Do Therapists Need Therapists? Supporting Mental Health Providers
Therapists help people from all walks of life to navigate their problems, worries, and past trauma. But do therapists ever change roles from practitioner to patient? Do therapists need therapists?
Many people are hesitant to engage in therapy because they don’t want to appear weak or incapable of handling life independently. While no one knows the value of therapy better than a therapist, they may not always consider being a patient as well as a provider.
Therapy can be a beneficial tool for anyone who experiences stress. (Hint: If you’re breathing, you have stress.) Here at Doug Fir Billing, we aim to help take the stress out of medical billing for therapists and other practitioners. Reach out today to learn more about streamlining your insurance billing process.
Who Benefits from Therapy?
Mental health therapy can be appropriate for anyone, including therapists and counselors. Even under the best of circumstances, life has stressors and troubles that can make it difficult to cope at times. And for two years now, we haven’t exactly fallen under the category of “the best of times.”
Whether you are in the counseling field or not, having support from a professional is often the best course of action.
Here are some signs you may benefit from therapy:
You’re not feeling like yourself. Activities that you used to enjoy no longer make you happy.
You’ve been isolating yourself from loved ones. Everyone needs time to themselves, but if you’re avoiding people you usually enjoy spending time with, something may be wrong.
You’re burned out. If you have lost passion for your work or can’t push through difficult tasks, you may be experiencing burnout. If your body is present but your mind isn’t engaged, talk therapy may help you get back to where you want to be. This journey may mean working through your obstacles to become more efficient or having help determining a different path.
Your sleep is off-kilter. If you have a hard time falling asleep or wake up in the middle of the night, anxiety may be the culprit. If you can’t seem to muster the energy to get out of bed no matter how much you’ve slept, you could be struggling with depression.
You’ve been choosing unhealthy or dangerous coping mechanisms. A survey of adults quarantined in 2020 found that sixty percent of respondents had increased the amount of liquor they drank. If you are reaching for drugs or alcohol for relief, it may be time to talk to a professional.
Even if you feel like your stress level is tolerable, therapy can be a helpful tool. Using counseling as maintenance, especially if you live or work in inherently stressful conditions, can help you stay healthy and productive.
Why Would Therapists Need Therapists?
Therapists are trained to help people with their stressors and triggers, but that doesn’t mean they don’t experience some of those same things. And when you spend your days being present for other people’s pain and difficulties, you may end up using all your energy and coping mechanisms in that role.
In addition to the usual amount of effort and energy it requires to provide treatment to others, the pandemic added new stressors for therapists:
Having to switch to telehealth appointments
Significant billing confusion as the rules continually changed regarding virtual care
Guilt over not being able to accommodate everyone
Handling anxiety about COVID for their own children and partners
Some mental health professionals benefit from self-directed therapy, but most find that engaging in treatment with a professional is generally more effective. Since therapists have challenges and experiences unique to their field, it can be difficult to find the right level of support outside of therapy. After all, who better to understand what you’re going through than a fellow practitioner?
Unique Needs for Therapists
Since therapists and counselors are human, they experience all the same human emotions, challenges, joys, and concerns non-therapists do. However, they also face stressors that may be specific to their profession, including:
Ethical Dilemmas
Feelings of Isolation - The legal and ethical mandate to keep a patient’s information private can make it difficult to process.
Compassion Fatigue
Work-Life Boundaries and Separation
All of these situations highlight why therapists may also need therapists. They deserve a safe space to process and navigate the work they do in addition to their own life’s challenges. Talking with a mental health professional gives you a chance to unpack the details from your work that may be impacting your own well-being.
Taking advantage of this support allows counselors and therapists to feel better prepared to handle their caseload effectively. A therapist who cares for their mental health will provide better service to their patients.
Therapy for Therapists Is Not a Sign of Weakness
A massage therapist can’t effectively work out their own knotted muscles. And the physical nature of their job makes it clear why they would need massages, too. Naturally, they care for their health by seeing a fellow LMT as needed.
Mental health professionals also perform arduous work that can leave them needing help with the mental and emotional kinks and knots. Counselors are healthier when they have an effective method to manage the emotional burden the profession can create.
The patient-therapist gains perspective by talking with a neutral fellow professional who understands the mental load a counselor carries. Committing to this mental health support helps you regain and maintain the emotional balance and wellness needed to help your patients.
Like the rest of us, therapists are not immune from having problems in their personal lives. The professional therapist is likely also a partner, parent, and friend. Counseling can help therapists provide the best patient care, but it can also help them stay on track outside of the office.
Medical doctors still see other doctors and specialists. Therapists and counselors have every right to seek mental health support without feeling weak or incapable of doing their jobs. In fact, many schools encourage students who are pursuing a career in therapy to establish a relationship with a professional before they even graduate.
And some counselors are adamant that patients should ask a potential therapist if they themselves have a therapist. Many mental health providers feel this is non-negotiable for their wellness and their effectiveness in helping patients.
Your mental health is just as essential as it is for those you serve. Connecting with a suitable therapist, even just occasionally, can be crucial for your well-being.
Doug Fir Billing is Here to Help
Mental health professionals perform important work for their patients that is stressful enough without needing to handle the details of your medical billing, too.
To alleviate this particular stressor, reach out to Doug Fir Billing today. Our professional billing services can free you up to focus on your practice, not your paperwork. Contact us today to get the ball rolling.
