I‘ve been working as a therapist for more than 3 years and one thing that keeps me going is the relationship that I’ve built with my clients. In my opinion, it’s very important for the therapist and client to have a connection, which strengthens the therapeutic relationship and changes the way ‘shift’ happens in therapy.
I’m happy for them, sad for them, I pray for them, think about them during the week and also do a happy dance after the session when they share something meaningful that happens with them (Like, when a client recently told me she got her dream job, another one got divorced after being in an abusive marriage for years, one finally started going to work after not being able to due to depression, and one gave a ted talk after going through the toughest time of her life and so on…) It makes me the happiest when they share these achievements with me with so much joy and excitement and feel honoured to be a part of their journey in a small way.
After being with them ‘in the trenches’, watching them go through the toughest time of their life, their ability to fight through it all gives me the strength to fight my own sometimes. It’s amazing how they understand my boundaries and I understand theirs, and there is mutual respect for each other in that space. I have witnessed them crying, hurting, being angry, and I’ve genuinely with all my heart prayed for things to get better for them. And this part of being a therapist is something no one teaches you in your training and education. Like all therapists, I also doubt myself but I am proud of the therapist I am becoming and a better human too.
To all my clients, When you enter therapy with me, just know I’ll be with you in good and bad both with all my heart, if you let me. Thank you for unknowingly giving me hope and teaching me so much more than you can imagine.
If you’re still reading this and you’re in therapy, just know that your therapist cares about you deeply and wishes only the best for you. And no, we are not in it only for your money, we are there for you because we genuinely care.
