How “The Grinch” Helped Shaped My Path as a Counsellor
Inspiration From an Unexpected Place
Inspiration shows up in unexpected places. For me, one of the earliest seeds of becoming a counsellor came from a Christmas movie I watched as a kid — How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey. I don’t think I realized it at the time, but something about that story stayed with me and shaped the way I see people even now.
Seeing the Grinch Differently
When I first watched it, I remember feeling such a mix of emotions for the Grinch. Yes, he was grumpy, prickly, reactive, and acted out in ways that made others uncomfortable. But underneath all of that, even as a child, I could see someone who was deeply misunderstood. Someone whose pain had never been acknowledged. Someone who had been hurt, judged, and pushed aside until the world only saw the hardened version of him that had learned to protect himself.
How Misunderstanding Shapes Us
That realization stayed with me. The Grinch wasn’t “bad.” He was wounded. And like so many people I support in counselling — whether they’re navigating trauma, depression, or simply feeling overwhelmed — he had learned to protect himself in the best way he knew how.
What struck me most was how quickly people judged him without ever asking why he behaved the way he did. They saw his reactions, but not his experience. They saw the mask, but not the person. And because of that, they never saw the full story. That realization — even in a simple Christmas movie — opened my eyes to something true about so many people in real life.
The Power of Being Seen
And then there was Cindy Lou Who. A child who looked past the surface, past the behaviours, past the walls, and simply believed there was more to him. She offered curiosity instead of judgment. Acceptance instead of fear. Openness instead of assumptions. A chance instead of a label. She offered him something simple but profound: the chance to be seen.
And that one moment of being truly understood shifted everything for him.
I think that’s what stayed with me the most: the power of one person’s belief. How one moment of compassion can shift an entire story. How giving someone the space to show who they really are, without assumptions or shame, can change the way they move through the world.
How This Shaped My Work as a Counsellor
As I grew older and eventually became a counsellor, I found myself returning to that lesson again and again. People are not their hardest days, their coping strategies, or the behaviours they learned to survive. Underneath the protective layers, there is always more to understand — and healing often begins when someone finally feels safe enough to let themselves be known.
Even now, I see echoes of that lesson all the time. So many people carry stories they’ve never had the chance to tell. So many have learned to hide parts of themselves because they were once judged or dismissed. And so many are waiting — often quietly — for someone who will meet them with the kind of gentle curiosity Cindy Lou Who offered the Grinch.
Offering a Safe Space to Be Seen
In my counselling work here in BC, I hold this same belief: every person deserves a space where they don’t have to perform, hide, or prove anything. A space where they can show up exactly as they are and be met with compassion, not criticism. Whether I’m supporting someone through trauma, helping them rebuild self-trust, or walking with them through the weight of burnout or depression, this foundation remains the same.
That movie taught me, long before I ever knew I’d become a counsellor, that people are not their defenses. They are not their hardest moments. They are not the protective layers they’ve built. Underneath it all, there is always more to understand, more to honour, and more to hold with compassion.
Cindy Lou Who’s approach might have been simple, but it reflects something deeply true about mental health support: being understood can change the trajectory of someone’s life.
And sometimes, healing begins with someone who sees that.
A gentle question for you to reflect on:
When was the last time you felt truly seen — not for your reactions or roles, but for who you are underneath?
If you’re looking for a supportive space
If you’re curious about counselling or feel ready to explore your own healing in a safe, compassionate environment, I’d be honoured to connect. You don’t have to navigate things alone — and you deserve a place where your full story can be heard.