Consultation
As therapists in the throes of an illness, accident, or having to be with a debilitating diagnosis, we feel vulnerable, we get scared and overwhelmed. Our clarity may become clouded and we become unsure how to cope. Our energy and attention can fluctuate and we may find it harder to be present with our clients.
I offer consultations for support during these difficult times.
Some of the concerns and questions you may have:
- I am so pre-occupied and overwhelmed with this illness. My time is taken up with many doctor’s appointments, and more.
- I need the solace of my practice where I can get away from the illness and myself.
- Will my illness impact my clients? Therapy is about my clients and I need to keep myself out of the therapy room. How do I keep my boundaries?
- What if my illness is apparent? Do I need to tell my clients?
- I am fearful of losing my referral sources, and losing my income.
- If I need to take time off from my practice, what do I disclosure. How do I do it and how much should I say?
- What if my illness is terminal and I must stop working?
Together we will come up with an approach tailored to where you are.
First, we need to be sure you have the emotional supports and outer resources you require in your personal life. Then we can go over your concerns and questions about how to deal with the illness in your professional life.
This can include:
- How do I find my center with the illness in my personal life?
- How do I cope with the medical field and interacting with it?
- How do I disclose to my clients what is going on with me in a way that preserves my boundaries and doesn’t become all about me?
- How and what do I disclose?
- Are there ways to make this experience a growth opportunity for my clients in the therapeutic relationship?
- What is the right way to end my practice if I can no longer work?
These personally and professionally oriented consultations will actually help you be more compassionate towards yourself and provide a framework to be more informed and equipped to handle what you are going through.