Why Counselors Need to Take Care of Their Own Mental Health

It’s easy to assume that mental health professionals like psychologists, therapists, and counselors, are entirely in control of their mental health. After all, they make a living by helping other people manage theirs, so they probably don’t need help on their own. 

In reality, counselors need to make their own health a priority. If you’re in the mental health profession and haven’t prioritized yourself, the following information may highlight the importance of starting now. 

Almost everyone who has ever studied a master of counselling online or any form of mental health training has likely found themselves overloaded with work. You might have felt snowed under with study, or you had too many patients when you eventually started a career helping people. 

These feelings of overwhelm can be hard to manage, and there’s a risk of burning out when you don’t. Taking care of your mental health with self-care and trips to your own counselor may prevent burnout from being an issue for you. 

Counselors and most mental health professionals hear terrible stories from their clients. Trauma, abuse, addiction, and general problems can be hard enough for the person experiencing them, but also for mental health professionals who help them process their experiences. 

While clients can experience relief by talking with a counselor, the counselor generally can’t discuss their feelings with friends and family due to privacy regulations. This can take a toll, which is why it’s highly recommended for counselors to see therapists or counselors themselves. They can learn how to process the thoughts, feelings, and stresses of their clients in a safe space. 

We’re often told that we can’t hope to understand someone’s situation until we’ve walked in their shoes. Counselors may find that they can take better care of their mental health and help their clients even more by seeing someone for mental health treatment themselves. 

Counselors can then understand how clients feel sitting in the client’s chair, rather than always being in the counselor’s chair. They can truly understand how nerve-wracking and stressful it can be and feel more empathy for those they treat. 

Not everyone who enters therapy or seeks professional help tells people. There can be a stigma around mental health, and some people might feel ashamed that they aren’t coping as well as they think they should. 

If you’re a mental health professional who sees a counselor or therapist for help, you’re showing your clients that needing someone is okay. Everyone at some point in their life needs to reach out for help and support.  

To Get Help for Their Problems

In a survey involving 800 psychologists, it was discovered that 84% of them had been in therapy. Needing help for issues is not unique to just those who don’t make a living from helping people. 

Aside from using therapy to learn empathy, show their clients it’s normal, and prevent burnout, it can also help them tackle issues plaguing them in their personal lives. 

Almost everyone goes through challenging times, regardless of what you do for a living. However, if you believe that being in the mental health profession excludes you from needing to look after your mental health, then you might be wrong. These reasons above are just a few of the many highlighting the importance of reaching out for help.