Your most valuable asset as a therapist

I vividly remember the self-consciousness and fear I experienced in graduate school after my very first session as the therapist. The self-judgements from my inner-critic came flooding in. Can any other therapists out there relate? I want to write to all my therapists-in-training out there and say the things I couldn’t hear enough of when I was in your shoes.

First and foremost. self-doubt is PART OF your counselor training. It is actually integral to your development in the practice of psychotherapy. Can you imagine if we all thought we were the sh*t right out of the gate? If we thought we had it in the bag from the start? Growth is formed when humility meets desire. What I mean by this is recognizing that you don’t actually have it in the bag but you want to, badly. Your first few sessions are uncomfortable. Let it humble you so you can grow into that bad *ss therapist you want to be.

Once you are practicing professionally those harsh self-judgements will begin to go away. Not right away though, so don’t expect immediate confidence right when you earn those letters beside your name. But they will begin to fade as you accumulate hours and make undeniable connections with your clients.

If I could offer one piece of advice to you, it would be to prioritize the relationship you build with your clients above all else. When the fancy techniques and interventions don’t feel comfortable yet, fall back on what you do best - being you. That is an unteachable skill. And it’s your most valuable asset. <3

With love & care,

Juliet