Why even helpers need help—and how Open Door Counseling Center can guide you
Therapists are trained to help their clients navigate emotional storms, but when the tide turns, who is there to support them? We assume that because therapists have schooling, training, and experience in helping others, that they always have it together. But therapists are human, too, and they face their own vulnerabilities on a daily basis.
Therapists carry a unique emotional load. From burnout to compassion fatigue, the pressure to remain empathic and effective day after day can be exhausting – and it certainly takes its toll over time. Just like any other type of caregiver, counselors need a safe yet professional space where they can seek refuge for reflection. They need a judgement-free space where they can feel heard, while realigning both their personal and professional values.
Enter: therapy for therapists. At Open Door Counseling, Carol Agnew, LMFT, brings nearly 30 years of clinical and supervisory experience in marriage and family therapy. She understands the unique challenges other therapists face, and helps them develop healthy boundaries and self-care practices.
Carol emphasizes the value of doing your own inner work as a therapist: “You can only take your clients as far as you have gone,” she says.
Why Do Therapists Need Therapy?
From burnout to personal triggers, there are many reasons why therapists need therapy themselves. It’s important for counselors and those who supervise them to recognize these needs and encourage reaching out for help. Let’s take a look at the top four reasons why therapists need therapy in Troy MI and beyond.
- Burnout & Compassion Fatigue: It can be exhausting to constantly absorb client distress day after day. Not only can this result in a sense of detachment, it can lead to chronic exhaustion and reduced empathy. Therapists may become less emotionally available, and they may even question their own clinical efficacy.
- Countertransference & Personal Triggers: It’s not uncommon for unresolved emotional wounds on the part of the therapist to be reopened when working with clients – especially clients with problems that can be triggering. A lack of supportive reflection can cause these internal struggles to skew judgment or blur professional boundaries.
- Professional Isolation & Role Pressure: Due to the lack of regular peer consultation or supervision, therapists may feel a sense of isolation where it can be difficult to validate their decisions – particularly after dealing with ethically or emotionally complex cases.
- Maintaining Boundaries & Self‑Care: Even though therapists emphasize the importance of healthy boundaries, stress management, and emotional regulation to their clients, they often have difficulty adopting these strategies themselves.
The Hidden Struggles of Therapists
Every therapist enters the profession for a reason. Many are drawn to helping others because of their own experiences—whether it’s personal growth, the desire to give back after their own therapy, or simply a deep empathy for others’ struggles. However, this often means the therapist’s emotional wounds and personal triggers become exposed through their clients’ stories.
- With no outlet to process these emotions, therapists can face burnout, emotional fatigue, and compassion fatigue.
- They may grapple with difficult emotions that may arise during sessions, whether it’s an issue with a client who stirs up old memories best forgotten, or the overwhelming exhaustion that comes with shouldering other people’s pain all day long.
- Many therapists fall into the trap of ignoring their own needs or trying to “tough it out.”
- However, taking time to strengthen mental health is a critical self-care act that allows them to be fully present for their clients.
So, knowing all this, why do therapists continue to hesitate seeking help themselves? The answer often lies in stigma or even guilt, as there is a myth that counselors have their emotional lives under control. It’s easy to ignore those internal struggles, but the effects can accumulate over time and lead to exhaustion and even a diminished ability to provide quality care.
The key to long-term sustainability in this profession is the ability to set boundaries and find ways to process their own history. Like clients, many therapists come from backgrounds where they themselves have faced depression, anxiety, or a history of abuse. This shared experience underscores the importance of recognizing personal triggers and developing healthy coping mechanisms.
Additionally, therapists who spend their days helping others with relationships often find that their own family dynamics or childhood issues rise to the surface in the process. Without a plan in place to effectively work through these personal triggers, therapists can become emotionally reactive during sessions or bring work home with them at the end of the day.
It’s not easy to separate emotions from work. This skill, which must be honed over time, is all about learning to not take things personally while still remaining deeply empathetic and present. This delicate balance takes work to achieve, but without it, the risks of burnout and emotional exhaustion are ever-present.
Therapists are human. They struggle with a past, they have pain, they face daily challenges. They also, like everyone else, have a need for compassion and support.
Carol Agnew, with nearly three decades of experience in marriage and family therapy, has walked this journey and knows better than most the importance of seeking support. It’s not just about being a professional; it’s about being a well-rounded, healthy person who can continue to help others.
In a career where emotions can feel like unpredictable storms, therapy for therapists isn’t just a luxury—it’s an anchor to remain steady amidst the turbulence.
Schedule Your Consultation With Open Door Counseling Center
If you’re a therapist in Troy MI and surrounding areas, and are seeking support to restore balance and strengthen your clinical life, give us a call at(586) 203‑2715 or text (586) 330‑9415 to request a consultation. To be your best as a therapist, self-care is essential—and reaching out for help is the first step.
