What Therapists Say About Their Own Therapy
Therapists benefit from therapy.
Therapy is often seen as a tool to help individuals navigate through challenging times in their lives, but it is not just for clients. Therapists themselves can greatly benefit from therapy as well. Megan Bayles Bartley and Bridgette Allen discuss their personal experiences with therapy and how it has positively impacted their lives.
Therapist Bridgette Allen shares her own journey with therapy, starting in adulthood. She explains that something unexpected happened in her life, leaving her feeling lost and confused. Her husband was proactive in seeking help for her, and she was able to connect with a therapist friend who helped her find the right therapist for her needs.
Bridgette’s first therapy session was with a therapist who was not specialized in her particular issue. Initially, she felt disappointed, thinking that she had scared away the therapist. However, the therapist recommended another therapist who had experience in the area Bridgette needed help with. Bridgette took a leap of faith and met with this therapist, who made her feel welcome and comfortable.
Through therapy, Bridgette was able to see things in her life differently than she had before. It was like discovering that the sky was not just blue, but different shades of blue. This shift in perspective gave her strength and a newfound sense of worth. Bridgette emphasizes that therapy helped her see the beauty of life and the joy of always learning and growing.
Bridgette’s positive experience with therapy led her to consider pursuing a career in the field. Initially, she wondered if her own therapy experience would make her unfit for the role of a therapist. However, she soon realized that her personal experience with therapy was actually an advantage. It allowed her to empathize with her clients and understand the transformative power of therapy.
Just like anyone else, therapists can face challenges and struggles in their lives that can benefit from professional help. By going through therapy themselves, therapists gain valuable insights and tools that can enhance their ability to help their clients.
Therapists benefit from therapy in several ways. First, it allows them to gain a deeper understanding of the therapeutic process from the client’s perspective. This firsthand experience helps therapists develop empathy and compassion, which are crucial qualities in their profession. Second, therapy helps therapists identify and address any personal issues or biases that may impact their work with clients. By working through their own challenges, therapists can become more self-aware and better equipped to assist others.
Learning from clients is essential.
Learning from clients is essential for therapists. It is through their interactions with clients that therapists gain valuable insights, develop empathy, address personal issues, and practice self-care. Therapy is not only a tool for helping clients, but also a means for therapists to grow both personally and professionally.
One of the main benefits of learning from clients is gaining personal insights. Through their work with clients, therapists are exposed to a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and emotions. This exposure allows therapists to gain a deeper understanding of human behavior and the complexities of the human mind. By witnessing the struggles and triumphs of their clients, therapists can reflect on their own lives and gain insights into their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This self-reflection can lead to personal growth and a greater understanding of oneself.
Embrace growth through challenging relationships.
Embracing growth through challenging relationships is a key aspect of personal development and self-improvement. This concept is explored when Megan and Bridgette te te discuss their experiences working with clients, particularly those who possess Type A personalities. The speakers initially express apprehension and intimidation when working with such clients, but eventually come to appreciate the growth and learning opportunities that arise from these challenging relationships.
They acknowledge that working with Type A clients allows them to expand their own understanding of themselves and their capabilities. They learn to navigate the intense energy and high expectations of these clients, ultimately finding that they can thrive in such environments. This growth is attributed to the safe space created by the therapist, where clients feel comfortable and open to receiving guidance and support.
They also highlight the vulnerability that comes with seeking help and acknowledging that one cannot do everything themselves. They emphasize the importance of seeking outside perspectives and new ways of thinking to overcome roadblocks and initiate personal growth. By engaging with therapists, clients are able to hear their own thoughts and experiences reflected back to them, often in a new and enlightening way. This external perspective can provide the necessary insight and motivation for clients to make positive changes in their lives.
The discussion also touches on the benefits of therapy for couples. The therapists acknowledge that couples often come to therapy with the expectation that their partner needs to change. However, they encourage couples to shift their focus to their own behaviors and perspectives, recognizing that even small changes in themselves can have a significant impact on the relationship. By taking responsibility for their own growth and development, couples can create a positive ripple effect that influences their partner’s behavior and the overall dynamics of the relationship.
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