19/07/2025
Human first, therapist second🌱
I’m currently in the midst of navigating a personal family bereavement, and it got me thinking about how I still show up for my clients whilst managing my own ‘stuff’.
🕊️ I’m prioritising integrity over perfection. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t have my sh*t together 100% of the time (because who does), and times like this makes everything slow down as we stop to reflect. Even during this difficult time, I’m still showing up for my clients with honesty, care and transparency.
This has meant appropriate self-disclosure, as I had to cancel and reschedule some client sessions. Initially I was filled with guilt, because I didn’t want to let my clients down, but the therapeutic relationship is built on mutual respect and trust, and I owe it to my clients to let them know when I’m not on top form.
I didn’t over share, and I was mindful about how this might impact my clients (for example, clients that have a history of people pleasing or rescuing might have felt responsible for my emotions, when that isn’t their place).
I named it, owned it, and was incredibly grateful for the understanding and compassion I received as a result of this.
❤️🩹 I ensure I have adequate support in place, so ‘my stuff’ doesn’t enter the therapy room, but I would be silly to think there wouldn’t be any additional dynamics or transference I needed to be aware of.
💭 I continuously check in with myself at the moment as it’s my responsibility to ensure I can safely hold a space for my clients, but I’m also human, and if I wasn’t up front about my bereavement, my clients more than likely would have picked up on it anyways (I mean you become quite good at compartmentalising as a therapist, but some days are bloody hard!)
So I hope this post translates that your therapist is human too, with their own lives, difficulties and experiences, and whilst we are professionals, we still have a duty to honour our client relationships for what they are…
Genuine human connections🫶🏼❤️🌱🪽
