We’re looking forward to introducing you to Patricia L. Meek. Check out our conversation below.
Patricia L. , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
Fear. I think we are all wrestling with it. There is a fear of an unknown future, of not being safe, of not being okay in a rapidly changing world.
As a psychotherapist, I have the sacred privilege of hearing what others hold inside. I witness the battles between authentic feelings and the relentless inner critics. Lately, I have been hearing a recurring theme: how disconnected it feels to be in a world that appears normal on the surface while, inside, it feels stressful and frightening. I believe we are here on this planet to help one another in the best ways we know how; to show up, to witness, and to learn to love the parts of ourselves we reject.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Trish, though professionally I go by Patricia L. Meek. I’m a writer and a master’s-level psychotherapist specializing in trauma, using somatic and integrative approaches to help people heal and reconnect with themselves. I run a small private practice, Soulmations, LLC, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but I’m also licensed in Colorado and continue to work with many clients in the Denver area. I am also a photographer, Creative Life Coach, and I teach at Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
I spent many years in the San Luis Valley, which still holds a special place in my heart. It is the setting for my upcoming speculative novel Wonderworld: The Valley of Lost Souls, the first book in a metaphysical sci-fi fantasy series. Wonderworld reimagines Alice in Wonderland through the lens of virtual reality. Brain-chipped gamers have begun to go missing, and Alyson Keene, creator of a global VR multi-player, interactive gaming destination, must battle alien forces, corporate betrayal, and her own inner demons as she learns she holds ancient activation codes within herself, blurring the line between fantasy and reality. Wonderworld holds the key to humanity’s survival, or its enslavement.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
For me, this is a complex question. Healing is an inside job. The hero’s journey is the archetypal “road less traveled,” which is an invitation to turn inward and tend to our own inner orphans first. When we learn to sit with our shadow, dare I say to love our brokenness, we become capable to extend more compassion to others. Love has its way; all the great spiritual teachers point to this path. But it isn’t easy, and it can’t come through spiritual bypassing.
We are each responsible for doing the deep work of healing ourselves before we can repair with others. True repair begins when we can acknowledge our role in the conflict, take ownership, and say, “I’m sorry. I see I’ve caused you suffering,” and then strive to change from this place of greater understanding.
That said, I still use profanities when I get cut off in traffic. It’s messy being human. LOL.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I’ve had incredible teachers and healers along my path who have guided me and informed me how to sit with suffering in a way that the pain breaks open and is released. This has been my growth edge in transformation, the kind I aspire daily to some degree. Changing limited and painful beliefs about myself have taught me to love myself more deeply and to trust that the alchemical process has the ability to turn darkness into growth.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
There are many systems I participate in. The first is psychotherapy, which has done some damage by pathologizing borderland experiences. This industry, and others I’ve been in like teaching and medical, place too much emphasis on the problem being within the individual rather than challenging systemic and historical traumas.
In our era of high capitalism, we are told there is no value unless something “makes money.” This makes it very difficult for writers, healers, and artists like me to find success or get our voices out there unless our work fits a narrow definition of what is desired or considered valuable.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
As a writer, I’ve been working on a novel series for thirteen years. Only close friends and family have heard it, and my writers’ group continues to push it to new levels. I’ve tried getting an agent with no luck, but that hasn’t stopped me from working on it almost every day. I love it, and though there’s no guarantee anyone will read it, I’ll keep going. Hope is eternal, and I will never give up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.soulmations.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meek.patricia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patricialmeekauthor
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/PXsadCfhElw?si=UjpNWxkrQ3Ia2PlE
- Other: For more information about my writing, visit:
http://www.patricialmeek.comTikTok: patricialmeek2
@authorpatricialmeek.com@patricialmeek2 My work in progress: A.I video https://patricialmeek.wordpress.com/2024/07/21/a-i-advancement-and-my-work-in-progress/
Image Credits
Photos: Patricia L. Meek
Book Cover by All Things Matter Press, 2011.
