Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Why Therapists Need Therapy to Offer Sound Counselling
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.
Therapists may benefit from therapy, supervision and trusted relationships to manage their emotional responsibilities.
Therapy can help therapists recognize when to lower their guard rather than trying to hold everything together.
It can improve their ability to maintain boundaries with clients and in their personal lives.
Goveas says therapy changed her view that being a good therapist required constant availability and emotional openness.
She now sees boundaries as responsible care, helping her respond more thoughtfully and defensively less often when challenged.
- Who
- Therapists, including Goveas, are the people discussed.
- What
- The article explains why therapists may need therapy, supervision and trusted relationships to support sound counselling.
- Why
- To help therapists manage their reactions, make thoughtful decisions and maintain responsible boundaries with clients and in their lives.
- 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