Phase 1 - Self Q & A

Before moving on to Phase 2, let's check-in on a few key questions for the first phase.

What is emerging for you as you consider your emotions, thoughts and behaviors as a therapist?  

Considering a case that you are challenged by, what are your key moves?  What is your go-to for dealing with the tough spots?

When reflecting on your experiences as a therapist, also consider what these might be like:

* sitting with a highly anxious person
* sitting with a very angry person
* experiencing contained fury in a withdrawn client
* working with a withdrawn, shut down individual
* a client being angry at YOU

Some of the greatest benefits of Self of Therapist work is to better know yourself in the process of being a therapist, addressing items that might be unresolved in your own story, and then learning how the knowledge and new experience around your own issues can actually benefit you, as opposed to simply blocking you, in the process.

Author's Reflection:

As I consider the evolution I have been through in becoming a therapist, what I have grown to appreciate most of all is how deeply I experience the energy of emotions.  I believe the term for this type of individual is "Empath".  My body experiences the energy in a very deep, felt way.  As I work with other therapists, I am finding more and more of us have this somatic experience in our work.  I believe this can be both powerfully helpful, and powerfully exhausting and debilitating for a therapist.

Self-care is such an important part of being a therapist.  Please consider, how do you take care of yourself in your work, and your life?  How do you rejuvenate and replenish?  My self-care go-tos come in many forms: exercise, reading, writing poetry, hanging out with my sons watching GOT, just to name a few.

Next Up ~ I am heading out of town to a conference the week of September 25, therefore, the next posting, Phase 2 ~ Exploration and Expression, will be introduced the following week, the week of October 2.  Please enjoy this time to reflect on the initial phase of this process!