Being a therapist is rewarding and challenging; the challenging aspects of our work can take a toll on us personally, which is why it may be wise, at times, to seek therapy. In addition to client work, our training leaves its mark on our everyday functioning and interactions. I have found that the introspection, observation, and attunement that I have developed as a therapist can lead me to overanalyze and experience stressors fully.  I am not sure how else to describe this; we therapists see differently. Perhaps some of this is specific to personality type, and perhaps some of it is a result of skills developed within our profession that are difficult to “turn off.”

For this reason, it's commonly accepted that therapists should be in ongoing therapy.

Katie Lee is a daily life designer.  I first heard her share her message on this episode of Being Boss, and I was intrigued. The way that Katie talks about the moments of our days is both challenging and inspiring;  her ideas easily drew me in.

I invited Katie to talk with me about her work, as well as systems that busy therapists can use to live and work more intentionally. Here's our chat, followed by the transcript:

I'd like to begin this post with a disclaimer:  Yes, the topic of this article is signs that you need self-care; however, I am not promoting (in this post, or anywhere) a view of self care that is based in strategies and tasks.  I caution you to notice if you feel guilty, burdened, or deficient in any way when considering the need for self care.  If this is the case, then I encourage you to stay away from "doing" more.  I also believe that the signs and ideas presented here can help you welcome yourself into your life in a new way, step by step, so that self-care is an awakening rather than a life-overhauling project.