A Therapist’s First Year on the Job, Part II: What Do I Need to Know?
BRIDGETTE W. GOTTWALD LPC, NCC
You’re a new therapist and you’re heading into the work world enthusiastically and you’re wondering if it might help to know some things first. If you read my previous blog, you will notice that this is a continuation of part one. Here’s part two!
Don’t Take on Too Much
This has been a difficult one for me personally, especially within my first year on the job. Coming out of graduate school, it’s only natural to be eager and willing to utilize all of the skills you have learned. You are likely ready to take advantage of the knowledge this new degree has provided you with and hit the ground running. But, we must remember that it’s ok to not do it all. Boundaries become more important than ever, as well as knowing when to say no. Be aware of burnout and make a point to check in with yourself every week. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and the well-being of our patients is of utmost importance.
Gain as Much Experience as You Can
This one and the one above (don’t take on too much) can seem a bit contradictory. For me, finding the middle ground between the two has been critical. The place of balance rests between doing it all (never saying no) and only doing the bare minimum (not taking advantage of opportunities that are thrown your way).
Practice What You Preach
So, you are encouraging your clients to engage in self-care, practice healthy coping mechanisms, avoid making assumptions, communicate effectively and get their rest…but are you doing these things? Modeling within the therapeutic office is important. If you want your client to practice more self-compassion in session, maybe you can show them what this looks like.
Your Job is to Help People Manage Their Struggles at Their Own Pace
It is not your job to “fix” people, or solve their challenges and difficulties. Match the client’s pace, speed and meet them where they are. Although you may be an expert within the field, they are the only one that is an expert on themselves, and no one knows them better than they do!
Sometimes It’s Depressing
Just like any other job, you will have some bad days. You will get frustrated and might ask yourself why am I doing this? In my experience, the good days override the bad and remind me why this job is worth it. Nothing is more inspiring that seeing someone you have been working with for a while make lasting positive changes within their life.
You Are, and Always Will Be a Novice
This is one of the many valuable lessons I have learned from my supervisor, Steven Topper, LCSW. Every session will be different than the one before, and if we behave as a novice therapist, it always leaves room for more growth. If you expect yourself to not make mistakes, are you expecting your client to not makes mistakes, too? Check yourself!
Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself
There are no “mistakes” in therapy, unless you are doing something ethically wrong. What’s important is how we recover, bounce back or handle oversights or errors we make. Us therapists are humans too, and it’s important to model vulnerability in session. We can’t expect our clients to be perfect, so we shouldn’t expect that of ourselves either.
Never forget that this job is a privilege. People will walk into your office, know you for two minutes and trust you with their deepest and darkest secrets. And yes, sometimes it’s darker than you could ever imagine. I have always viewed graduate school as a large investment within myself. Now that you have devoted time, money, effort, and emotional energy into becoming a therapist, it’s time to invest in others and build value within your community.
Reference:
Careers in Psychology. (n.d). 12 things I wish I knew before I became a therapist. Retrieved from: https://careersinpsychology.org/12-things-wish-knew-before-became