It’s been only been 4 short months since I started my practicum placement with Impart, and the time has flown by. I feel that I have learned so much as a student therapist through the first half of my practicum (as I work towards my Master’s of Counselling Psychology with Yorkville University).
I went into this acknowledging the possible struggles and hardships that could come from working in mental health, and yet, to a certain extent, considering myself immune to them. I believed that I would be able to keep myself from burning out during a challenging learning curve, fight imposter syndrome with self-confidence and assuredness, and avoid burnout by not taking my work home with me at the end of the day. I felt that being a good therapist meant that I had to have everything figured out and that I was no longer allowed to struggle with my own mental health.
As you can imagine, I learned very quickly that this was pretty naive of me. What took longer, though, was for me to realize that there was no shame in struggling, that running into all of these obstacles did not make me any less of a student, therapist, or person, and that mental health is meant to be a lifelong journey.
Learning to accept help (from peers, colleagues, and my own therapist) and acknowledge that my own
growth and progress are never-ending has made me a better therapist. It has allowed me to approach my
work and my clients with humility and honesty. It has granted me a new perspective, one in which the
most important part about being a therapist is not to be perfect, but to be kind to yourself, present for
others, and open to learning more.
About Alyssa Nohar
Alyssa is currently completing her master’s of Counselling Psychology with Yorkville University, on practicum with Impart Therapy. She works with teens and adults who are struggling to navigate the ups and downs of daily life. Please visit here to learn more about Alyssa Nohar.