4 answers
Rowan
Student
Novi, Michigan
2
Questions
Asked
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Can being a therapist be taxing?
I'm nervous to be a mental health therapist because I'm worried that it'd hurt me more than I could help others. So is being a therapist as mentally taxing as it sounds?
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4 answers
Annah Edmonds
Licensed Clinical Counselor and Art Therapist
83
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Annah’s Answer
Rowan, the answer is yes- it can be taxing. This is definitely something to consider for yourself. And you will also learn how to protect your energy and set healthy boundaries for yourself. It takes commitment and practice but is well worth it. Many therapists are empaths- highly intuitive and sensitive to emotions. This is also what gives us a superpower! Being a clinical therapist is not for everyone, however. Also know there are different ways to 'do' therapy and many types of settings. Some environments can be more stressful and demanding than others. You learn fairly quickly what type of patient (or client) you prefer and what type of therapy you enjoy most. Many of the systems in place can also be frustrating to work within- systems that do not fully support either the patient or therapist in doing their best work. You will also be engaged in your own psychotherapy and supervision; this will be critical in how you develop yourself as a therapist. If you are not wanting to work one-on-one with people (or not all of the time), you might look at social work instead of a clinical psychology counseling degree. Social work can look like therapy, it can also involve more administrative tasks such as research, care connection, providing information and resources, etc. Occupational therapy is another alternative; you help people be most effective in their environment(s)- for instance, helping someone learn how to live independently with a new disability. Recreational therapy is focused on creating and leading therapeutic activities. And within the counseling realm, you can also specialize in play therapy- a fun and innovative way to work with and support children experiencing difficulties. You might choose to enter into a management or supervisor role if you enjoy leadership. In private practice, you have the most autonomy to design a practice that truly honors your own therapeutic style and preferred schedule. Do some exploration for yourself! There are so many types of career paths and many opportunities to help others while not overburdening your own soul.
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Rowan
Anne O'Hara, LCSW
Outpatient Therapist
13
Answers
Radford, Virginia
Updated
Anne’s Answer
In short, yes. In long, yes but finding the sweet spot is possible. In Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) we discuss the concept of Dialectics, which is two statements that sound like they can't both possibly be correct but somehow they are. I can love my job and find it super rewarding but I can also find it emotionally taxing at the same time. It doesn't SOUND like they can both be true, but they are! Learning to find a good work/life balance is something all therapists and mental health professionals struggle with at times and it's a lifelong journey to find the right balance for you. It also helps to utilize a lot of protective factors. Seeking your own therapy is helpful for a lot of providers, but stuff like getting enough sleep, eating well, drinking enough water, not working too late after hours (I say as I type this on my laptop at 10:46 PM haha, I didn't say I am perfect, but to my credit I was exercising and eating a healthy dinner and THEN finishing up some notes), giving yourself days to do trainings away from clients, using supervision correctly, taking time off when sick or needing to go to the doctor, and going to the gym or having other good stress reducers are all healthy ways to create that professional distance between how heavy the job is and the impact on your functioning. Isn't it interesting that the same advice we would give to our clients is the same advice we use ourselves? The good news is that many agencies offer very good PTO options to give you that time off as needed.
It is a delicate balance but it is one you will be able to figure out if you give it your all. :)
It is a delicate balance but it is one you will be able to figure out if you give it your all. :)
Gregory Barclay, M.D., DLFAPA, FASAP
Psychiatrist
26
Answers
Wilmington, Delaware
Updated
Gregory’s Answer
Rowan,
Your question is an excellent one because it isn't often asked yet stress and burnout are problems in most of the "helping" professions. I have been a psychiatrist for almost 40 years and what I have enjoyed the most about it hasn't been the "medical" responsibilties that we often are expected and required to fulfill, but rather, the "therapist" part of the job. I found that part much more interesting and could see the effect it had on my patients (many of whom were teenagers) more clearly than medicating their symptoms since, in therapy, they were partners in the process, while medication treatment makes patients passive recipients of medication.
But, to your question, while being a therapist can be stressful, it is also very meaningful work. Like all careers, taking care of yourself and setting limits on how much your "work" incringes on your "personal life" is very important. Your letter indicates to me that you are quite "self aware", which is a good thing! So, making sure you take care of yourself and your own needs outside of your work is just as important as a therapist as it is in any other career. However, because our clients (or patients) come to us when they usually aren't at their best and are often hurting, there is the worry that taking care of them and their needs will stress and burn you out, and I think this is what you are getting at. This is where it is important to find good training and, once you complete your training, you seek out good ongoing supervision from a more experienced therapist, so that you can make sure to keep yourself balanced and from getting too drawn into your clients' problems. We all learn to keep these boundaries and take care of ourselves in this work through good training and supervision and discipline, and I am sure you will be able to as well.
Our world needs good therapists. Especially ones willing to work with kids, teens, and their families. And they need therapists who are sensitive and compassionate, yet skilled. Your letter suggests to me you have what it takes! Good luck!!
Your question is an excellent one because it isn't often asked yet stress and burnout are problems in most of the "helping" professions. I have been a psychiatrist for almost 40 years and what I have enjoyed the most about it hasn't been the "medical" responsibilties that we often are expected and required to fulfill, but rather, the "therapist" part of the job. I found that part much more interesting and could see the effect it had on my patients (many of whom were teenagers) more clearly than medicating their symptoms since, in therapy, they were partners in the process, while medication treatment makes patients passive recipients of medication.
But, to your question, while being a therapist can be stressful, it is also very meaningful work. Like all careers, taking care of yourself and setting limits on how much your "work" incringes on your "personal life" is very important. Your letter indicates to me that you are quite "self aware", which is a good thing! So, making sure you take care of yourself and your own needs outside of your work is just as important as a therapist as it is in any other career. However, because our clients (or patients) come to us when they usually aren't at their best and are often hurting, there is the worry that taking care of them and their needs will stress and burn you out, and I think this is what you are getting at. This is where it is important to find good training and, once you complete your training, you seek out good ongoing supervision from a more experienced therapist, so that you can make sure to keep yourself balanced and from getting too drawn into your clients' problems. We all learn to keep these boundaries and take care of ourselves in this work through good training and supervision and discipline, and I am sure you will be able to as well.
Our world needs good therapists. Especially ones willing to work with kids, teens, and their families. And they need therapists who are sensitive and compassionate, yet skilled. Your letter suggests to me you have what it takes! Good luck!!
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question. This was very informative and helpful. I already know what age group I'd want to work with and approximately what part of the field. I want to work with teens and young adults who have trauma as I wished that there were more when I started my own journey to make myself better, I also wished that the ones that were available were able to accept my insurance. Thank you yet again.
Rowan
Kennedy Kosmalski
Consulting
21
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Kennedy’s Answer
The level of stress you experience can greatly depend on the type of therapy you practice. Some environments are indeed more demanding and stressful than others. For instance, a conventional talk therapist working in an office is likely to experience less stress compared to someone working in a behavioral hospital. I've had personal experience working in a behavioral hospital, and while it was immensely fulfilling, it was also quite challenging. The key consideration should be identifying the group of people you'd like to work with and the setting where you can perform at your best.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I'm pretty certain on wanting to work with teens and young adults as I can relate to folks around that age group because of things I've experienced.
Rowan