The Mentally Ill Therapist

Shaylynn Hayes-Raymond Psychotherapy Counselling and Coaching Canada and Worldwide New Brunswick

For some, it might come as a surprise that many therapists have come to the field because they have had their own experiences with mental health. For many who go to a therapist there is almost an air of mystique—a belief that those who treat mental illness are somehow above the rest of society, floating somewhere that mental illness can’t touch them. I’m here to tell you that this isn’t further from the truth! Mental illness (or, more normalized, simply periods of distress), is often part of the human experience.

For me, personally, I would have never joined this field if I hadn’t struggled for years—actually, for my entire life. I have had early experiences with OCD as young as 7 years old, was diagnosed with ADHD, and then later depression, anxiety, and eventually misophonia. My entire life has been a struggle with mental illness but with this struggle came understanding, coping skills, and education. I sometimes think the most passionate counsellors are those that have similar experiences to their clients.

The best mental health care workers are not there to tell you how to heal or what to do but rather we are your partners on a journey. This partnership includes the belief that the client knows more about their lives than anybody and is the expert. I ascribe to this person-centred approach and I know that mental health is a complex phenomenon that is as varied as the number of individuals on the planet.

I do not think there is one intervention or clinical approach that is the best option—rather, there are numerous approaches, and each person has different needs. For myself in my own life, I know that this has been an ongoing journey and that the destination is often just learning to cope one step at a time. Therapists are there to hold your hand on the journey, but every step you take is one you choose yourself.

 

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