Therapy for Therapists
Are You A Therapist In Need of Emotional and Professional Support?
The work of a mental health professional can be immensely rewarding. Supporting others in finding healing or purpose in their lives produces incomparable satisfaction and joy.
At the same time, being so involved in helping others can leave little to no time for ourselves. These ongoing struggles to find balance in our own lives may often deprive us of the opportunity for personal and professional growth at a deeper level.
It’s a common experience for us as therapists to realize we need the very thing we offer others - to heal through therapeutic relational connection. As therapist and author Lori Gottlieb states, “We are mirrors reflecting mirrors reflecting mirrors, showing one another what we can’t yet see.” (1)
My own journey as a therapist has been supported, clarified, and deepened by doing work with other skilled clinicians. As therapists began to join my practice as clients, I have had the opportunity to play my role in the great cycle of development, support, and healing of healers.
The Role Of Healer and Helper Can Be Taxing
As a therapist myself, I understand the highs and lows of our role—I, too, experience the challenges and rewards that come from helping people heal. At its core, the work we do is relational. And, the self of the helping professional is the instrument through which healing interventions are provided to clients. Therefore, it is crucial for mental health professionals to practice self-awareness and develop the interpersonal skills needed to be effective with clients.
If personal or professional growth is your goal, you may need help with:
Developing healthy boundaries
Becoming assertive and self-aware
Learning how to manage yourself with clients
Our role as therapists can also unearth or magnify old wounds that require healing. Our ability to be empathic, patient, and accepting can come from our own unique histories, including adverse childhood experiences or primary traumas. Furthermore, our ability to empathically receive and mirror the often painful experiences of others leaves us open to professional burnout and secondary or vicarious trauma.
Signs that you may need help with primary and secondary traumatic stress:
Emotional exhaustion, apathy, hopelessness
Hypervigilance, constant monitoring of self or others
Self-doubts, projection of blame or rage
Questioning worldview, spirituality, and identity
If you want to resolve underlying issues or process repeated exposure to traumatic stories and experiences of others, I can help. My aim is to help you experience growth and purpose in your role as a helper and healer.
As Therapists We All Have Our Own Needs
In our profession, it is common to be exposed to painful life experiences, including trauma. We are empathic, resourceful, and good listeners, who can absorb the emotional residue of others as we witness the pain, fear, and terror our clients have faced.
For that reason, it's quite common for therapists to seek out therapy themselves. It is vital to prioritize your well-being and understand that your profession can be emotionally and professionally demanding.
Serving as a Therapist to Other Therapists Is One of My Most Cherished Roles
I enjoy helping therapists become the best possible version of themselves. I want you to thrive while managing your own needs and self-care. Through therapy, you can become more self-aware, and less reactive, and gain an increased ability to soothe your anxiety to achieve professional excellence.
Some therapists have reached out to me to work on their own personal and professional growth, while others have sought to heal from primary or secondary traumatic stress. I am versed in both areas and can help you help yourself as you help others.
Therapy For Mental Health Professionals Can Help You Experience Growth And Healing
I welcome you to feel comfortable, empowered, and motivated as we work collaboratively to achieve self-development and healing from trauma.
My ultimate goal is to guide you toward a well-balanced life where you thrive both personally and professionally. I want you to know that together we can resolve the issues that are rising to the surface as you help others. Each time we turn toward the pain, we grow and we learn how to better help others grow.
You no longer need to carry the traumatic material we work so hard to help others witness and heal.
My Approach To Therapy For Therapists
For primary and secondary traumatic stress, the modality I typically use in therapy is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma resolution. When utilizing EMDR, we work together to process and integrate various traumatic experiences, facilitating healing and resilience.
Similarly, incorporating attachment-based models and family systems models in therapy provides a framework so we can explore relational patterns and help foster greater emotional security. By combining these approaches, you can embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing within a supportive therapeutic environment.
Regardless of your reason for seeking therapy, I will tailor my approach to steering you in a more productive direction, addressing and exploring your concerns, and opening up more possibilities for growth as a therapist and as an individual.
As A Therapist Considering Your Own Therapy, You May Have Questions...
Does this mean I'm not cut out to be a healer/helper?
Absolutely not! You are right where you need to be on your journey. It is our own hurt and pain that provide us the power to help others. We can learn to work with our pain or the pain we witness in others in new, creative ways. I have and continue to pursue my own therapy, consultation, and coaching so that I can be my best for you.
It feels scary to be so vulnerable.
When you become the one that everyone turns to for healing, it can be hard to be the one on the receiving end. You might feel vulnerable in ways that you aren't comfortable with or believe that you should be able to manage it on your own. Even therapists who challenge these beliefs in their clients find themselves battling similar thoughts. That's because we are all human! It takes courage to self-reflect and grow beyond what we are familiar with. I welcome your vulnerability and I will meet you with respect.
I have a full schedule and don’t feel like I have enough time to consistently attend sessions.
The helping professions are more in demand than ever and many are overloaded with responsibilities. I offer therapists several ways to work with me, whether through personal therapy, professional consultation, or coaching. Please ask me how I can best help you.
As A Therapist, Therapy Can Help You Embrace Your Full Potential
If you are ready to prioritize your mental well-being and growth as a therapist, I can help support you in both personal and professional development or addressing primary and secondary traumatic stress.
Please contact me to see how therapy with me can help you on your journey toward healing, empowerment, and professional growth as a therapist.
[1] Gottlieb, L. (2019). Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.