Psychology: A Self Monitoring Profession
Welcome back to our lovely forum. 
As a mental health professional it has been brought to my attention that many of us in the field were drawn there by personal experience, pain, assigned function, and/or positions of emotional support/loss. It has been my experience that many of us have our own neuroses while attempting to heal others from a place of personal passion and advocacy. So, when is there an urgency for a therapist to seek therapy themselves? When there exists symptomatic interference in their daily lives? Burn-out? Transference? Grief & Loss? The answer to all of these is- yes.
While reading "Therapy for Therapists" in Psychology Today I found a great emphasis on the importance of perspective. It stated twice over the importance of providing quality psychological care having sat on the couch yourself, although, it doesn't always promise a more empathetic and successful approach.
"Several commenters on the NY Times blog believe the therapist's own therapy encourages humility, and may decrease errors based on hubris and unexamined countertransference:
We are to be one of the self monitoring professions, responsible in a unique way as the stewards of our treatment with our clients.... Having our own issues worked with ... goes a long way toward ensuring a unique quality of care.
I would be very wary of a therapist who had never sought therapy for him or herself. To me it would smack of an "I don't need it - it's for messed up folks like you" attitude.
I am also frequently shocked by the stories my patients will tell me about being in therapy with someone who clearly hasn't worked on their issues. It can be very damaging to a patient..."
This insight provided clarity as I was struggling with a great deal of shame myself. As a therapist who practices Applied Behavioral Analysis who recently entered psychotherapy for a mood disorder, I felt unworthy to be a facilitator of care while receiving treatment myself. However, this article not only demonstrates the general perspective toward wholeness and alleviates that (sometimes self-induced) stigma, but emphasizes the importance of self-inventory from the academic platform of research and rigor toward mental processes, behavior, and the human experience.
For those of you in the field of mental health:
What benefits did you receive from personal therapy? Any drawbacks?
Did you feel you were running the risk of your career?
What was the general response from peers, co-workers, and loved ones?
Visit the Source: Therapy for Therapists by Steven Reidbord M.D. Sacramento Street Psychiatry
Thank you for bringing this topic up for discussion @blitheSun. I agree that many are drawn to working in the mental health professions as an outcome of their own experiences and the desire to help others. So often we are not fully recovered or healed ourselves.Our self awareness or the oversight from clinical supervision can alert us to the need to do our own work.And I think this is so important and risky to neglect. Now retired, I can look back and see that continuing to work day after day and ignoring the signs of old issues bubbling up and stress, ultimately led to "burn out", illness and the end of my counseling career. Had I paused earlier and attended to this in therapy I think the outcome could have been different. My hope would be that therapy for the therapist is viewed as an essential.
@rozie
What beautiful insight. Thank you for saying so. ♡
@rozie thanks for bringing this to light. I hope it would act as a guide/warning for others who could shape their lives differently, not having overlooked this major concern <3
This is a great thread! It's important to remember that therapists are human and certainly capable of human error. Perspective and phenomenological frameworks of experience are necessary topics of consideration.
@Katie77
Thank you. :-)
@Katie77 I agree with Katie! What a great thread!
I think it's important to note also that the field of psychology does not stand alone in warranting wellness for its facilitators. There are many others, policeman for example, who undergo mandatory examination to ensure care of self due to the nature of the work.
Can we think of any others?
@blitheSun94
People who work in church. I'm not like you all. The only thing I remember from a phychology class was a man not letting his dog eat. But in a church so many people ask for help. It's good they do. But I just don't know how to help them or what to do or say a lot. I love Jesus and want to help them though. We had a little girl ask for prayer because her daddy drinks to much, last week a funeral for a man who killed himself (this happens to much), and other people with very hard struggles. I guess I'm only replying here to your post because I sorta stumbled on it. I started seeing a counselor myself for the first time about a year ago. He is a nice man. I think talking to him has helped me be able to listen to people at my church better. I still don't have any training in counseling or anything and just see so many people asking for help. I think counseling costs a lot of money. It's sad because some people who need help the most can't get it because of insurance I think. So a church becomes a solution. Which is good. I'm glad. But at the same time burn out is a big problem because we have to be a counselor without really knowing how to be.
Yes agree with you @KLM3278.. there is a lot of need and hurt in people's lives and often it is in the Church that they look for support and healing. And of course the church would hope to provide pastoral care for these people. But then as you say this can lead to burn out in the carers who are not trained counselors, but are put in this role. So self care would seem to be a top priority and some support and monitoring from those who have a senior responsibilty. I'm glad you are talking about this... awareness is the beginning of change.
@rozie
There is 1 counselor actually on church staff. But her job isn't on-going counseling. She usually refers out to other counselors after 3 visits. The big problem I think is that the church is very large, 3 sites. Over 2,500 people attend. Imagine having this many clients. So I think people just assume any of the staff are counselors. We aren't. We do share the same confindentally rule though. It's an interesting thing. I'm so glad the church is there for people not only for their spiritual lives but to help in all matters. However, I think things are real different than years ago. I almost think churches should partner with counseling centers, or hire more counselors...honestly though just the word "counselor" or "therapist" seems to freak people out and run. It might feel safer for people to share what they normally would with a trained counseling professional, with a staff church person, because there's no false shame feelings attacted to that. Hmm? Maybe church workers should all get to attend some phychology classes or something. You're right though. I think what you said should totally be done but it isn't. I'm glad I see a counselor now for self care like you said. There's nothing wrong with it. I wish more People would realize that.
@KLM3278
You bring up a great point about free resources in the community. My favorite is the Depression-Bipolar Support Alliance movement here in the US. They provide free group therapy for two hours at all times and days of the week. I attend one Thursday nights although I haven't visited in months. I benefit more from this therapeutic model than the traditional one on one session, likely due to the fact that I study psychology and will need to find someone more educated and wise than me.
@blitheSun94
I think this is a great thread! Bringing to light the fact that mental health professionals can struggle with their own personal battles is very important to remember. And getting help for our own needs helps us help others better. Thanks for bringing this to light!
@OpenEyesOpenHeart
I couldn't agree more. It sends the message that we are all human and perhaps even it is our own struggles that drive us to help others.
@blitheSun94
I agree 100%. Our experiences help us be better at our jobs :)
I feel that having CBT therapy was very positive. Aside of it helping with my own issues it gave me first-hand experience of being in the room with therapist, homework etc I think that I can now empathise better and can relate to my patients difficulties on a different plane.
@Belis
I am so glad to hear therapy has been useful to you. Finding the right Therapist is kind of like shopping. Sometimes it takes a while to find one that works best for you. Keep up the hard work. You're worth it!
@blitheSun94 Psychology is a very interesting subject. Thank you for the wonderful insight into this. It is a very subjective field and its hard to understand it sometimes but studies help us understand ourselves better 
@TheHumanTorch
Agreed! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read my post. I know they can get lengthy! :) You've given me an idea for a new topic.
There is certainly a large indication of give and take in the psychological community.
BUMP
@blitheSun94 I'm in psychotherapy at the moment and would really like to hear about other's experiences and thoughts on their therapists responses
@nazakaru
Feel free to message me.
