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...
about 2 years ago • 4 min read
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...
about 2 years ago • 2 min read
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....
about 2 years ago • 1 min read
Hey there! 👋 It's good to be writing to you again. At the end of your therapy career, how would you like your colleagues and clients to describe you? I’ve been mulling over this question throughout the week. I still feel quite early in my career, but I’ve also felt lost in the trees lately. From one client to the next to the next. One DA to the next to the next. One day, one week, one month to the next. It’s all going by so quickly. And I feel so close to it all. Too close. So, this week, I’m...
about 2 years ago • 3 min read
Hey there! 👋 It's good to be writing to you again. Hope is a precious thing. I know I’ve taken it for granted. On this particular day, almost two years ago now, I found myself sitting in my car at a park near our apartment. It was 11 A.M. I know this because I was supposed to be logged into supervision over Zoom. But I wasn’t. I was sitting here in my car at the park, and I was crying. I was crying and I was exhausted and I didn’t know how I was going to continue down this path to becoming a...
about 2 years ago • 4 min read
Hey there! 👋 It's good to be writing to you again. Before we jump into this week's topic, I'd like to ask you for help with something. I'm hoping to add a few testimonials to the Theragrowth website. So, if you've found the newsletter helpful in any way, I'd love to hear from you! All you would need to do is respond to this email with... Your first name A sentence or two detailing what you appreciate about the newsletter/how it's been helpful for you What part of the therapist journey you're...
about 2 years ago • 3 min read
Hey there! 👋 It's good to be writing to you again. I started on this path of becoming a therapist hoping that I would help people and build a meaningful career along the way. I had this idyllic image in my head: calmly sitting in a cozy office, sipping coffee in the morning before my first clients, and adeptly helping them with the stuff of life that’s difficult and meaningful. Fast forward to my first-year practicing and the reality was starkly different: sitting in a cold office with...
about 2 years ago • 2 min read
Hey there! 👋 It's good to be writing to you again. Today we’re going to discuss how to identify your areas of growth as a therapist Understanding what you need to grow in is crucial to your longevity in the field, the health and transformation of your clients, and your own career satisfaction. Sadly, so many therapists struggle to do so because they were never taught how to do this inner work. Therapists aren’t taught how to do the inner work. There are plenty of other legitimate reasons why...
about 2 years ago • 5 min read
Hey there! 👋 It's good to be writing to you again. Today’s Topic: Finding rest for your heart and mind through your body Read Time: 6 Minutes At the end of my master’s capstone presentation, the panel of professors who had just deemed I was worthy to graduate offered me a few words of advice as I set out on my own journey now. They told me, “Ben, being a therapist requires a lot from your mind and heart. But, in order for you to have a long and satisfying career, it may do you good to listen...
about 2 years ago • 5 min read