What “In Situ” Really Means, And Why It Matters in Therapy

You are not a problem to be fixed.

You are a person responding to your life in the best way you currently know how.

Most people do not walk into therapy feeling “broken.”

They walk in feeling confused, stuck, or frustrated that nothing seems to fully click, even when they are trying.

They have insight.

They have awareness.

They have likely already tried to figure things out on their own.

But something still feels off.

That is where the idea of in situ becomes important.

What “In Situ” Means

“In situ” is a term that comes from art and science. It means in its original place or within its natural context.

In studio art, it refers to creating something within the environment it belongs to, rather than removing it and trying to understand it somewhere else.

That idea has always stuck with me.

Because people work the same way.

You cannot fully understand yourself by pulling your thoughts, behaviors, or emotions out of context and labeling them.

You understand them by looking at them where they actually happen, within your life, your experiences, your relationships, and your environment.

How This Applies to Therapy

A lot of people come into therapy trying to figure out what is “wrong” with them.

But that is usually not the most helpful question.

A more useful question is:

“What makes sense about the way I am responding?”

From a Reality Therapy perspective, your behaviors are always attempts to meet your needs, things like control, connection, freedom, and a sense of purpose.

Even the things you feel frustrated with usually serve some kind of purpose.

Avoidance is not random.

Overthinking is not random.

Feeling stuck is not random.

It all makes sense when you look at it in situ, within the context of your life.

A lone traveler sits peacefully on a rocky outcrop, gazing at the breathtaking sunrise over a winding river valley, surrounded by majestic mountains and lush forests.

Why Insight Alone Is Not Enough

A lot of the clients I work with are already self-aware.

They can explain their patterns.

They can identify where things started.

They can even tell you what they “should” be doing differently.

But insight does not automatically lead to change.

Because change is not just about knowing more.

It is about:

• Understanding how your patterns are actually playing out in real time

• Recognizing the choices you are making within those patterns

• Deciding what you want to do differently moving forward

  
  

That process only works when you are looking at yourself honestly, within your real life, not in theory.

What Therapy Looks Like in My Practice

In my work, I am not trying to analyze you from a distance or fit you into a category.

We are looking at your life as it actually is.

That includes:

• What your day-to-day experiences look like

• What you are trying to get from the choices you are making

• What is working for you, and what is not

• What you want instead, not what you think you are supposed to want

From there, we start making adjustments.

Not extreme changes.

Not unrealistic expectations.

Just more intentional, effective choices that align better with what you actually need.

The goal is not perfection.

The goal is helping you develop more awareness, more control over your choices, and a stronger sense of direction in your life.

A serene forest scene illuminated by soft golden light, highlighting a smooth stone surrounded by lush greenery and delicate moss.

A More Grounded Way of Understanding Yourself

When you start looking at yourself in situ, something shifts.

Instead of asking:

• “Why am I like this?”

  
  

You start asking:

• “What is this doing for me?”

• “Is this working for me?”

• “What do I want to do differently?”

  
  

That shift creates space.

Space to understand yourself without judgment.

Space to make different choices.

Space to move forward in a way that actually fits your life.

If This Approach Feels Different, It Is

A lot of therapy focuses on managing symptoms or giving strategies.

That can be helpful.

But if nothing underneath changes, the same patterns tend to come back.

My approach focuses on helping you understand those patterns and your role within them, so that the changes you make actually last.

If you are someone who:

• Feels stuck despite being self-aware

• Finds yourself repeating the same patterns

• Wants something deeper than surface-level advice

  
  

This approach may fit you.

Taking the Next Step

If any part of this resonated, there is a reason for that.

You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out.

You just need to be open to looking at things a little differently.

If you are in Illinois and interested in working together, you can reach out through my contact page here to get started.