Heal the Healer
I have always maintained that students do not choose Psychology but it chooses them. There is a reason for this. Not everyone decides to spend the rest of their lives facilitating others lead a happy life.
So what brings people to this profession?
It is their passion for the field of mental health, no doubt but my personal observation over 12 years of teaching experience tells a story. Those who choose to enter the field have either witnessed mental health issues in their environment or have been through certain experiences which made them sensitive to such issues. Many go through painful childhood. Some choose to forget that they forgot, others find solace in leading a different life altogether but some choose to try and understand and help!
And those who enter into this world for one of the two mentioned reason will stay in this field in the long run!
Now this scenario brings me to my core issue for today- Heal the Healer!
Imagine a scenario where a person who is full of passion with altruistic motive to devote their lives for betterment and happiness of their fellow-beings enter the counselling room with their own baggage of issues from the past which they have not dealt with themselves. Why?
Because though we know where this pain is coming from and what such pain can do, we are too afraid to open our own wounds and heal ourselves! It hurts and it will hurt always.
Comfort zone is always so reassuring that I have learnt to remain in a place I find safe from my own self because exploring me would lead to too many questions I am not ready to face!
And what will this lead to?
A psychologist who himself breaks down whenever a client narrates a story similar to what I choose to neglect. Add to it the burden of carrying the life stories of his or her clients and we have a healer who is doing all that he can for the client but breaking down himself or herself at every level. A point will come where this psychologist will no longer be able to take the burden and a break-down point will be reached. And it happens! We all know and have observed the complaints and issues faced by fellow psychologists.
What can be done?
I strongly recommend that every student of Psychology should undergo counselling sessions themselves. They need to experience their own pains completely and start the process of healing. Once a psychologist enters professional life, they must have their own anchors and psychologists identified to whom they go for periodical healing/counselling sessions.
Yes, PSYCHOLOGISTS too need another psychologist.
We need to practice what we preach. It is not only supportive but necessary!
Healing is a life-long process and it is high time we psychologists give ourselves the human consideration we always extend to others!
Heal yourself Healers! You Need You!
Disclaimer:
THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR AND DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF SPEAKIN, ITS MANAGEMENT OR AFFILIATES. SPEAKIN MAKES NO REPRESENTATION AS TO ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, CORRECTNESS, SUITABILITY OR VALIDITY OF ANY INFORMATION ON THIS ARTICLE AND WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS OR DELAYS IN THIS INFORMATION OR DAMAGES ARISING FROM ITS DISPLAY OR USE.
