Mental Health
“I Want to Burden Somebody With My Problems Who Gets Paid to Listen”
Words from a wise and funny client muse
You know, as in not a friend.
My client said this to me as I was working with her to seek more support.
Not because I’m tired of working with her! Quite the opposite. She is often my muse.
However, as I’m supposed to be helping her — not the other way around — I frequently remind her of our treatment plan where she stated she wants to GET MORE SUPPORT.
After all, ethically I can’t help put her kid to bed or do the administrative work for one of her businesses.
I’m a Mental Health Therapist, an LPC and M.Ed. Unlike your friends and the stranger next to you on the bus, train or airplane, I do get paid to listen.
Seriously, I get paid to do a lot more than just listen. Otherwise, why all the schooling, years of supervision, and follow-up CEUs? On our best days, I lead you to examine your inner life, resolve the traumas, and become your most evolved self. Can friends do that?
Well, yes. Yes they can. The non-toxic ones anyway. And they’re free.
