Why I still enjoy being a therapist after 20+ years in practice

I began my psychology internship at the beginning of this century, in the year 2000. As I reflect on the past 23 years of practice, I am struck by how much I continue to enjoy being a therapist. It is such a privilege to support both my clients and supervisees, and I feel such gratitude to be in a position where I can feel passionate and motivated by my work.

Of course, there have been challenges to navigate along the way, and I have made my fair share of mistakes, but these often translate into valuable and helpful learning opportunities, and over the years this has resulted in significant professional and personal growth.

There are many reasons why I continue to feel inspired and fulfilled by this work, however, three aspects, in particular, have contributed to my ongoing passion for this profession.

Being in private practice enables me to choose the clients I want to engage with. Early in my career, I saw a variety of cases to gain a broad understanding of different issues, which I found incredibly helpful. However, over time I began to align my caseload with my strengths and interests. I found myself drawn towards clients who had experienced complex and/or developmental trauma, and eventually, this became a niche area for me. I began putting myself on referral lists for organisations supporting people with a trauma history and started to build my practice in this area.

Intentionally choosing to work in an area that aligns with my skills, knowledge and interests not only benefits me as a therapist but also enhances the quality of care I provide. It deepens my connection with my clients which improves my effectiveness and brings a sense of energy and purpose to my work.

Choosing a niche area of practice also allows for ongoing professional growth. As this is such an area of interest for me, I want to learn more, and I am continually developing my skills and knowledge through supervision and professional development. The learning never stops. This creates a positive feedback loop where my expertise grows, and my ability to help clients improves, reinforcing my passion for the work.

The second aspect that contributes to my satisfaction in this field has been finding the therapeutic modalities that resonate for me.

With so many different therapy training courses on offer, we can feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. This was certainly the case for me, so I attended introductory training in various approaches before I finally discovered a model that aligned with me, one that deepened my relationship and connection with my clients and helped me formulate cases in a way that made sense to me and my clients.

This ignited a passion for learning at a whole new level. I started absorbing as much as I could to increase my skills and knowledge. Combined with the support of an amazing supervisor, this also helped me to become a more confident and competent practitioner.

My therapeutic “toolkit” has evolved somewhat over the years as I have expanded my knowledge and research, and I now integrate methods from different approaches. However, if I learn a new therapy, I make sure I learn it well, through recognised training courses and regular supervision with clinicians who are knowledgeable in these modalities. While I feel I have reached a level of proficiency and confidence in my work, I will always be learning and growing for many years to come. This ongoing exploration keeps my practice dynamic and interesting and ensures that I am continuously evolving as a therapist.

The final, and possibly the most important factor, in my continued satisfaction with my work has been creating a sustainable and balanced practice.

While I enjoy my clinical work, I have always craved variety, and early on in my career, I knew I wanted more diversity in my practice. In 2005, I started working for an organisation that offered a psychology internship program and enjoyed supporting provisional psychologists to meet all the registration requirements (having completed the 4+2 program myself, I understood first-hand how challenging the internship can be). I trained as a supervisor and started running supervision groups in 2006. Since then, supervision has formed a significant component of my practice. My clinical work and supervision provide a perfect balance for me. I can maintain my clinical skills and knowledge while also supporting the next generation of psychologists.

Other ways I have maintained a sustainable practice include keeping a manageable caseload, financial considerations, and self-care practices.

It wasn’t always like this (remember those mistakes I mentioned earlier..)

When I first set up my practice, I would do anything to accommodate my clients, including starting early, finishing late, and “fitting in” appointments where I didn’t really have space (i.e. giving up breaks and/or admin time). I would bulk bill clients with financial difficulties and when they exhausted their Medicare allowance, I would see clients for a nominal fee that would barely cover my room rental let alone other expenses. Some days I would see up to seven clients and I would feel exhausted when I got home. The work was satisfying and fulfilling, but I knew this wasn’t sustainable for myself or my clients.

When I started a family, I gave up my full-time lease and rented a room on a sessional basis. Suddenly I could only offer my clients set times, that worked for me and my family, and if I was paying for childcare, I needed to cover costs and ensure I made an income, so I could only accept clients who could pay my full fee. My clients adapted much more easily than I could have anticipated. They either worked around my availability, or I referred them elsewhere. This was a turning point for me when I realised that I could choose to set up my practice in a way to fit MY needs.

Over time I have established a routine that works for me, and one that I can sustain over the long-term. This includes working school hours, taking a full hour for lunch every day, and scheduling leave throughout the year. I’ve set a fee that reflects my skills and experience, meets my own financial needs, and is also accessible to both clients and supervisees. I feel so fortunate to be able to do work that fulfils me, and taking regular breaks means I can recharge and return to work with renewed energy and focus.

Incorporating self-care into my routine is non-negotiable. This includes regular exercise and movement, mindfulness practices, prioritising rest, engaging in activities that I enjoy, and spending quality time with loved ones. I also engage in regular supervision and have undertaken significant personal therapy over the years. Taking care of my own needs ensures that I am emotionally and physically equipped to support others.

Of course, there have been challenges along the way and there are aspects of my work that I don’t find so fulfilling (mainly administrative tasks), but when I reflect over the past two decades, I feel so incredibly fortunate that I have been able to establish a career that aligns with my values, interests, and personal well-being.

It is important to acknowledge that the various aspects of this work that contribute to professional satisfaction may look different for each therapist. Other psychologists might relate to this, or they might tell a different story, but I hope you can resonate with at least some of the above.

If you would like support as part of your journey, I offer a range of services to support provisional and early career psychologists, including my free Facebook community, free and low-cost resources, case report training, and supervision groups designed to cultivate confidence and connection with yourself, your peers and your clients. Please reach out if there is any way I can help.