Therapy is a unique profession. We have the rare privilege of witnessing the deepest and darkest experiences of the human condition. In beautiful moments and challenging ones alike, we get to support those who fight for joy, relationship, and self-compassion.

 

Therapy is one of the most human jobs there is, and as such, it can be hard to leave our work at the office. 

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Even in the less overwhelming iterations of therapy, it's common as a therapist to experience:

• Secondary trauma

• Burnout

• Compassion fatigue/vicarious trauma

• Imposter syndrome

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These are natural experiences that are to be expected during certain seasons of your time as a therapist. And you still don't have to go through them alone.

 

Processing and making meaning of these experiences can revive your passion and enthusiasm for the important work you do.

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As a therapist, it's often said that you can only take your clients as far as you've gone in your own work. If you find yourself avoiding therapy as a therapist, you might want to consider why. And how that's preventing you from receiving the same wonderful support you provide to others.  

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Therapy for LMFTs with Burnout 

The road to becoming a therapist is long and challenging. Whether you're just getting started or have years under your belt, you may be experiencing burnout related to your early therapy experiences.

 

As new, unseasoned therapists, we're often put in the most extreme circumstances. We may not always feel prepared for the responsibilities placed upon us, and yet we want to do our best to show up for our clients.

 

These experiences can accumulate and create doubt about our skills, or our futures in such a challenging field. I know some of my early experiences as a therapist had me in the throes of vicarious trauma, imposter syndrome, frustration with unsupportive administration, and having my own experiences of trauma.

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Therapy asks us to be advocates for our clients, but we can't give them the energy they need if we're feeling the effects of burnout. We can't give ourselves the energy we need, either. Seeking out your own therapist as a therapist can feel strange, but no one gets it more than we do.

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Compassion Fatigue Therapy  

Being in a support role for so many people, especially as the world collectively experiences a series of health, political, and economic crises, can lead to compassion fatigue. That's one reason therapy for healthcare workers and therapists is so important.

 

You're not a bad therapist for experiencing compassion fatigue. In fact, you're doing a great job showing up for your clients. But maybe it's time to show up for yourself with the same -- or even more -- attention. 

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Compassion fatigue can make you feel like an imposter, as though you don't have the insights or resources to attune to your clients the way you know you're capable of.

 

If you're feeling like you're letting your clients down, it's time to prioritize yourself. That may sound counterintuitive, but continuing to white-knuckle through your therapy work without the right support won't bring you closer to the therapist you once knew yourself to be. 

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Therapy for LCSWs and Associates

Regardless of your license or tenure in the field, being a therapist is beautiful and hard. Whether LCSW, ACSW, LMFT, AMFT, psychologist or psychiatrist, you may be feeling the effects of compassion fatigue, imposter syndrome, burnout, and secondary trauma. 

 

There's no need to allow these occupational hazards to wreak havoc on your life. Getting the support you need for yourself will return you to a sacred relationship with the profession you chose and worked so hard to build.

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