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It is common for therapists to suffer from mental health concerns.

Unaddressed mental health concerns may impact the ability of therapists to serve clients

There are multiple steps therapists can take to care for themselves and promote wellness in their field.

By Desiree Frain, Psy.D.

Many of us who pursue a mental healthcare profession do so because of personal experiences. For example, we may have witnessed a beloved family member or friend experience emotional or psychological pain, and we feel pulled to help.

For some, we’ve opted to become psychotherapists because we ourselves have experienced mental health concerns. We’ve seen firsthand the positive impact that a therapist can have on someone’s life, and we feel called to carry the torch and become a part of the next generation of mental health workers as a social worker, counselor, or psychologist.

My own story is no different; I am a clinical psychologist, raised in a family in which many mental health concerns were represented. I myself have lived experience of chronic mental health concerns, which have truly taught me to empathize with clients and prioritize my own mental health alongside my client’s.

A psychotherapist’s personal history of mental health problems doesn’t magically disappear when we earn our license. Classroom lectures on a vast number of therapeutic modalities, interventions, and treatment models don’t translate to immunity to mental health concerns.

In fact, some evidence suggests that being a psychotherapist can exacerbate or indirectly cause mental health concerns (Sherman, 1996). The........

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