Working On Mental Health: A Day In The Life Of A Therapist
Therapy and other forms of mental health support are increasing in popularity as more people understand the importance of maintaining mental well-being. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that in 2019, one in five adults sought help for a mental health concern. If you are considering therapy, you are not alone. Understanding what it is that a therapist does may help make the process of seeking therapy less intimidating. This article explores what a day in the life of a therapist might look like and how therapy may benefit you.
A day in the life of a therapist
No two therapists’ days will look exactly alike. Their experiences could vary due to differences in the types of therapy they practice, individual schedules, forms of professional practice, therapy settings (e.g., hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, in-person practice, etc.), personal therapy philosophies, and other factors. Still, there are some similarities therapists might have, no matter what their therapeutic situation may be.
Consult with clients
They may ask their client about previously defined goals for their mental health treatment and assess whether progress has been made toward achieving those goals.
Conduct talk therapy
Most therapists are trained in various forms of talk therapy techniques, so they often spend most of their time with clients, listening to what the person has to say and engaging with them based on various psychotherapy theories and practices. Some therapists may specialize in certain talk therapy techniques. These therapists might only accept clients with conditions or challenges that can be addressed using these techniques.
Other therapists may have several different theories they rely on to inform their professional practice and, as a result, see a wider range of clients. Some therapists are trained in techniques that go beyond talk therapy, such as trauma recovery practices like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), for instance.
Take and review notes
Therapists may not be able to effectively help their clients if they cannot remember details discussed with them during sessions. Considering the number of clients most therapists see, it would be unreasonable to expect them to remember everything about every client’s circumstances. Thus, many therapists take notes during their sessions with their clients or immediately following a session.
The length and frequency of a therapy session can depend on the client’s needs or what type of therapy a mental health professional offers. For example, trauma therapy techniques typically take longer than a talk-based practice, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Still, most therapy sessions tend to last between 45 and 50 minutes. If the therapist books appointments with clients back-to-back, they may spend the time they have between sessions taking notes on a previous session or reviewing their notes on their upcoming client.
Stay up to date on mental health topics
In most cases, therapists are required to have at least a master’s degree in their specific area of practice (e.g., a marriage and family therapist or a licensed clinical social worker) or in general counseling and therapy techniques. Still, the field of counseling and human psychology is always growing and changing, and new studies are constantly emerging. A therapist’s master’s degree is based on foundational concepts of mental health care, so their knowledge and education are unlikely to become obsolete. However, they may need to stay up to date on the most relevant advances in clinical developments, especially for rapidly evolving focus areas such as addiction medicine or trauma therapy, for example.
This continuing education could take various forms depending on the therapist, their area of specialty, and their specific needs. Therapists may take courses online or at their local university. They may meet up with other professionals at conferences to discuss best practices or attend intensive training in a therapeutic focus area such as equine therapy, for instance.
Focus on ethics
Most therapeutic codes of ethics warn therapists not to allow their own belief systems or circumstances to impact how they interact with their clients. While wearing their therapist hats, therapists must work with clients of all backgrounds, religions, moral codes, value systems, and personalities.
Therapists are expected to treat each of their clients with dignity, respect, and objectivity, regardless of their personal opinions regarding the choices their clients are making. Perhaps the most important quality in a therapist is their ability to present themselves in a nonjudgmental way, encouraging their clients to be open and vulnerable with them. This is often the most effective method of making meaningful mental health progress.
Compartmentalize
Compartmentalizing their work and personal lives might not mean that a therapist can never discuss details of their personal life with their client. If therapists do choose to discuss such information, it may be done sparingly and with discretion. Opening up to a client in a controlled and appropriate manner can be an intentional way to help a client feel as though they are not alone, forge a stronger relationship with a client, or illuminate an alternative perspective. A therapist who chooses to tell personal details with their clients might exercise caution to ensure neither party feels as though the therapeutic roles have been reversed.
Connecting with a therapist
Understanding more about how a typical therapist’s day proceeds can remove some of the mystery and hesitation around seeking therapy, but barriers to treatment may remain. Scheduling conflicts, packed calendars, and commute times can make seeking traditional in-person therapy a complicated process. If you would like to reach therapy from the comfort of your own home and in a time frame that works for you, you may want to consider online therapy through a platform such as BetterHelp.
Become part of a day in the life of a therapist with online therapy
With online therapy, you can use video chats, phone calls, or in-app messaging to connect with your therapist. If you’ve never tried therapy before and are feeling nervous about the process, a web-based therapeutic setting may put your mind at ease. This can allow you to be more open and honest with your therapist, which could lead to greater progress.
The effectiveness of online therapy
Research has demonstrated that online therapy may be just as effective as in-person therapy for addressing symptoms of mental health conditions or finding support for a variety of life challenges and concerns. One study found that online cognitive behavioral therapy, one of the most widely practiced forms of therapeutic treatment, was associated with similar outcomes compared to traditional therapy in addressing a range of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, mood disorders, and more. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is an approach that works by teaching people how to recognize their unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more helpful ways of thinking. Over time, this can enable the person to change their behavior in a way that supports their mental and emotional well-being.
Takeaway
How do therapists avoid becoming overwhelmed while managing mental health, providing therapy, and pursuing continuing education?
Therapists can avoid becoming overwhelmed by the following:
Setting clear boundaries between work and personal life
Practicing daily self-care, including mindfulness and physical activity
Seeking supervision and peer support
Prioritizing self-compassion
Scheduling regular breaks between sessions
Engaging in their own therapy
Maintaining a balanced caseload, typically 15-20 clients per week
Focusing on what they can control
Asking for help and delegating tasks when needed
What is the hardest aspect of the job in a day in the life of a therapist?
In a day in the life of a therapist, the hardest aspects of their job include being truly "present" with each patient and holding the psychic pain of their clients. Therapists must manage the emotional toll that comes from empathizing with clients in distress while also dealing with burnout and compassion fatigue. They face challenges in maintaining professional boundaries while building trust, coping with limited resources and high caseloads, and handling ethical dilemmas and personal issues.
Each session requires carefully listening, identifying information, providing feedback, and helping clients define and work towards therapy goals. This can be very rewarding, but it can also be very demanding. Many therapists use self-care, attend therapy themselves, or limit client caseloads to make the job demands more manageable.
What does a day in the life of a therapist typically look like?
A typical day for a therapist often involves reviewing client files and preparing for sessions, during which they may see 4 to 6 clients for therapy. Therapists take short breaks between sessions to recharge and complete administrative tasks such as note-taking and billing. They might attend supervision or team meetings, join a professional consultation group, engage in professional development or continuing education, and respond to emails and phone calls. Additionally, therapists incorporate self-care activities like meditation or exercise to maintain their well-being amid their demanding schedules.
How many clients does a therapist see in one day?
The number of clients a therapist sees in a day typically ranges from 4 to 6, with some seeing up to 7 or 8 on busier days. The ideal range is often considered to be 5 to 7 clients per day. Factors such as work setting, specialization, and personal preferences can influence this number.
Some things therapists factor in when deciding how many clients to take on include:
The types of challenges they help clients address: A therapist who specializes in treating health anxiety, for example, may have the capacity to see more clients than someone who specializes in working with people experiencing a severe mental health crisis.
Session length: Average session length is one of the most important details in determining caseload.
Continued learning: Therapists must stay current with current research, meaning they switch between therapy provider mode and learner mode. New information from recent courses can then inform therapy practices, but it can take time away from providing therapy services.
How long is an average therapy session?
An average therapy session usually lasts between 45 to 55 minutes. However, session lengths can vary from 30 to 60 minutes depending on the therapist and client needs. Initial intake sessions may be longer, often 60 to 90 minutes, because there will be a lot of history and therapy topics to explore. Couples or family therapy sessions and some specialized therapies might require 60 to 90-minute sessions.
How many hours spent working are in a day in the life of a therapist?
Therapists typically work an average of 8 hours per day, with some opting for 10-hour days four days a week. Work hours can vary based on practice setting and personal preferences. Many therapists work between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, though some offer evening or weekend appointments. While one-on-one session time is one of the most important highlights of a therapist's work, it’s not everything they do. Full-time therapists often work 37.5 to 40 hours per week, including both client sessions and continued education, marketing, scheduling, billing, and other administrative tasks.
What are the 3 basic tasks of the therapist, and how do they support clients' mental health through therapy?
The three basic tasks of a therapist are assessment and diagnosis, providing therapy, and documentation and follow-up. Therapists support clients' mental health by offering a safe, non-judgmental space for expression, using evidence-based techniques to address specific concerns, helping clients develop self-awareness and problem-solving skills, and providing ongoing support throughout the treatment process.
What do therapists do after a session in relation to continuing education?
After sessions, therapists engage in continuing education by reviewing session notes, researching new techniques, attending workshops or courses, engaging in peer consultation, reading professional literature, participating in development activities for licensure requirements, and applying new knowledge to enhance their practice.
They may attend continued education in-person or video courses on a wide array of topics, such as how to use secure electronic health records to protect one's space, implicit bias lessons to have one’s assumptions challenged, learning teaching skills to help newer therapists, or thinking deeply about improving practices in a small group setting. In some states, continued education is optional, while in others, it is a legal requirement to maintain licensure.
How many hours does a therapist work per day?
The number of hours a therapist works will depend on many things, including their employer, the size of their practice, whether they’re a part-time or full-time employee, and more. Therapists also have to factor in administrative time, continuing education units that help them stay sharp on best practices, and prep time (such as writing session notes and reviewing brief entries). On average, therapists might work around eight hours per day, though this usually isn’t all client-facing time.
What happens to therapists who listen to trauma all day?
Listening to trauma all day can lead to significant effects, such as emotional overwhelm, vicarious trauma, workplace burnout, fatigue, or physical symptoms. Often times sessions are a continuation of previous ones, which may mean therapists are repeatedly exposed to potentially-triggering information.
Some strategies can help therapists manage emotionally heavy conversations including:
Scheduling clients for morning sessions so providers don’t end the day with emotionally exhausting information that may impact sleep quality
Digging deeper beyond the client’s trauma to its effects—like health anxiety or irritability—rather than focusing on the trauma itself
Making non-therapy time more relaxing, such as listening to one’s favorite podcast or music while completing administrative stuff
Writing blog posts on trauma or general mental health topics to build more well-rounded mental health awareness
These strategies can help therapists stay fully present during their sessions and best help their clients.
Do therapists have therapists of their own?
Yes, it’s common for therapists to start therapy themselves.
Many things can impact the mental health of therapists, including their work environment, how many clients they see, personal history of mental health challenges faced, amount of non-therapy work (such as billing and admin time), and more.
Therapy provides therapists with a safe space to discuss challenges they’re facing in both their personal and professional lives (while adhering to professional ethics).
Do therapists ever get annoyed?
Therapists are people like everyone else, meaning they may get annoyed occasionally. However, therapists should work to separate their personal feelings from their work as a therapist. Some things for therapists to keep in mind include:
Taking notes of things discussed during sessions so you’re helping maintain continuity between sessions, create a loose agenda for sessions, and measure progress, which can help both therapist and client focus on the progress rather than the setbacks
Brushing up on social media ethics to help ensure you protect one's information even when you’re annoyed
Continue cultural competency training, which can often be done by watching video courses
Focusing on the positive impact that therapy can have for clients, helping you foster the right mindset entering sessions
Prioritizing self-care and other things to help you get in the right mindset, like practicing mindfulness or going for a walk between sessions
Carefully listening during client sessions, which can offer new perspectives and directions you might otherwise overlook
Thinking about problem-solving approaches, such as what you could do differently to reduce client absenteeism
Annoyance is a normal human emotion that’s not always avoidable. However, whether in public or personal practice, a good therapist should take steps to ensure they’re acting in the best interest of their clients regardless of their personal feelings.
Do therapists feel their clients' emotions?
People who become therapists tend to be very empathetic individuals who sympathize with their clients’ struggles. In some cases, it can drain their mental gas tank or cause burnout. For therapists, prioritizing one’s own mental health can be important for their long-term ability to help their clients and continue their career.
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