Therapy for Therapists
Sometimes we have to sit in the other chair.
Therapists also need to talk to someone.
Therapy for therapists is part talking about your work and part about how your work makes you feel and part about how you feel about your work.
One of my favorite things to do is to work with other therapists. When I had my practice in Seattle, 50% of my practice was therapy for therapists and supervision. Not only do therapists also benefit from their own therapy just like everyone else, but it often enhances the work that we do with our own clients.
Knowing how to sit in both chairs fosters increased empathy and awareness of our own triggers and how they show up. Therapists are no different from other people working in the helping professions in that they often put their own self-care last after their clients and other relationships. Having our own safe place to leave our stuff in is important too.