Therapists in Therapy?

[Dez]

Not sure if this is the right category, feel free to move it if it isn't.

I was watching The Nanny yesterday (more like this morning) and Grace's therapist couldn't be reached because she was seeing her therapist.

Now, my question is, how many therapists do you think are actually in therapy themselves?

As a little bonus question, would you still go to a therapist if you knew/found out that they were in therapy themselves?

[LeapOfFayth]

As therapy seems like it would be a very stressful profession and they themselves should recognize how therapy might help them I would hope and expect my therapist to have been in therapy.
Practice what you preach right?

[Angel]

As far as I'm aware, this is not uncommon at all. They can be in therapy for a number of reasons but I don't think it necessarily reflects on their job performance or ability.

[Thirteen]

I've heard that when you go to school to be a therapist/psychologist/psychiatrist, you're supposed to see one (I forget how many times) as part of the expectations for the course.

I don't imagine it being uncommon at all, even after the schooling is done.

[Dez]

You guys have some pretty good answers.


Is it bad when I got excited that two of you have the usernames 'Thirteen' and 'James Wilson'?

[semiunbalanced]

Haha and I just finished watching an episode of House. Anyway...

It definitely is part of the schooling process and is also recommended by most professionals because it is a high-level stress job. If you are a psychologist, therapist whatever, and you are not seeing another professional it seems to add on stress and they are not necessarily able to perform as well. Now this depends on the type of therapist they are. Sometimes a child psychologist or a school counselor will not find themselves in need but if they are a depression, anxiety, divorce or any other type of psychologist these things may be triggering and they may need extra assistance. It is a good idea to practice good health and prepare to see a professional when choosing this career.

[PlayingPretend]

Honestly, I think I'd rather my therapist be in therapy than not, simply because I feel getting therapy and putting effort into it involves the want to a) have a support system in place and b) better learn how to manage and handle situations that they might face, some on a regular basis. I imagine that it can occasionally be a stressful occupation, and I honestly don't feel anyone can take consistently listening to someone's problems, sometimes for hours on end, without having a support system of their own, or someone to listen to them in turn. I know I fully intend to continue seeing a therapist as necessary once I've become a psychologist. I think it's an admirable decision, not one to be ashamed of, so no, it wouldn't stop me from seeing my therapist, not at all.

[PSY]

Well, let's use TeenHelp as an example. I'm a staff member, and have been for almost two years. I offer advice every day. Since people seem to like my advice, you may assume I'm A-OK all the time... but that's simply not true. I've dealt with stressful situations over the past year, and there are times when I've needed to talk to someone else. Just because I give good advice (I hope) doesn't mean I'll always follow said advice! =P And writing my thoughts down in a journal won't always cut it... sometimes, I need to talk to another person. I need someone to listen to me, just like I listen to you guys.

Therapists, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc. are all human beings as well. They may have gone to school for several years and received training in various therapeutic techniques, but that doesn't mean they're suddenly immune to all of life's problems. What if work gets to them, and they need someone to talk to at the end of the week/month? What if they're in the process of getting a divorce, or a family member dies? By seeking out professional help, those professionals are being... well, professional! They are handling their emotions in a responsible manner, which will enable them to continue serving their clients to the best of their abilities. By failing to seek help, they may begin to project their problems onto their clients, which would be MUCH more worrisome.

[Kate*]

As others have said if you're going to school to become licensed in any of the mental health professions you have to see a therapist to work through your own issues and reduce your natural biases that everyone has as a part of being human. It wouldn't bother me at all since I know why they're doing it and I'd like to think that a person that I was going to vent on for an hour would have somewhere to go with it. I always worry about burdening people with stuff. I've also said that if I'm going to continue with my plan to work as a counselor I'm going to need an outlet or I will get burned out. It also lets the future professional understand therapy from the client's perspective.

[number32]

It would be kinda creepy...


But i'd still see her.

[Dream]

It has probably already been said, but therapists are generally required to go through therapy themselves as part of their training. That doesn't mean they stay in therapy (unless they need to), but they should all have done it at some point.

[Verità]

I think it's perfectly normal. I actually want to be a therapist, and I go to therapy myself, so I'd be a hypocrite if I said it was weird. So, if my therapist had a therapist, I'd keep seeing her, no harm done. Sometimes our own problems are the hardest to deal with.

[bitesize]

Um, well in Ireland anyway, it's compulsary, as far as I know for therapists to go to therapy themselves. My friend's mum is one. I totally agree with this idea. If you were hearing everyone's depressing shit for hours on end each day, of course it would start to become a psychological burden. It's just healthy to be able to let go of it.