Other things being equal, the more we practice something, the better we are at doing it; simple repetition has a way of building skill. And there's another, even more important, benefit that experience brings to the table. It arises from the mismatch between classroom theories and the real world: the real world is considerably more complex than our theories and models would lead us to believe. Don't get me wrong! Classroom learning is a powerful, highly-efficient first step. But in the end, it takes first-hand experience to finally show us what is likely to work, and not work, in the real world.

For more than 30 years, real-world experience has been patiently showing me what tends to help, and not help, clients find their way through personal difficulties. Along the way, clients and I have managed to put together practical solutions for all sorts of challenges such as:

Each of us is simultaneously the same as everyone else, and unique. As a result, our path through life is almost certain to be full of surprises, unexpected elements, and plot twists. That's where experience pays its greatest dividend: gently navigating the inevitable twists and turns of your unique life is a skill polished by experience. To put that another way, experience shows us how to fashion realistic solutions to fit each individual's or couple's unique needs and circumstances.