Closing the Loop — Identity, Narratives & Endings
By Ashley Barnes, LPC
We all carry stories — some inherited, some we’ve constructed, and some written in moments we never expected would define us. These narratives often become the lenses through which we view our decisions, relationships, and sense of self.
Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do for your growth is to close the loop—to put a period where you’ve been placing commas, and allow certain chapters to end.
For many of the women I work with, this looks like releasing old roles, beliefs, and patterns that once felt necessary for survival but are now quietly holding them back. It’s the subtle “but…” that keeps the story going long past its time.
🌿 Identity Work in Practice
From a clinical perspective, this process mirrors elements of cognitive restructuring and narrative therapy.
Cognitive restructuring involves recognizing and challenging unhelpful beliefs, reframing them, and choosing thoughts that align with your present reality—not outdated fears.
Narrative therapy invites us to step back from our stories, examine the dominant narratives we’ve adopted, and consciously decide which ones still serve us and which no longer define our identity moving forward.
Closing the loop isn’t about ignoring or avoiding. It’s about clarity. It’s acknowledging that continuing certain loops keeps us entangled in old frameworks, limiting how we see ourselves and what we’re open to receiving.
When you give yourself permission to end the sentence, you make space for a new story to emerge—one that reflects who you are now, not just who you’ve been..
This is the Heart of What I do for You
This kind of identity and narrative work is at the heart of what I do through Heartroverts. Whether in therapy or structured mentorship, I help you untangle old patterns, close unhelpful loops, and reconnect with the truest parts of you so that you may move forward with clarity and confidence.
👉🏽 Explore sessions and programs here. Your next chapter deserves intention—not a version of you stuck in a loop.