Monday morning I had the pleasure of meeting a bright-haired fellow aires, Kyri Allison. We talked about exposure, astrology, and the importance of living your joy.

Kyri is a PeaceLove CREATOR who held workshops with patients at Bradley in the Milieu unit. In addition to running our workshops, Kyri conducted exposures.

“Exposure” is a treatment used to help a patient overcome fear. It is a common treatment option for those who live with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but the skills it provides are beneficial for many people. In exposure, a patient works with a professional to map out the fears that hold them back from living a full and happy life. Using different methods, they then expose themselves to the fear in increments, until they no longer feel threatened by it.

If this sounds like hard work, it’s because it is. In 2017, I completed a 3-month intensive outpatient program in exposure to treat my own OCD. It was the hardest work I’ve ever done, but it has given me the ability to live my life free from mental checking, physical compulsions, and constant anxiety. It’s given me the ability to live an actual and fulfilling life.

Kyri’s cheekily named podcast, “Expose Yourself,” walks listeners through the process of exposure, and names the value of facing our fears. In her first episode, Kyri discusses the challenges that many of us experience: public speaking, concerns for a loved one’s safety, and social anxiety. Kyri reminds us that while the world is full of things we could be afraid of, it is also a wonderful place to be. This is the essence behind her tagline, “Live your joy.” We only have one life. We have to enjoy it.

In addition to launching a podcast, Kyri has launched a startup: 12th House Coaching & Education. This is a new and fresh take on a mental health support service. Kyri will work with clients doing skill coaching and emotion education. The skills Kyri teaches help clients develop strength of mind. Named after Kyri’s love for astrology, the 12th house is the final house in a birth chart. It is a place of reflection, introspection, dreams, and unconsciousness. It is perfect to describe the processes in a mental health journey.

I am passionate about the way mental health care needs to change. It has become normalized to seek help, yet many people who seek help don’t have access to the resources they need. This is why I am so excited about Kyri’s startup, 12th House Coaching & Education. This style of life coaching, with video calls and package options, offers mental wellness counseling in different stages for different needs. This opens the door for people who might not want a traditional or clinical setting.

We are all so proud of Kyri, and her new journey to empower us to face our fears.

To find out more about 12th House Coaching and Kyri’s podcast, follow the links below:

patreon.com/exposeyourselfpodcast

Twelfthhousecoaching.com

Victoria Rose is a writer and musician from Providence, Rhode Island. victoria@peacelove.org