November is about revealing. Halloween ends, the costumes go back in their boxes, and suddenly the world turns toward gratitude. But for many of us, the hardest mask to take off isn’t the one from the party — it’s the one we’ve worn for years.

As a licensed art psychotherapist, one of my areas of specialty is to provide guidance for individuals who are also on this arduous journey—whether they identify as ‘LGBTQ+’ or not. It is my honor to help individuals discover a greater congruency between their faith and their sexuality. It is my privilege to help individuals live joyfully and experience life to its fullest, whatever this looks like for an individual.

Today, we are sharing two tales from two tables that reflect the things that social media is not able to capture: the hurt that comes with the season and the hearts that hold it.