Therapy For Therapists: Seeking Support as a Supporter

By Karen Brown, LCMHC 

It’s easy to assume that, because I’m a counselor, I’ve got my life put together. After all, aren’t therapists and counselors supposed to have mastered self-reflection and emotional regulation? The truth is, even those of us trained to help others need support and healing of our own. In fact, going to therapy as a mental health professional may be one of the most important things you can do. For yourself, and for your clients.

My Hesitant Beginnings

I didn’t start my personal therapy journey until just last year. By then, I’d already been a practicing counselor in North Carolina for nearly six years. You might wonder why I waited so long, especially since I see the value and impact of therapy for my clients every day. 

The initial barrier for me was fear and uncertainty. As an undergraduate, I tried to go to the university’s counseling center, but once there, I panicked. I grabbed a pamphlet and left without talking to anyone. I wasn’t ready to face parts of myself I had carefully kept hidden. Later, during my master’s program for clinical counseling, I tried again. This time I made it through the door and into a session. I unloaded years of pent-up emotion on the counselor, and I cried the whole time. I couldn’t bring myself to go back again.

Looking back, I understand why therapy felt so intimidating, even for someone preparing to help others. It’s scary to confront our own vulnerabilities. But it’s also necessary.

Why Therapists Should Go to Therapy

Throughout my college education, professors encouraged us to go to therapy. The standard message was that “it helps you know what it’s like to be a client.” And yes, I think it’s important to experience the client’s chair firsthand because it gives us deeper empathy for the vulnerability, courage, and awkwardness of being the one opening up. However, I believe the value of therapy for mental health professionals reaches much deeper.

• Unconscious Bleed-Over:

  We all have our history, pain, and biases, and they can enter the therapy space with us if we aren’t careful. If we don’t take the time to address them, there’s a risk they’ll unconsciously color our work and derail our ability to be present for our clients.

• Countertransference:

  Unresolved issues can trigger strong emotions in response to our clients, AKA countertransference. Personal therapy helps us become more aware of our triggers and manage them skillfully.

• Coping and Self-Care:

  This profession is rewarding and at times can be emotionally demanding. Therapy gives us space to process our reactions, set boundaries, and develop sustainable self-care routines. It also gives us support as we tread into the deep waters of our careers.

• Modeling:

  If we expect clients to face their fears and grow, we must be willing to do the same. Our willingness to “sit with” our own discomfort sets a powerful example.

  
  

Start Early, Practice Often

I wish I’d begun my own therapy journey earlier. For therapists-in-training: don’t wait. The earlier you start, the more prepared you’ll be to handle the inevitable challenges of this work. Regular therapy is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of commitment to your clients, your profession, and most importantly, yourself.

As challenging and scary as it may be, if we aren’t willing to try to do the hard work and overcome our fears of facing ourselves, how can we expect our clients to do the same? Therapy for therapists is not optional self-maintenance. In many ways, it can be viewed as professional responsibility and self-preservation. Embrace your own growth. You’ll be a better therapist for those who depend on you, and by being vulnerable and seeking support, you can increase the likelihood of other therapists to do the same.

— Karen Brown, LCMHC

---

Do you have questions about mental health? Not sure if therapy is right for you? Connect with us today for a free 15-minute consultation with any of our counselors. Live motivated, thriving, and full of grace.