We still have a long way to go in acknowledging that therapists don’t have all the answers.
Whether faced with the complexity of a client's struggles or the limitations of the therapeutic process itself, most of us have felt that tinge of helplessness from time to time in navigating therapeutic challenges. You might have tried very hard and poured in all your resources and expertise for a case, but didn’t seem to make any progress.
In an interesting paper titled: “Why are We Doing This?: Clinician Helplessness in the Face of Suffering,” the authors talk of the cognitive, emotional, and somatic components of helplessness in clinicians when medical science fails to help a patient. Cognitively, thoughts such as “Maybe I should just give up” may plague you. Emotionally, you might feel drained, ashamed, or guilty. Somatically, fatigue and stress might have taken over.
The authors then ask us to reframe this multifaceted phenomenon. Could this experience of helplessness be used to relate to our clients better? Could we also begin to acknowledge our own limits as professionals and move towards acceptance?
What are some strategies for navigating helplessness?
Embrace Vulnerability: Acknowledge and accept that feelings of helplessness are a natural part of the therapeutic journey. Embracing vulnerability in therapy creates space for growth and self-awareness and may even help you connect with your client. As Psychology professor Brene Brown has said, “Staying vulnerable is a risk we have to take if we want to experience connection.”
Supervision and Peer Support: Regular supervision and discussions with peers provide a valuable external perspective. Sharing experiences and seeking guidance can help therapists process challenging situations.
Set Realistic Expectations: Setting realistic expectations in therapy is the most important step. It's essential to recognize that therapists cannot 'fix' everything, and growth is a gradual process. Working together with your client to set mutually agreeable goals can ensure you both know what to expect.
Reflect on Personal Triggers: Reflecting on personal triggers is crucial. Reflection in therapeutic practice is an often neglected aspect. Understanding how a client's experiences may resonate with the therapist's own life can contribute to a more nuanced and empathetic approach. The psychodynamists call this counter-transference. Therapists from any orientation can benefit from being aware of their own triggers while working with clients.
Continuous Professional Development: Engage in continuous learning and professional development. Staying abreast of new therapeutic modalities and interventions can enhance a therapist's toolkit and provide alternative approaches for challenging cases. Check out the resources available on our app where we break down new techniques and interventions for therapists.
It’s completely natural to feel lost or a little helpless from time to time in this profession. Acknowledging therapist limits and helplessness is a part of acknowledging our humanity as mental health workers.
Are you working on a difficult case and need guidance and resources? Feel free to try out SafeTherapy resources. We also have some pretty great supervisors on on our panel to help you out.
Till then, take care. We are a community here for each other!