“Wait—why do you see a therapist?” my client asked after I shared a quote from the therapist I’ve been seeing weekly for years. 

It’s a question I hear occasionally when I mention that I, too, sit on the other side of the couch. The surprise in their voice always catches me off guard, as does the underlying assumption that therapists have somehow mastered life. I always respond the same way: “Why wouldn’t I see a therapist?” 

The truth is, therapists are human. We experience grief, anxiety, self-doubt, and burnout just like anyone else. In fact, the nature of our work can sometimes make these struggles more complex. There’s often quiet pressure to present as if we have it all together—our lives neatly contained. But as Irvin Yalom once said, “There is no therapist and no person immune to the inherent tragedies of existence.” Life is messy for everyone, including clinicians. That shared human messiness is often what makes therapy so powerful. 

The Emotional Weight Therapists Carry 

This reality becomes even more pronounced in our current time, one shaped by global instability, climate anxiety, political division, collective grief, and deep uncertainty. Therapists are not immune. We sit with clients as they navigate these challenges, while also managing our own responses to the very same conditions. The emotional labour is cumulative. 

Bearing witness to trauma, grief, shame, or fear requires us to stay emotionally present. Over time, this can take a toll. Without space to metabolize our internal reactions, we become vulnerable to vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue. These often show up subtly, as irritability, emotional detachment, or fatigue that lingers long after sessions end. 

Although we may learn to compartmentalize, many of us carry an invisible weight, layered with client stories, heartbreak, and unresolved threads from our own history. If we don't attend to this regularly, it can dull our ability to stay clear and attuned. In more severe cases, we may misattribute our own burnout to a perceived issue in our client, projecting what belongs to us. At that point, therapy for ourselves is not optional; it becomes a professional and ethical necessity. 

The Pressure to Be “Fine” 

It’s easy for many of us to overlook our own warning signs. We hold ourselves to impossible internal standards. There’s often a whisper that says we should “know better” or be able to manage because of our training. External pressures—licensing boards, workplace cultures, and

fears of judgment—only reinforce this dynamic. Emotional restraint becomes the norm. Isolation often follows. 

Therapists spend hours holding space for others, often without a space where we are fully held. Even with supportive colleagues, there can be an unspoken expectation to remain composed. This is why therapy—for therapists—is not indulgent or a sign of failure. It’s a return to ourselves. It’s a practice of integrity that helps us honour our own humanity so we can continue showing up for others with care. 

Therapist, Heal Thyself 

If you’re a therapist wondering whether it’s time to seek therapeutic support yourself, these questions may offer some guidance: 

Are you finding it harder to feel present with your clients? 

You may notice yourself zoning out, feeling emotionally flat, or losing focus in sessions. These are early signs of clinical burnout. Therapy can help you identify what lies beneath the disconnection and support your return to clarity and presence. 

Are you bringing your clients’ stories home with you? 

If you find yourself replaying sessions in your head, carrying a client’s grief or fear in your body long after they leave, or losing sleep over their stories, this may be a sign your boundaries are eroding. Therapy can help you hold space without becoming consumed by it. 

Are you experiencing irritability, dread, or emotional numbness—at work or beyond? 

Perhaps you’re dreading sessions, feeling impatient or emotionally flat, or struggling to move through the day in a productive manner. These are signs of emotional exhaustion that deserve attention and support. 

Are you feeling disconnected from your own joy, creativity, or sense of meaning? 

When the spark is gone, even outside of work, and life feels dull or burdensome, therapy can help you reconnect to the parts of yourself that bring lightness, purpose, and resilience. 

Who in your life truly sees you and tells you the truth, even when you don’t want to hear it?

We all need mirrors. Sometimes the mirror we need most is a skilled, compassionate therapist who can reflect what we’re not yet able to see. This is not weakness. It is a commitment to ourselves, to our clients, and to the integrity of our work. 

Therapy as Professional Responsibility 

If caring for yourself doesn’t feel like enough motivation—and that’s understandable for many of us in helping roles—consider how therapy supports the quality of your clinical work. Just as surgeons are expected to maintain sterile conditions, therapists must maintain internal clarity. Ethical care demands that we manage our own burnout, model help-seeking, and dismantle stigma by living the very values we promote. 

Working with a therapist can provide a dedicated space for noticing your blind spots, processing what you’re holding, and restoring your energy and insight. In this way, therapy is not only about self-care—it’s a professional responsibility that strengthens your capacity to be fully present and effective. 

Being Seen So That We Can See Others 

“It is a joy to be hidden, and a disaster not to be found.” 

This quote by Winnicott was offered to me by my own therapist when I was grappling with my habit of self-reliance, at a time when what I really needed was to ask for help. I later shared it with a client going through something similar. It stayed with me because it speaks to something essential: we all need space to be hidden, and we all need, at some point, to be found. 

As therapists, we often hold the role of “the finder”—the one who notices, listens, and offers care. But we too deserve to be seen in our own struggle. A trusted therapist can help us reconnect with the parts of ourselves that we may have hidden or neglected, not just for our sake, but for the clients who trust us to meet them with depth, care, and clarity.