I'll help you navigate the path of becoming a therapist. Every Friday I'll provide insight into relevant topics like imposter syndrome, burnout, professional development and more!
🌲When the week is working against you🌲
It's good to be writing to you again.​ Typically, I write these newsletters a week in advance. But today I'm writing to you the morning of. It's been one of those weeks. My grandparents aren't doing so well, so we're trying to spend more time with them. I've fallen behind on paperwork while my caseload fills with new clients each day. And just a couple of nights ago our dog ran away, and we thought we might never see her again. I'm on autopilot through the week and feel like I'm doing fine. But when I stop and let my mind and heart catch up with my body, I realize I'm exhausted. Last weekend I drove to a nearby park to walk and watch the sunset. There's a clearing with a little pond and open, expansive views of the sky. There was a warm breeze. Pinks and purples were washing over the clouds. I sat there as long as I could. Breathing gently. Slowly watching. I think I need that again. This work we do isn't easy. And it doesn't just stop. Our lives outside of work don't stop either. Some weeks might work in our favor. Many though, will not. So, what then? I'm not sure, to be honest. But there was something in the gentleness and warmth of that evening that I'd like more of. It felt like a gift given to me right when I needed it. And for as much as we give to those around us, it's dawning on me how important it is for us to receive. To receive without earning and with no strings attached. To sit in that warm breeze for as long as I can, and simply receive. ​ |
Well, that's all for today. ​ Until next time, ​ - Ben ​ ​ Need to take the national exam? Use the most trusted national exam test prep material and get a 20% discount.
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Theragrowth by Ben Behnen
I'll help you navigate the path of becoming a therapist. Every Friday I'll provide insight into relevant topics like imposter syndrome, burnout, professional development and more!
Hey there! 👋 It's good to be writing to you again. Anger has always been a tricky emotion for me. Ever since I was a child, I would tense up if I could sense anger in the room. I also struggled to experience and express my own anger. It often felt wrong for me to be anger, so I would stuff it deep down where no one could see it. So, when I began seeing clients and their anger showed up in the room, I had a tough time staying open and curious. I noticed my first impulse was to get rid of it as...
Hey there! 👋 It's good to be writing to you again. One of my biggest fears my first year being a therapist was not knowing what to say. I had this internal pressure of wanting (needing, actually) to be helpful and this perceived external pressure from my clients to have all the answers. These pressures often led me to start rambling and feeling more anxious as I struggled to land on any sort of point. It wasn’t uncommon that I’d end a session with this sting of feeling embarrassed. I was sure...
Hey there! 👋 It's good to be writing to you again. I’m increasingly convinced that beginning therapists should be spending more time learning how to take care of themselves and recover from the work than learning theory and interventions. Stability and sustainability need to come before depth and mastery. A simple and easy place to start is that short period of time between sessions. I used to think this period of time was inconsequential because of how limited it is (often due to my poor...