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Why Therapists Need Therapy to Offer Sound Counselling

Why Therapists Need Therapy to Offer Sound Counselling
Why therapists need therapy for sound counselling · livemint.com

Therapists help other people with difficult feelings and problems.

They can also need help with their own feelings.

Therapy gives them a safe place to lower their guard.

Supervision and trusted relationships can help too.

These supports can teach therapists how to set healthy boundaries.

Boundaries mean caring without being available every moment.

Goveas says therapy helped her stop thinking that a good therapist must always be emotionally open.

She now says it helps her make better decisions and handle challenges with less defensiveness.

Key facts

Main support
Therapy, supervision and a few trusted relationships
Key benefit
Improved awareness of personal reactions
Boundaries
Therapy can help therapists maintain boundaries with clients and across their lives
Goveas's earlier view
She equated being a good therapist with being endlessly available and emotionally porous
Goveas's changed view
She now sees boundaries as an act of responsibility rather than a lack of care
Reported effects
More thoughtful decision-making and less defensiveness when challenged during sessions

Quotes

Goveas

Therapist discussing how therapy changed her understanding of professional boundaries

“Earlier, I equated being a ‘good therapist’ with being endlessly available and emotionally porous”
livemint.com

Sources

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