Why Sensitive Therapists Are Struggling Right Now
Does anyone else feel they’ve been on a rollercoaster of emotions these past few months? It all started for me with anxiety about how to manage my practice during a pandemic, followed by relief once I was completely transitioned to all telehealth appointments, then came serious overstimulation from so much computer time and working from home while everyone else is home. My eyes were literally hurting for a few days! I would end my days with an eye mask, noise-canceling headphones, and a weighted blanket on. It was quite a sight! I was fighting so hard to navigate the overstimulation and overwhelm of so many changes all at once while supporting my clients, not an easy feat for a Highly Sensitive Therapist. We need time to process and reflect before making decisions or going through transitions, which a pandemic does not allow.
Once I got settled into my routine of working from home, I started to feel a new combination of calm, freedom from my usual decision fatigue of navigating the day-to-day, and saturation. I felt grateful to be in my HSP Introvert bubble but also emotionally heavy. There didn’t seem to be any place to set down what I was carrying because my own support systems all had their hands full too. It is very draining to be a spongy, perceptive, sensitive, empathetic, or empathic person during this time of our lives. As therapists, we are holding and feeling so much for a lot of people - not just our clients and ourselves, but probably for family and friends too. On top of that, many of us lost our usual self-care practices such as getting massages or acupuncture, having quiet time alone at home, or being able to separate work from home life.
As I recall everything that has happened and all the sudden changes that have occurred over the past few months, is it any surprise we’re all feeling exhausted and overwhelmed? Let’s look at a few specific ways we can meet our needs as Highly Sensitive People and Therapists to overcome the struggles of this difficult time.
Reduce Sensory Input
A big piece of the overwhelm puzzle is simply being overstimulated by too much noise, light, peopling, or screen time. Highly Sensitive People are more aware of subtleties and sensory input, so be sure to give yourself a sensory break:
Close your eyes after sessions
Use natural or soft lighting in your workspace
Allow for some time each day in a dark, quiet space to give your ears, eyes, and nervous system a break
Don’t Forget About Boundaries
I’m talking about all the boundaries - professional and personal. Perhaps one of the hardest parts of working from home is the lack of boundaries and how everything is all blurred together. Just as you would if you were at the office, have designated times for work and let clients know you will be unavailable (outside of a crisis) in the evenings and on weekends (or whenever your off hours are). It’s also okay to limit time with loved ones, especially over Zoom or video chat, if you need the rest.
Wring Out Your Emotional Sponge
Sitting with clients all day is meaningful work, but can take an emotional toll on us. It can be easy to absorb and be impacted by the emotional experiences of our clients, making it difficult to separate our clients’ emotions from our own. If you’re starting to feel saturated, find ways to wring out your emotional sponge. Some of my favorites include:
Movement (walking, dancing, stretching, exercise)
Writing (journaling, coloring, narrative therapy)
Mindfulness (breathing, meditation, yoga)
Laughter
Salt baths (with Epsom or sea salt)
Self-massage
What would be on your list?
Move At Your Own Pace
Tired of hearing me say this yet? As we begin to integrate back into normal life and possibly back to seeing clients in person, you may notice some resistance. Perhaps the process is moving too fast, you’re scared of the risks, or engaging with the world feels overwhelming right now. Please don’t compare yourself to what other therapists are doing to gauge what you should be doing. If you aren’t ready to go back to the office, don’t ever want to go back to the office, are not ready to take on new clients, or don’t have the bandwidth to join that networking happy hour, it’s okay to listen to your needs.
Process and Reflect
As therapists, we know how important it is to feel our feelings, but we may downplay just how vital it is for our perceptive brains to have space to process and reflect on our experiences. If our HSP brains are wired to make connections and reflect deeply on a normal day, can you imagine how much processing needs to happen during a pandemic? A lot! Take time to journal and leave enough quiet space to think deeply, not just in the shower!
Allow for Imperfection
As Highly Sensitive People, we are very conscientious, people-pleasing, and have creative visions, therefore we love to strive for perfection, even at the cost of our own well-being. Let me tell you, now is not the time for that! It’s okay to be good enough.
Rest, Rest, Rest
As often and as much as you need, take time to rest and do nothing! If possible, sleep in, take a nap, take a long weekend staycation, or whatever would feel restorative to you.
All therapists have been bearing the emotional toll of supporting clients as we ourselves experience a worldwide crisis, but Sensitive Therapists will have a unique reaction due to our heightened empathy, perceptive abilities, and need to process our experiences deeply. Going forward, we will need to reflect on what has already happened and give ourselves time to ease into the changes ahead in order to tame the overwhelm and exhaustion we’re feeling right now. Now more than ever we must go at our own pace, set strong boundaries in every area of our lives, and take time to rest.
