Tags

, , , , , , ,

One of the challenges of being a counselor, therapist, social worker, chaplain, etc.  is losing the ability to be with the humanity of the people we visit.  We all go through lulls in our support, where there is almost a mechanical aspect to what we do.  Those that are attuned to knowing what takes them away from being with someone are often quite successful, for they will know when to take a break and not let “work” become the goal.  The article below discusses these challenges in some more detail.

The Hazards of Being a Therapist

By Regina Bright, MS, LMHC

 

The Hazards of Being a TherapistI have been working in mental health for about 12 years. I listen to clients in crisis for many hours a day, providing support, empathy, interpretation and direction.

Therapists can easily lose track of their own issues, ignore their own problems, and at times have difficulty shutting off the therapeutic process.

In order to be a good therapist, it is necessary to take care of ourselves — our clients depend on it. Just because we know everything there is to know about stress management doesn’t mean that therapists can’t become mentally exhausted. If you are feeling “depersonalization” toward your clients or possibly yourself, you could be experiencing emotional fatigue.

Here are some ways that I like to keep balanced.

 

I use my colleagues’ expertise regularly. We go to lunch and consult each other on difficult cases. We bounce around different techniques and approaches that could heighten the therapeutic process.

I belong to many professional organizations and am very involved in my community. I feel that if I have the support of my community, then I am not alone in my journey. I enjoy volunteering and giving back to my community whenever possible. It makes me feel good to see that I have helped others with a small donation of my time.

I enjoy spending time with my family. Going to the beach and reading or walking is especially refreshing. I have two Labrador retrievers who demand a lot of attention. I find a great escape just going out into the backyard and throwing the Frisbee for an hour.

My family enjoys going on vacation. I take two trips a year with the family and then one with just my husband.

My practice is in my hometown. I have developed many friendships over the years. I enjoy spending time with many different groups of people. I am very thankful for the friendships that I have made.

In college, I had different goals. I could do and wanted to do everything that came to my mind. I achieved more things in one day than most people did in a week. My priorities have changed. I have a family now and I find it necessary to relax. Now, I want to balance giving and getting – attention to my family, friends, spouse, community, and solitude.

As a mental health professional, self-care is a minimum standard of professional practice. Your clients deserve to be served by a healthy, well-balanced health care professional. Every mental health professional has vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and needs. Take time today to identify yours.