Why therapists go to therapy
Recently, a meme on a social media group for counsellors and psychotherapists made me laugh. It was a client talking to a therapist and it read: The client: “you must have it all together!”. The therapist was a picture of a woman laughing hysterically. No, therapists, just like anyone else, don’t really have it all figured out. It may come as a bit of a surprise or even disappointment to some clients that their therapist may, in fact, also be going to therapy. You might be asking why on earth your counsellor or psychotherapist needs therapy of their own. Maybe this news shocked you and you’re wondering whether you’re safe working with a therapist who needs therapy.
Here are some of the reasons why a therapist having their own therapy tends to be a good sign, rather than a red flag.
We are human
Counsellors and psychotherapists are human beings faced with all of the same kinds of challenges and obstacles life presents their clients with. We’re not immune to the life stressors other people experience and just like for our clients, there are times when things build up and we need a little extra support. Like anyone else, we may also at times feel stuck and need to work through what’s holding us back from growth and moving forward. Therapy is a great place to increase our awareness of the roadblocks on our journey through life.
Managing personal challenges
No matter how much study we’ve done and how far our knowledge goes, it doesn’t prevent us from experiencing life’s challenges that can be too much to handle on our own. Whether it’s healing from trauma, overcoming relationship difficulties, going through big life transitions or begrieving a loss. No amount of theoretical understanding of these issues guarantees that they won’t sweep us off our feet and take the ground with them.
Preventing stress and burnout
If you have been seeing a therapist, the importance of self-care probably isn’t new to you. Counsellors and psychotherapists need a lot of self-care in order to be able to do their job well. Holding space for people’s emotions and traumatic stories, creating a safe and supportive environment and staying present with each client requires a lot of energy. The responsibility of our duty of care and other mandatory requirements that come with the profession can add extra stress. If we don’t look after ourselves well, the risk of burnout is very real for counsellors and psychotherapists. By seeking help when needed, we are walking the talk.
Professional growth and development
Many training institutions require their students to attend therapy while they’re completing their qualification. Unfortunately this isn’t the case for all of them and some therapists start seeing clients without the experience of ever sitting in the clients chair. I believe that this is a serious gap in their learning. Therapy is hard work and having the experience of what it’s like to be the client, helps us appreciate how confronting and challenging it can be at times. We are also able to experience the power of therapy first hand.
Ethics
It is our ethical responsibility as therapists to ensure we are able to provide the best service possible for our clients. That doesn’t mean we’re supposed to be perfect, but if we are aware of anything that can get in the way of us working effectively, it is our duty to take the necessary steps to resolve the situation. Addressing our own problems and concerns in therapy helps us prevent these from affecting the quality of care we offer. Therapy can also highlight any blind spots and bring awareness to triggers that will inevitably present themselves while working with clients. In short, it is our job to do our own work in order to make sure our own issues don’t leak into our work with clients.
Thriving, not surviving
Therapy isn’t just a place of support when we’re going through a tough time. It’s somewhere we can get to know our true self better. Therapy helps to enrich our personal and professional life by gaining insight and deepening our awareness of what makes life meaningful for us. It enhances our creativity and helps us live and work more authentically. Therapy is not only a place of healing, it can be an exciting journey of self-discovery and personal growth.
To sum it up, there are many good reasons why counsellors and psychotherapists have their own therapy. Not only are they human beings who are most likely dealing with similar problems and challenges as you, but it is actually their ethical and professional responsibility to seek support when they need it. Personal experience in the client’s chair helps therapists have a deeper understanding of therapeutic interventions and methods, as well as more empathy and compassion for their clients.
Therapy is a great place to grow personally and for therapists this also serves us professionally. If anything, I suggest you want a therapist who has done or is doing their own therapy.
