Margaret Page is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. She’s a Knoxville native, wife, and mother of two who found her way back home after many years away. If you were to ask what she does, I’d quickly answer and say that she’s one of the best listeners I’ve ever met. Recently we met over coffee and doughnuts so she could tell me more about what she’s been up to since being back in Knoxville. I knew immediately that I had to write about her, as her mission of helping others feel whole and satisfied in their lives goes hand in hand with what we hope for all our clients at Help You Dwell.
Margaret has made a living doing grief work and creative arts therapy. She’s a certified grief educator with a background in expressive therapy and mental health counseling. She is also a lecturer in the expressive therapies field and has been a state-certified therapist in New York and Pennsylvania since 2005. Over the past twenty years, she’s done group, family, and individual counseling in the areas of creative arts therapy, dance, and verbal therapy.
Margaret’s personal statement about therapy is as follows;
My work is grounded in the belief that loss, difficult life transitions and unexpected change can lead us towards transformation. If we find space to honor what’s been lost, we can move through life’s disappointments, find acceptance, and move into a chapter of life that feels deeply satisfying. My work often focuses on the perspective of someone in the middle of life. From parenting children to parenting aging parents, the middle of life often asks us to accept the half of life that is in the past, have faith in the half of life that is in the future, and find ways to be present in the now.
I believe in meeting each of my clients where they are on their personal and spiritual journey. My training and experience allow me to find the best way to work with individual clients–whether that’s talking, moving or making art. For me, helping clients is not about any particular diagnosis but about seeing the best in people and reflecting it back to them.
My personal experience caring for a mother with Alzheimer’s disease has taught me about the ambiguous nature of grief and how powerful it can be to consider what it means to be human. I have had to learn how to come to terms with loss as well as how to find connection in a world without words.
I believe that healing comes in relationships. When we prioritize relationships above work, titles and ego, we allow ourselves to be seen and mirrored in a way that only happens through sharing ourselves with others.
I also believe in the healing power of nature. I encourage my clients to explore healing and growth through outdoor experiences. I find walking, hiking, plunging and biking to be personally beneficial to me, and encourage clients to explore these or other outdoor activities.
Margaret’s practice focuses on helping clients navigate various life experiences and transitions by considering overall mental well-being. She wants her clients to know that she’s there, walking along beside them on their journey.
Helping others find peace after loss, a move, or during different phases in life is something we love doing here at Help You Dwell, and forming good relationships and bonds with clients is critical. Many of our clients are not only struggling with clutter in their homes, but with clutter in their lives as well. While Help You Dwell can help organize and guide you through a move or transition, Margaret can help if you are struggling with loss, grief, or finding your way through a difficult time.
If you think you or someone you love would benefit from a listening ear with years of experience, she’d love for you to reach out. You can call her (347) 834-7351, or head to her website: margaretpagema.com to schedule a session with her.
