From Therapist to Client: My Journey

In my role as a therapist, I'm used to being the one sitting in the therapist's chair, offering support, guidance, and empathy to my clients. However client's possibly don't know that to have the honour of the therapist chair, we as therapists need to undergo years of various therapies ourselves. I have recently found myself a little stuck and in a position of being back in the client’s chair. It was a deeply enlightening and humbling experience that reminded me of the courage it takes to seek help and the importance of self-reflection, even for those of us in the mental health profession.

When you’re the one used to providing help, there's a unique vulnerability in reversing roles. For me, sitting down as a client was like peeling back layers I hadn’t fully examined. It brought a fresh perspective on the therapeutic process. Suddenly, I was more in tune with the nervousness and self-consciousness that clients often bring with them, no matter how skilled the therapist on the other side may be. I also realized how crucial it is to feel heard, not just intellectually but emotionally.

As always counselling offered a safe, compassionate environment that allowed me to explore parts of myself I’d set aside while helping others. It reminded me that therapy is not just about addressing surface issues but about connecting deeply with who we are underneath. As therapists, we are not immune to life’s challenges, and seeking support doesn’t mean we're lacking—it means we value our growth and well-being enough to take that brave step.

My time as always in therapy offers me the personal clarity I needed but also renewed my empathy and respect for each person who walks into a therapy session, ready to do the work. Therapy is a journey we’re all on, whether we're guiding someone else or finding our own way.

Be under no elusion we all need to revisit our roots. Its a reminder that we all need to go to school to learn - sometimes its our own internal school that needs to be revisited.