letting someone feel what they need to feel.
We all need people in our lives who can do that for us.
And we can learn to do that for others.
So maybe this week, play with the idea of holding space. Notice when someone around you is struggling. Instead of jumping in with advice or trying to fix it, try simply being with them. Try listening. Try being open. Try saying, “I can hold space for you while you figure this out.”
See what happens.
It is a beautiful thing when a friendship, a relationship, or a healingspace can hold that kind of love, in the flow.
Susan
