Honestly Therapeutic

I’ve yet to meet a single therapist who hasn’t attended therapy at least once in their life. In fact, I’ve found that most of us first became curious about the field as a result of our own positive experiences with therapy. This was certainly the case with me- I met with a therapist for the first time when I was 19, and I remember thinking… ‘How do I get her job?’. I was drawn to her calm, healing presence and remember wanting to become the sort of person who could provide that for others.

You may be thinking to yourself, ‘ah, yes, that makes sense… a broken person becomes healed, and then evolves into a therapist’. While that may be how some therapists look back on their story, it certainly isn’t mine. In fact, I think this is the case for very few of us. Why, you ask?

We’re just people, and sometimes life is really, really hard. Some therapists have their own diagnosis they are managing, or perhaps they’re experiencing a major life transition. Therapists get married, have kids, experience divorce, lose loved ones…. the list goes on. Having a degree does not make you immune to these things. While it’s true that our education may give us more insights into our challenges, and while we may have a little more practice with certain coping skills, we need help too sometimes. So… yes. Most therapists will have their own therapist, at least from time to time.

If you find this surprising, or perhaps even concerning, I’d like to share with you a thought that you may find comforting. Next time you’re preparing to be brutally honest with your therapist about how hard life has been, or how difficult it is to find time for self care, please know that we understand. We may not understand your exact experience, but we know what it’s like to be struggling.

Going to therapy isn’t easy, and we know that. So… yes. Good therapists go to therapy so that they can truly and authentically show up for you when it’s your turn to talk.