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Special to the HT
Since I was a child, I have been excited by theater and by participating in the stories that we tell through school musicals and local productions. This past summer, I got to continue this by stepping into the role of J.M. Barrie in the Meeker Arts and Cultural Council’s production of Finding Neverland.
At first, the role and my love for the stage seem to be the polar opposite of my work as a counselor, working one-on-one with clients. However, theater at its core is the experience of sharing a story, as well as the emotions that lie within that story. Beyond that, I found an even closer connection in Finding Neverland specifically. It portrays ways in which we respond to difficult experiences and events, the stories that we tell ourselves and the ways that we can see beyond our circumstances.
In one particular moment in the first act, J.M. Barrie scoffs at the word “just” and how it removes wonder and prevents creation. Reflecting on the line, I find a connection to something that I say frequently in my sessions: “Nothing is absolute,” meaning that everything in life, as well as everything about us as individuals, is so much more than just this.
Sometimes the thoughts about us, the ones that seem to pop out with no effort, feel absolute. They feel like the only truth, like that is just how it is. These thoughts can bring intense emotion and demand our focus, as if the thought is saying, “Focus on me! Just me!”
These thoughts shape how we see ourselves, what we believe other people see and what we believe we are worthy of. These are the types of thoughts that I address when I use cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, in my work as a therapist. The process and goal of CBT is to teach and empower individuals to recognize these thoughts and work to change them by challenging the thought and underlying belief about themselves. These tools apply to a wide variety of thoughts, from daily anxieties and major fears to feeling uneasy or nervous when trying something new.
Counseling does not have to be reserved for a crisis. It is also a way to learn to better understand yourself, develop practical tools and find the wonder and creation in your own daily life.
By JESSE YARBROUGH
Behavioral Health Counselor, Meeker Family Health Center
Jesse Yarbrough, LSW, is a behavioral health counselor at Meeker Family Health Center. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Northern Colorado in 2017 and his master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver in 2025. Jesse has called Meeker, Colorado, home since 2020, where he lives with his wife and son.