This week, I heard a disturbing story about another helping professional. I
received a call from a woman in the midst of an emotional crisis. She had
sought out the services of another counselor first, a licensed therapist in
practice for more than 20 years who had earned the respect of other mental
health professionals throughout her career. During their third session
together, this practitioner “nodded off” three times. When the client courageously
confronted this person and asked for an explanation, the therapist acknowledged
her tiredness and disclosed that she had been experiencing physical health
problems, been in the hospital the previous evening, and had thirteen client
appointments that day that she felt unable to cancel. The client had been in
pain before and during the session and felt even more isolated and distressed
after this experience. This
therapist had prioritized seeing clients over her need for sleep and follow-up
health care. Both she and her clients suffered as a result.
When I heard this report, my initial response was one of
anger and incredulity. How could a therapist consider scheduling 13 clients in
one day? How could a practitioner think it was okay to see clients when so
clearly tired, distressed, and impaired? I had trouble wrapping my head around
the situation.
But, then I reflected back on my four years as part of the
American Counseling Association’s Task Force on Counselor Wellness and
Impairment – and what we learned. We are all
somewhere along the continuum from well to stressed to distressed to
impaired. However, we are not always clear about where we are on that
continuum. In a survey of counselors, people were fairly likely to identify a
colleague as stressed, distressed, or even impaired; however, they rarely
identified themselves as stressed or distressed and outright denied any signs
of impairment. If we are unable to
see or acknowledge our distress, we are unlikely to take the steps necessary to
nurture ourselves back towards wellness. Our progression along the continuum
towards health or illness does not happen in a moment or from one experience,
but, rather, gradually over time as a result of our beliefs, our isolation,
accumulating stressors, and the lack of support (or receptivity to support)
from colleagues, friends, and family who could challenge us to curb potentially
destructive patterns of behavior and self-neglect.
Further reflection on this recent discovery about another
professional helper has inspired sadness and compassion for this struggling
human being, as well as gratitude for the cautionary tale her unaddressed distress
(and resulting impairment) provides us.
Please take excellent care of yourselves. If concerned about
a colleague, let them know. Our ability to help others depends on our ability
to help ourselves first.
