I Hurt Too

Written By Bradford Talley

Since childhood, society has told us that when we fall, we simply need to get back up and “rub some dirt on it.” And while I certainly believe in the power of resilience, sometimes we feel less like Rocky Balboa and more like the Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

The former sacrifices his body to achieve his goals, while the latter flails around with unshakable bravado as his opponent severs his limbs one by one. ‘Tis but a scratch,’ he proclaims, even when his limbless torso is all that remains.

There is something painfully familiar about that.

Because not acknowledging our hurt can become a barrier between ourselves and other human beings. And connection is important to our species. We need to know that we aren’t the only ones struggling. Sometimes we need another person to stop pretending, too.

“I Hurt Too” by Katie Herzig is a song that removes that barrier. It is a confession from one human being to another. We can imagine both hearing these words from someone else and being the one who finally relents and says them ourselves.

I hurt too.

We all hurt. And hearing it said this plainly feels like relief—the moment you let your guard down, the moment you finally collapse, tired of always needing to simply be okay.

But the song does all of this while still allowing rays of hope to come through. It doesn’t ask us to deny the hurt in order to find them.

After a while, we can get back up. We can move forward. Pockets of peace will find us.

Bradford Talley

Bradford is a licensed professional counselor at Nashville Integrative Therapy in Nashville, TN. He works with adults, young adults (16+), couples, and families. He has a particular passion for supporting artists, creatives, and entertainment industry professionals, as well as couples navigating communication challenges, life transitions, OCD, anxiety, depression, religious trauma, and both traditional and non-traditional relationships.

Bradford earned his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lipscomb University. His therapeutic orientation integrates psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, narrative, and solution-focused approaches, allowing sessions to be both insight-driven and practical.

At the core of Bradford’s work is a relational, collaborative approach. He believes healing begins with understanding the stories we carry—and together, clients explore patterns that may be limiting growth, build new perspectives, and develop healthier ways of relating to themselves and others. His work emphasizes authenticity, emotional depth, and sustainable change.

Outside of work, Bradford enjoys making music, writing, reading, watching films, playing video games, and taking long walks on the greenway with his dog, Gracie.

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