Marnie Davis

I think that I'm genuine. I show up with unconditional positive regard for each human. I'm curious. And I know how to hold space for individuals in a very gentle, open way. And I learned back in grad school that 85% of what helps people heal is showing up in that way. And all of that comes very natural to me. It was how I came into this world, and it's how I was nurtured as a kid. And I think that that has led me to move through my own hard times, and find my way in the work that I do, and also surrounding myself by people that are similar to me, people that challenge me, people that will call me out on something, and surrounding myself by what I call a circle of support.

I think to follow my own path, to use my strengths and values and things that are innate to me, the things that I care about, and to follow that, to follow my gut, to follow my intuition, and if I need to, to borrow somebody's courage, to borrow somebody's confidence until I find it on my own, and follow my own lead, to step away from people-pleasing and what I think others want from me, or what I'm supposed to be doing, and really just looking inward and outward at where is the best place that I can make a difference with what I carry as a human being, and to be a lifelong learner.

I would invite young women to recognize what they carry within them, that no matter their story, no matter their suffering, no matter their challenges, or what they've been taught about themselves, their bodies, they're told that they're not good enough, that they can't do something, to recognize the power that they hold within, that they can make a difference. And the differences, again, don't have to be something that is broad and on stage. That, again, those differences are those micro moments where you see somebody and smile to them and ask them how they are. And showing up for individuals on a small and large scale, and recognizing that a community of women, we can do amazing things on our own, but you put us together, and watch out, world.

I think challenges right now is people being able to access care. There's lots of barriers to care based on location, socioeconomic status, minority identities, marginalized identities. And so I think really trying to make sure that all individuals have access to care. I also think that we're seeing different things as to how our AI is going to change the world of counseling, and recognizing that there still is really important healing that happens just being in a room with a human, not talking to ChatGPT about your problem.