Why Do Therapists Need Therapy?

Therapy can be beneficial for most everyone.. This includes therapists. Yes, even therapists need therapy. Let's learn more about why therapists benefit from therapy themselves.

Confront Any Personal Problems

As a therapist, you want to provide your clients with the best possible service possible. You don't want your personal problems to start impacting your clients' sessions. Going to therapy can help with that. Attending your own therapy sessions can help you process and cope with anything that you're going through personally, so things don't trickle into your sessions with clients.

Get Support from a Colleague

Seeking support from family, friends, and co-workers is a great way to cope. It allows you to express your thoughts and feelings instead of holding them in only for yourself. At some point, you won't have any room left inside to store how you're thinking and feeling, and you'll need to let it out. Friends and family members can usually provide a listening ear, a hug, or limited advice.

When you go to therapy as a therapist, you're essentially meeting and getting support from one of your colleagues. They are fully aware of some of the stressors and triggers, so they'll be able to relate to what you're going through. There are usually thoughts and feelings that you may not feel comfortable sharing with family and friends. You can share these with your therapist.

Prevent Burnout

Burnout can occur easily for therapists. Since you're giving most of yourself to your clients, it can cause you to experience burnout and unhappiness. If this feeling of burnout continues, it can turn into bad service for clients. Therapy can be a form of self-care for therapists. Since a majority of their attention throughout their day is dedicated to their clients, it only gives them a little time to focus on their own wants and needs. Make time for yourself again. You can only expect to be able to help your clients if you're taking the time and energy to help yourself. Put yourself first so you can show up as the best version of yourself for your clients.

Process Client Sessions

As a therapist, you sit in a room for most of your day, meeting with different clients. You give each and every client your full and undivided attention. You're dedicating 45 minutes to a full hour each session to each client. Therapy allows you to put yourself first again. It's also a great way to process your own triggers as well as some of your client sessions. Your clients could discuss some really negative and traumatizing events during their sessions. This can start to impact you if you don't allow yourself to process on your own.

Next Steps

Just because you're a therapist doesn't mean you can't go to therapy yourself. There are benefits from therapy for everyone, therapists included. In fact, therapists may even see benefits in their education, career, and client sessions by implementing mechanisms and techniques that are learned from going to therapy.

Attending therapy is a great way for anyone to process their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Therapy is a great way to help you cope with the daily stressors of life and some draining client sessions. Attending therapy as a therapist can also make you an even better therapist.

You want what's best for your clients, right? It's time you set the same expectations for yourself. If you're interested, reach out to me today to learn how individual therapy or group therapy for therapists can benefit you.