Why Therapists Need Therapy
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By Lindsay Chapman, LCSW
Updated March 18, 2024
Calling all psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, and social workers. Serving our clientele is overwhelming - let’s get real. No one is questioning our intentions. We love people. We got into this profession for a reason. We illuminate others, yet neglect ourselves. Why? Aren’t we just as deserving of seeking our counterparts? Freud agrees: “Every analyst ought periodically ... to enter analysis.”
Sometimes I’ve noticed therapists function under superhuman syndrome. We are unstoppable. While we are exactly that, we sometimes need to lean on each other, and address our kryptonite. During the pandemic, the joke was often “we could keep each other in business.” This doesn’t have to be humorous…it can be reality. Although we know all the tricks and cognitive/behavioral interventions, we cannot have an unbiased opinion of our cognitive distortions. We live in our heads and it’s time we admit it, and work on it.
Why might a therapist need a therapist?
Caseload demands and related stress
Ethical concerns
Personal struggles (physical, emotional, trauma, interpersonal, etc.)
Boundaries in work versus self-care
Carrying our client’s load
Isolation from our peers (especially during the pandemic and the movement into telehealth)
In the 1980’s, with only 59% of psychologists reporting (minus LPC’s and LCSW’s and supervisees with provisional licenses), over 89% of us participated in therapy. (Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, vol. 25, # 3, pages 247-258.) So, we can assume this is totally normal! Can you imagine what the percent is now in our social climate 30+ years, recessions, and a pandemic later?
How many times have we normalized therapy for our clients? “It’s so brave you’re here.” “An objective opinion is helpful.” “I look forward to being a part of your wellness journey.”
Let’s close our laptops, set our feet to the pavement at the end of the day, relax, AND lean on one another in a professional setting. We deserve just as much care as we promote for our clients. Only then, can our kryptonite become our greatest resource. In the name of “truth, justice, and a better tomorrow” (Superman, himself), charge on professionals!
