Purpose

 

Welcome to Existential Narrative Therapy: Where Story Meets Soul

This space is for those who are curious—not just about mental health, but about meaning.

I’m Virginia S Grenier, a Mental Health Counselor currently finishing my Master's degree at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions. My approach to counseling is rooted in person-centered values, narrative therapy, existential exploration, and trauma-informed care. I also integrate polyvagal and somatic practices—because healing doesn’t just live in the mind; it lives in the body, and in the stories we carry there.

This website and blog is not a place for advice-giving or “fixing.”
It’s a space for reflecting, wondering, reframing, and remembering.

You’ll find thoughts on:

✨ Reclaiming identity through narrative
✨ Making peace with ambiguity and grief
✨ The power of sandtray work and symbols
✨ Self-regulation through a polyvagal lens
✨ Parenting, partnership, and being human
✨ Quotes and voices that have lingered in my soul

You may also find echoes of my voice from other realms—I’m an award-winning writer, podcast co-host (Language of the Soul), and long-time advocate for trauma survivors. But here, in the blog, the focus is soft. Grounded. Reflective.

I’m so glad you’re here.

📌 Feel free to browse posts by label, or start with the most recent reflections.
📬 If you’d like to reach out, visit the Contact page.

Your story matters.
Your meaning is yours to reclaim.

Popular posts from this blog

Your Story Matters: How Narrative Therapy Helps You Reclaim Your Voice

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  We all carry stories. Some we’ve told a thousand times. Some we keep locked up because they feel too heavy or messy to share. And then there are those silent ones—the ones that quietly shape how we see ourselves without us even realizing it. I know this because I’ve lived it. We all have. You Are Not Just Your Past Here’s something I tell my clients often: “You are not who others say you are. You are who you choose to be.” But here’s the tricky part—sometimes the stories we’ve been handed feel like they’re carved into stone: I’m not enough. I always fail. I have to carry everything alone. I don’t know who I am without this pain. Those stories feel true, even when they aren’t. They can leave us feeling stuck, unseen, or like life has already decided our ending for us. So, What Is Narrative Therapy? Think of it like this: Narrative therapy is about stepping back and asking, “Whose voice is this? Where did this story even come from? And do I still want to keep living by ...
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When Grief Changes Everything: Making Space for Loss and Hope

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  Grief is one of those experiences that changes you at your core. It’s not just about missing someone or something you loved—it’s about how life feels different after it. Things that used to feel solid suddenly feel fragile. Even the way we see ourselves and our future can shift. I’ve seen this both personally and through my work in a mortuary setting. Standing with families as they say goodbye, I’ve seen how grief reshapes life in ways you can’t fully understand until you’re standing in it yourself. It’s messy, it’s unpredictable, and it often doesn’t look like what we expected. Grief Isn’t Something to “Get Over” One of the hardest parts of grief is the pressure to move on or “be strong.” But grief doesn’t work on a timeline. It’s not a problem to solve—it’s an experience to be carried, one day at a time. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It doesn’t mean things go back to how they were. In therapy, I often remind clients: You’re not broken—you’re hurting. And hurting is a na...
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More Than the Mind: Why Whole-Person Healing Matters

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When most people think about “getting healthy,” they often picture working out, eating better, or maybe reducing stress. But what if I told you that health isn’t just about your body—or even just your mind? It’s about the whole person. The Eight Dimensions of Wellness The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines eight key dimensions of wellness: Emotional – How you cope with life, stress, and emotions. Physical – Your physical health, sleep, movement, and nutrition. Intellectual – Engaging in learning and creativity. Social – Your connections and support systems. Spiritual – A sense of meaning and purpose. Environmental – The spaces where you live, work, and rest. Financial – Feeling secure and stable with money. Occupational – Satisfaction and balance in your work or daily roles. Each of these areas is connected. When one is off-balance, it affects the others. For example, stress at work (occupational) can impact ...
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