#stress management counselling online

[faithcounsellingaustralia]

What feelings are normal when grieving

Grieving is a deeply personal experience, but there's one thing we all have in common - the wide range of emotions it can bring.

From the initial shock and disbelief to the anger and relief that follows, grief takes us on an emotional rollercoaster. And that's completely normal.

It's okay to feel numb one moment and then overwhelmed the next. Mixed feelings are all part of the process as we navigate this challenging time.

Don't be surprised by the physical symptoms either - headaches, fatigue, and loss of appetite are common when we're grieving. Your body is working hard to cope.

The truth is, there's no "right" way to grieve. Honour your unique experience, and know that all of these feelings are a natural part of the journey. You're not alone 🙂

[betterlyf]

Myths About Online Therapy

Online therapy is professional mental health treatment delivered via the internet, generally by live video chat, messaging applications, email, or phone. The therapist and client communicate via the platform, and the client receives counseling and support. The therapist and the client will discuss the client's concerns, and the therapist will advise the client on how to deal with and manage the issues. But there are some myths about online therapy sessions including:

1. Online therapy is less effective than in-person therapy: This myth is untrue. Studies have shown that online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy for many mental health conditions. 

2. Online therapists are not as qualified as in-person therapists: This myth is also untrue. Online therapists must have the same qualifications and credentials as in-person therapists, and they are often held to the same standards of practice.

3. Online therapy is only for serious mental health issues: This myth is also untrue. Online therapy can be used to treat a variety of mental health issues, from mild to severe. 

4. Online therapy is only for people who can't access traditional therapy: This myth is also untrue. Online therapy can be used by anyone, regardless of their access to traditional therapy.

How can a therapist help me with my mental health issues?

A therapist can help you save your mental health issues by providing you with support, guidance, and resources. They can help you to identify and manage your symptoms, understand your thoughts and emotions, and learn new coping skills. They can also help you to develop positive habits, set achievable goals, and find healthy ways to manage stress. Therapists can help you to gain insight into yourself and your relationships so that you can make changes that will lead to positive outcomes.

When Is the Right Time for Online Counseling?

The right time for online counseling is when it is the most convenient and comfortable option for you. Online counseling can be used to address many of the same issues as traditional counseling, such as stress, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and more. 

Depending on the type of counseling you are seeking, you may find that online counseling is the best option for you. It can be more convenient, allowing you to access help from the comfort of your own home, and it can also be more cost-effective. If you are looking for a way to access counseling without the cost, stress, or time commitment of traditional counseling, online counseling may be a great option for you.

[the-able-mind-29]

Rediscover Joy with Online Depression Counselling from The Able Mind 

If you’re struggling with depression, The Able Mind is here to help. Our online depression counselling offers a safe, supportive environment where you can explore your feelings and begin your journey to recovery. Our licensed therapists utilize proven techniques to address the root causes of your depression and develop coping strategies that work for you. With flexible scheduling and the comfort of remote sessions, you can focus on your mental health without added stress. Reach out to us today and take the first step towards a brighter tomorrow.  Visit Us- https://theablemind.com/depression-counselling.php 

[pauljmcloughlin]

How Online Relationship Coaching Can Improve Your Marriage

In today's fast-paced world, maintaining healthy relationships can be a challenge. Whether you're dealing with communication issues, trust problems, or navigating significant life changes, seeking help from online relationship coaching can make a world of difference. These virtual sessions provide couples with the tools they need to rebuild and strengthen their relationship from the comfort of their home. In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of online relationship coaching and how it can work hand-in-hand with marriage guidance counselling to help your relationship thrive.

What is Online Relationship Coaching?

• Virtual Support: Online relationship coaching allows couples to access professional relationship advice and strategies remotely. Coaches provide guidance on how to resolve conflicts, improve communication, and reignite the bond between partners.

• Tailored Solutions: A coach can offer personalized advice based on the unique challenges you face as a couple. Whether you're looking for advice on handling stress or rebuilding trust after a difficult situation, online coaching offers customized support.

• Flexible Scheduling: One of the main advantages of online relationship coaching is flexibility. You can schedule sessions around your busy lives, making it easier to get the help you need without disrupting your routine.

How Online Coaching Differs from Marriage Guidance Counselling

While marriage guidance counselling and online relationship coaching may seem similar, they have key differences:

• Counselling Focus: Marriage guidance counselling often focuses on resolving deeper, long-standing issues in a relationship. It is usually conducted by licensed therapists and is designed to help couples work through problems such as infidelity, long-term conflict, or other significant emotional issues.

• Coaching Focus: On the other hand, online relationship coaching is often future-focused and action-oriented. Rather than diving deep into past issues, coaching helps couples set goals, improve day-to-day interactions, and achieve stronger emotional and physical connections.

Benefits of Online Relationship Coaching

• Convenience: No need to commute to an office or rearrange your schedule. With online relationship coaching, you can log into a session from anywhere, whether you're at home, on vacation, or even at work.

• Personalized Attention: Coaches offer one-on-one guidance tailored to your specific relationship needs. They work closely with couples to understand their dynamics and provide actionable solutions for improvement.

• Immediate Feedback: Unlike traditional forms of therapy that may take time to yield results, online relationship coaching offers quick, practical advice that couples can start applying right away. This proactive approach helps couples make immediate changes that benefit their relationship.

The Importance of Marriage Guidance Counselling

• Deep Healing: While online relationship coaching is great for quick, practical solutions, marriage guidance counselling is essential for couples dealing with more serious issues. Whether it’s emotional trauma, infidelity, or unresolved conflict, counselling offers a safe space for deep healing.

• Long-Term Solutions: Counselling aims to get to the root of long-standing problems. Therapists work with couples to address underlying emotional patterns that affect their relationship, offering long-term solutions to restore love and trust.

Can Online Coaching and Marriage Guidance Counselling Work Together?

Absolutely! In fact, combining online relationship coaching with marriage guidance counselling offers the best of both worlds. While counselling can help resolve deeper issues, coaching can provide the day-to-day tools needed to keep your relationship strong. Here’s how:

• Counselling as the Foundation: Start with marriage guidance counselling to work through complex problems or emotional challenges. Once those issues are addressed, online coaching can help reinforce positive habits and maintain a strong relationship moving forward.

• Ongoing Support: Even after resolving major conflicts through counselling, couples can benefit from regular online relationship coaching sessions to stay on track and continue to grow as a couple.

Conclusion

In the ever-changing landscape of modern relationships, couples need access to flexible, effective resources. Online relationship coaching offers personalized, convenient, and immediate solutions to help you overcome challenges and build a lasting partnership. When combined with marriage guidance counselling, couples can address both surface-level and deep-rooted issues, ensuring a healthier and happier future together.

Visit Paul J Mcloughlin’s website to explore how online relationship coaching and marriage guidance counselling can work together to strengthen your relationship today!

[healingwithhypnotic]

Expert Mental Health Services in Hong Kong: What You Need to Know

Mental health challenges are increasingly prevalent in Hong Kong, with one in six residents experiencing common disorders like anxiety and depression. Here’s a quick overview of what you need to know about mental health services in the city:

Availability and Access: Despite Hong Kong’s advanced healthcare system, mental health services face challenges such as high costs, a shortage of professionals, and a stigma that prevents many from seeking help.

Types of Services: Options include psychiatric care for severe issues, hypnotherapy for holistic stress relief, and clinical psychology for long-term therapies. Counselling services offer early intervention, and both in-person and online therapy are available.

Workplace and Financial Stress: Stress from work and financial pressures is significant, affecting over 30% and 60% of the population, respectively.

Digital and Public Resources: Digital therapy is gaining traction, with self-hypnosis apps like UpNow providing cost-effective support. Public resources include services from the Social Welfare Department and various NGOs.

For more detailed information on mental health services in Hong Kong and how to access them, visit this comprehensive guide.

[livelovelifeagain]

Overcome Challenges: Guidance from a Stress Management Coach

In today's fast-paced and demanding world, stress has become an almost unavoidable part of daily life. Whether it's work pressures, personal responsibilities, or unexpected challenges, managing stress effectively is crucial for maintaining overall well-being and achieving success. As a stress management coach in Oman, I have dedicated myself to helping individuals navigate the complexities of stress, providing them with the tools and strategies needed to overcome challenges and lead a balanced life. In this article, we will explore how guidance from a stress management coach can help you conquer stress and thrive in any situation.

Understanding Stress and Its Impact

Stress is the body's natural response to perceived threats or pressures. While a certain level of stress can be motivating and beneficial, chronic stress can have detrimental effects on physical, emotional, and mental health. Prolonged exposure to stress can lead to anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and other serious health issues. Recognizing the signs of stress and addressing them promptly is essential for maintaining a healthy and fulfilling life.

The Role of a Stress Management Coach

A stress management coach is a professional trained to help individuals identify the sources of their stress and develop effective coping strategies. Unlike therapists who may delve into past traumas, stress management coaches focus on practical, future-oriented solutions. A stress management coach in Oman can provide personalized guidance and support, helping you build resilience and manage stress more effectively.

Benefits of Working with a Stress Management Coach

Personalized Stress Assessment: One of the primary benefits of working with a stress management coach is receiving a personalized stress assessment. A stress management coach in Oman can help you identify your specific stressors and understand how they affect you. This assessment forms the foundation for developing a customized stress management plan.

Effective Coping Strategies: A stress management coach can teach you various coping strategies tailored to your unique needs. These strategies may include mindfulness techniques, relaxation exercises, time management skills, and cognitive-behavioral approaches. By incorporating these techniques into your daily routine, you can reduce stress levels and improve your overall well-being.

Improved Emotional Regulation: Managing emotions is a critical aspect of stress management. A stress management coach can help you develop better emotional regulation skills, enabling you to respond to stressful situations with calmness and clarity. This improved emotional control can enhance your decision-making abilities and reduce the negative impact of stress on your life.

Increased Resilience: Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity. Working with a stress management coach can help you build resilience by strengthening your coping mechanisms and fostering a positive mindset. With increased resilience, you can face challenges more confidently and recover more quickly from setbacks.

Enhanced Work-Life Balance: Achieving a healthy work-life balance is crucial for reducing stress and maintaining overall well-being. A stress management coach in Oman can help you prioritize your commitments, set boundaries, and create a balanced schedule that allows you to excel in both your professional and personal life.

Long-Term Stress Management: While immediate stress relief is important, long-term stress management is essential for sustained well-being. A stress management coach can help you develop habits and routines that promote ongoing stress reduction, ensuring that you can maintain a healthy balance in the long run.

The Process of Stress Management Coaching

The journey of stress management coaching typically begins with an initial consultation, where you and your coach will discuss your stressors, challenges, and goals. This conversation helps establish a foundation of trust and understanding. Based on this assessment, your coach will create a personalized plan tailored to your unique needs.

Throughout the coaching process, you will engage in regular sessions with your coach, either in person or virtually. These sessions provide an opportunity to reflect on your progress, address any obstacles, and adjust your action plan as needed. A stress management coach in Oman will offer guidance, encouragement, and accountability to ensure you stay on track.

Choosing the Right Stress Management Coach

Selecting the right stress management coach is crucial for a successful coaching experience. Here are some tips to help you make an informed decision:

Credentials and Experience: Ensure that your coach has the necessary credentials and experience. A reputable stress management coach in Oman will have relevant certifications and a proven track record of helping clients manage stress effectively.

Compatibility: A successful coaching relationship is built on mutual trust and rapport. Choose a coach whose personality and coaching style resonate with you.

Testimonials and References: Seek out testimonials and references from previous clients. This can provide valuable insights into the coach’s effectiveness and the impact of their work.

Ethical Standards: Ensure that the coach adheres to ethical standards and maintains confidentiality. This is essential for creating a safe and supportive environment.

Conclusion

Overcoming challenges and managing stress is essential for leading a fulfilling and successful life. With the guidance of a stress management coach in Oman, you can develop effective coping strategies, build resilience, and achieve a healthy work-life balance. By addressing stress proactively and adopting long-term stress management practices, you can navigate life's complexities with greater ease and confidence. Take the first step towards conquering stress and thriving in any situation by partnering with a stress management coach today.

[harmonyunitedgainesville]

Mental Health Services For Adults in Altamonte Springs, Florida | Psychiatric Medication Management Near Me in Altamonte Springs, FL

Mental Health Services For Adults in Altamonte Springs, Florida | Psychiatric Medication Management Near Me in Altamonte Springs, FL. Harmony United Psychiatric Care is a full-service mental health outpatient clinic that provides a range of services to individuals with mental health, substance abuse, and other cognitive disabilities. The clinic offers medication management, neuropsychological testing, online counseling, and telepsychiatry services. The clinic’s team of professionals includes psychologists and psychiatrists who specialize in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, pre-surgical evaluation, memory problems, adjustment disorder, suicidal thoughts, emotional problems, and eating disorders. The clinic also offers individual therapy, substance abuse and addiction counseling, couples marriage counseling, family therapy, grief counseling, and trauma therapy. Appointments are typically available the same day or the next,and customer service is available 7 days a week from 7:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.  Visit : www.hupcfl.com Call us: +1 800 457 4573

[saileshjain]

Best Psychotherapy for Stress Management: EduPsych

Discover work-life balance with EduPsych. Expert counselors empower you to conquer work stress. Transform your life with effective stress management.

[faithcounsellingaustralia]

We provide a counselling service online through telehealth

Feeling down and need someone to talk to? Our online counseling service is here for you! 💻

Get the support you need from the comfort of your own home. With our convenient telehealth platform, you can connect with licensed therapists and start your journey to better mental health.

No more scheduling hassles or long commutes - just log in and let the healing begin. Join our community of wellness warriors and take that first step towards a happier, healthier YOU!

Tap to learn more and schedule your appointment today

[betterlyf]

Stress is a natural component of life, and every living thing experiences stress as a result of their daily activities. And counselling for stress management is a method of overcoming stress-related root causes. An online therapist works with your everyday routine to determine the root cause of your stress. You will find total privacy here, allowing you to easily share your personal information with us. Get in touch with us today at https://bit.ly/3FwyxAH

[the-able-mind-29]

Transform Your Mental Health with Affordable Online Therapy in India

At The Able Mind, we believe that everyone deserves access to quality mental health support. Our affordable online therapy in India offers professional guidance from licensed therapists, ensuring you receive the help you need without breaking the bank. Whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, or relationship issues, our team is here to provide effective solutions tailored to your unique situation. With convenient scheduling and a range of services, you can embark on your journey to wellness from the comfort of your home. Take the first step towards a happier you with The Able Mind today!  Visit us- https://theablemind.com/ 

[selfpivot]

Workplace Safety Assessment: Is It Safe to Return to your office?

Workplace Safety Assessment: ‘Ensuring safety is not just about checking boxes, but about creating an environment where everyone feels secure and valued

Going back to work after coping with personal or professional health problems can feel tough for anyone. In this blog article, “How to Tell If It’s Safe to Return to Your Place of Employment,” we’ll assist you in understanding the right time to return to your workplace. We will discover what to think about, like your mental and physical health, and a guide for making your comeback at work as easy as possible. If you are feeling overstrained by work or facing major health problems, this blog will help you make the right choices for yourself and be able to manage your stress.

This blog will help you understand whether it is safe to return to work and offer real guidance to verify your return is smooth and safer. If you have trouble deciding to go back to work when you are suffering from anxiety, this blog is a complete guide for you in making the right choice for your comfort and career.

Workplace Safety Assessment: Why Do You Feel Overwhelmed During the Work?

The Reason for feeling stressed at the workplace is due to a few things: Many tasks with little time, improbable hopes from your manager or associates, not getting appropriate resources or support, or, feeling of not having the required skills for the job.

Much workload in less time:

Working on a deadline to complete more tasks in some hours, can feel like a burden for anyone. The pressure of deadlines or too much workload can stress you out and make you distracted from your targeted work hence leading to burnout.

Too Much High Expectations:

If your boss or colleagues set goals that look hard to reach at a given time with fewer resources. This can be exhausting, draining, and depressing, especially when it feels like you’re trying hard to fulfill the goals that are set for you.

Less resources and support:

It’s hard to manage various projects in less time and without the exact tools, training, or assistance. Outdated technology and inadequate resources can make it almost impossible to reach your goals, resulting in stress or burnout.

Lack of required skills:

Only being qualified is not enough. Lack of experience or not having enough knowledge of new tools can be overwhelming. In such situations, seeking help from more experienced colleagues can reduce the stress.

Feeling overwhelmed at the workplace is a sign that causes stress and burnout, but with the right tactics and support, you can balance the work schedule and your mental health. Let’s discover these tips that can help you manage your work pressure and reduce stress.

Assuring Good Mental Health:

Circumstances like social anxiety or ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)- can affect your work performance. Interaction with your boss about your perfect or ideal work environment can help you deal with these challenges.

The Interconnection Between Work Stress and Health Issues:

Let’s learn about the impact of work stress on physical and mental health in this blog.

The interconnection between work pressure and health issues is a complicated and important part of the study. We will discover how these two aspects affect each other:

Stress Response Methods:

When an employee has to face major tasks such as high productivity in less time of tight deadlines or struggles at work at that time, the stress response system activates in the body. This mechanism involves the release of stress hormones such as ‘cortisol’ and ‘adrenaline’. Though these response methods are helpful while tackling short bursts; chronic activation can cause numerous health complications. Workplace safety assessment helps spot any risks and makes sure the office is safe for you to return.

Physical Health Impact:

Heart Relevant Problems:

Long-time stress is allied with high blood pressure and increased scope of stroke and heart diseases. Stress hormones can cause heartburn, breathing difficulties, and inflammation, as well as other factors that harmfully affect heart health.

Digestive Issues:

Stress can lead to intense gastrointestinal issues such as (IBS)irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers, and acid reflux.

Weak Immune System:

Long-lasting stress can be the cause of weakening someone’s immune system and all these reasons make the individuals more vulnerable to infections and sicknesses.

Mental Health Impact:

Anxiety and Depression: Higher levels of work pressure are the main cause of increased rates of anxiety and depression. The constant strain and pressure can end up with mental health disorders.

Burnout:

This is a physical and emotional state, as well as mental fatigue caused by constant and excessive stress. Burnout often leads to a drop in productivity and a feeling of disinterest in work.

Behavior Changes:

Stress can lead to unhealthy behaviors in handling the situations such as taking excessive alcohol, smoking habits, or unhealthy eating habits. These irresponsible and unhealthy behaviors can additionally contribute to health complications and can lead to death too.

Sleep Disturbance:

Work stress can affect sleep patterns and can give you sleepless nights or insomnia. Poor quality sleep can worsen both mental and physical health issues.

Work-Life Balance:

Another cause of increased stress levels can be the poor work-life balance. Struggling to balance work demands leads to a stressful personal life and hurts health.

Work stress can be reduced through tactics for example: stress management, healthy lifestyle choices, and cooperative work environments to help lessen its effects on health. Contact us for our Online Counseling Services if you are feeling stressed at your workplace.

Workplace Safety: Psychological Safety Matters

Psychological safety is important for a pleasant and healthy as well productive workplace.  A healthy workplace makes you feel confident for Instance: You won’t be penalized or mocked when you share your ideas, are curious about some queries, or admit mistakes. When a person feels safe to speak up in his work environment, it is helpful for everyone and leads to a healthy and joyful workplace.

A psychologically safe environment allows the team members to be willing to fully share their creative ideas, and fight with obstacles together in work. This honest approach helps to solve problems, improves creativity, and boosts team performance. It means the united team can solve any problem early because the comfort in the people leads to keeping anxieties away.

Without psychological safety, staff can feel disconnected, work less efficiently, and may think about leaving the company. They may hesitate to share their creative ideas or avoid solving the issues, which can prevent the company’s growth and innovation.

Maintaining psychological safety means building a culture of mutual respect and understanding between coworkers. Leaders play an essential part in this by promoting open communication and solving any issues that can be obstacles to support and betterment the environment.

Conclusion:

Workplace safety assessment is important to ensure the best time to return to the office is both confident and safe, protecting your health and peaceful state of mind.

Deciding to get back to work after facing health challenges can be the major step. This blog addresses important factors to help you determine whether you’re ready for work or not such as your psychological and physical health as well as work pressure is the factors for psychological safety.

By understanding these aspects, you can make an informed decision and be assured of a smoother transition. Effective strain management and a caring work environment are significant to your happiness and success. using the right dealing method, you can handle this transition and happily return to a healthy workplace.

[pauljmcloughlin]

How Can Life Coaching Services Online Help Strengthen Relationships?

In today’s fast-paced world, maintaining balance in life and relationships can be challenging. This is where life coaching services online come into play. These services offer personalized support and guidance for individuals and couples looking to overcome obstacles and improve their quality of life. At Paul J Mcloughlin, we specialize in helping clients navigate challenges through effective life coaching, with a focus on marriage and relationship counselling.

What Are Life Coaching Services Online?

Convenience and flexibility: With life coaching services online, you can receive expert advice from the comfort of your own home. Sessions can be scheduled to fit your busy lifestyle.

Personalized approach: Online life coaching is tailored to meet your specific needs, whether you’re focusing on career, personal growth, or improving your relationships.

Expert guidance: At Paul J Mcloughlin, our coaches are experienced professionals who guide you through the process of self-discovery and achieving your goals.

How Can Life Coaching Improve Relationships?

Communication skills: A key aspect of marriage and relationship counselling is learning effective communication techniques. Life coaching helps you and your partner better understand each other’s perspectives and improve dialogue.

Conflict resolution: Every relationship has conflicts, but resolving them in a healthy way is essential. Coaching offers strategies for resolving disagreements without damaging the relationship.

Emotional support: Relationships often require emotional healing. Life coaching services provide the emotional tools you need to reconnect with your partner and rebuild trust.

Benefits of Life Coaching Services Online

Accessibility: Whether you’re at home or on the go, life coaching services online offer unmatched convenience. There’s no need to travel, making it easier to commit to regular sessions.

Cost-effective: Online coaching is often more affordable than in-person sessions, without sacrificing the quality of the guidance provided.

Confidentiality: Sessions are conducted in a private, secure online environment, ensuring that all discussions remain confidential.

Why Choose Paul J Mcloughlin for Your Coaching Needs?

Holistic approach: Our services combine marriage and relationship counselling with overall life coaching, ensuring you receive comprehensive support for all aspects of your life.

Experienced coaches: Our coaches have years of experience helping individuals and couples overcome challenges and achieve personal growth.

Results-driven: At Paul J Mcloughlin, we focus on delivering results that empower you to lead a more fulfilling life, both personally and in your relationships.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a way to improve your personal and relational well-being, life coaching services online offer the support you need. From helping you develop better communication skills to providing emotional healing through marriage and relationship counselling, the benefits are numerous. Contact Paul J Mcloughlin today to start your journey toward a more fulfilling life.

[star-anise]

are we talking about broke therapists yet?

I've been out of things for a couple of years now, which is why I'm willing to talk about it, and maybe the pandemic has helped things a little, but holy shit the counselling and psychotherapy field is not equipped to help its practitioners in the gig economy.

Of all my interests and talents, I pursued a degree in psychology because being a therapist is supposed to be a safe, stable, well-paid job. Every therapist I met who was registered before 2008 worked and lived under that assumption. And oh boy are all the fee structures--registration, supervision, continuing education, conferences--set up for that scenario.

After getting my Master's, I struggled like hell to get a job. It was especially bad because to get my license, I needed a supervisor to take me on. To take me on, most supervisors wanted me to already have a caseload and client base. To get a caseload and client base, I needed a job.

Friends: Every single job I heard back on wanted me to have my license before I could even land an interview.

Professors and career advisors and professional development specialists all advised me very earnestly to just keep cold-calling people on the supervision list, and it began to feel a lot like my parents' friends telling me to hit the bricks and hand out resumes. That's what worked for them, right?

I finally got a supervisor who agreed to take me on, and I'd be able to use her clinic for advertising and workspace, and we were doing the paperwork to send in with my registration, when she called me up and said, "Is this job going to be your only source of income? If you're trying to depend on getting clients and building your practice for your basic needs, this is not going to work out. This has to be something you're doing on top of a basic salary. Okay, so you're not working anywhere else right now? I'm sorry, I can't move forward with this."

Even once I landed a supervisor and a job building my own private practice, I struggled. I have ADHD and am not great at self-promotion, so trying to do all my own advertising, scheduling, bookkeeping, billing, and records management (on top of counselling) was an enormous strain. One my bosses, supervisors, and other senior professionals watched with a slightly critical eye, but consoled me about because in their early days, their clinics had had business managers, receptionists, filing clerks, and accountants, and getting used to doing everything online yourself was a bit of a learning curve, wasn't it?

I counted my pennies very carefully, because I had to pay my supervisor roughly $180 for their services every 6 hours of in-person counselling I did. This meant that to break even I had to charge my clients an average of about $30 (plus room rental and service fees) an hour--and my clients, being people with complex trauma, were frequently poor, disabled, unemployed, and had no health benefits, so even $10 or $20 a session was a lot for them.

Maybe it would have been easier if I could have taken some of those nice comfortable organization positions where they find clients and funding for you and you work 40 hours a week and get benefits and a pension, but I had to be disabled into the bargain, so working 40 hours a week just isn't possible for me. I start passing out from stress and exhaustion. Older colleagues gave me serious-faced advice about approaching my employer and asking them for some flexibility and accommodation in my schedule, and I tried to explain across the gap between us that employers simply did not hire me if I made the slightest noise about the workload. They weren't going to invest in me as a person; they were hiring 40 units of work a week, and if I wouldn't do it there were a dozen applicants after me who would.

At one point I broke down enough to email my licensing body because the Annual General Meeting/Professional Development Conference was coming up, and I wanted to attend, but I could not produce $500 to do it with. Was there some kind of way I could attend anyway? I felt ashamed to have to ask, and then absolutely mortified when the response came from the organization president, who needed to personally sign off on me being too poor to attend the single most important event in my profession's calendar year.

I honestly felt so ashamed all the time at how I was apparently failing to be a successful therapist, failing to be rich and successful, and every time I mentioned it around mentors and bosses, I could feel myself shrinking from a person to a problem to be solved. My closest therapist-friends and I have reflected on how much more difficult, poorly-paid and underworked, our various career starts have been than we were ever warned about. About the classmates and coworkers who couldn't get disability exceptions when they fell behind in their registration requirements, or burned out and left the field, or dropped their registrations and took up as life coaches, or moved their whole family somewhere exceptionally remote or rural because it was the only good job available, or worked for some godforsaken app skirting the bounds of malpractice like BetterHelp.

I like those conversations, because I feel less like an absolute fuck-up in them. There's less "Hey Lis, you were so talented in grad school, I really admired you, what are you doing now?" "Oh, I, uh... am professionally disabled, so I get government benefits, and I... sell embroidery patterns on Etsy now."

My own therapist kept asking if and when I felt like going back to being a counsellor, and I finally told him: I don't, actually. I don't want to go back and do it like I was doing it before. It was a profession I loved to the depths of my soul, and it profoundly did not love me back. I can't even imagine what would have to change, in me or it, to make it have a space in it that could fit me.

All of which I was way too scared to admit to at the time, because the more I let people know I was struggling, the more they hinted that maybe I just wasn't in a place in my life where this was a job I could do, and I needed to take a little break and wait to come back until money and disability just weren't issues for me anymore.

Eventually my cups of doubt and exhaustion did overflow, and I quit. I'm here now, living a much different life. And at the very least, all my years of helping people in bad life situations set me up perfectly for my own. I already knew what form to fill out for financial assistance, which student clinics to access for mental health support, and which government agency would, if pressed, cough out pharmacy coverage for the genuinely destitute. It gave me that much.

I hope this is just me being in extraordinary circumstances, sitting at the intersections of a few different shitty life situations that most people skip right past. Because it's on one level comforting, but another deeply infuriating, if I'm not, and I've just missed it or we've just all been too afraid to admit it to each other.