What Does A Day In The Life Of A Therapist Look Like?

Therapy and other forms of mental health support are increasing in popularity as more people are understanding 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.

An average 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.

Therapists meet 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.

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. 

Therapists take notes and review them

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. 

Therapists continue their education

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. 

Therapists compartmentalize

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 client is 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. 

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. 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.