Challenges of a Mental Health Professional

Being a mental health professional was a dream of mine that I worked hard to make a reality. Meeting new people, listening to their stories, and helping them, is very rewarding, something that most of you would agree with. However, there are so many setbacks that we face during our practice that we are hardly made to prepare for during our Degree courses.

Unfit Space
For a brief period in 2017, I was using the consulting room of an Obstetrician in a Gynecological hospital. One day, I could hear a woman in labor pain & scream in the OT next to my room & I was struggling to focus on what my client was talking about. I mean how could anyone do anything else at that moment?
Cabin rooms having so many Idols of different Gods or a fixed big table in between the client & you, shared consulting rooms in a clinic or a hospital, where the nurses/receptionists are chatting or giggling in the lobby, are not the ideal spaces to take sessions, wouldn’t you agree? Our cabin is so quiet inside; our client could be crying or narrating a horrifying experience they had or you could be speaking softly in response to the client. Such spaces just feel uncomfortable & unsafe for us as well as our clients.
The basic requirement for an apt mental health clinic space would be a noise-free environment, a minimalistic room & that feels warm & calm.

Working in Silo
When working in an ever-changing and dynamic field like mental health, it becomes vital to stay updated with the latest research and studies. This is a huge challenge faced by many mental health professionals. When I learn any new information & connect it with situations my clients faced, I realize how I wished I had learned it sooner as the information isn’t really brand new.

Loneliness
Probably the least discussed problem of a mental health professional is the isolation that comes after a day’s work. Working in a private office, especially if we are not part of any supervision, peer groups or study groups does take its toll on our own mental health. It is very important to feel like you have a community supporting you through tough challenges and to share those little wins.

Superhuman Status
I remember since the time I started practicing as a psychologist, friends & family would approach me to ask if their issues or symptoms are ‘normal’. And at the same time, it would be assumed that I am emotionally sorted & should not have overwhelming feelings & even if I do, I should ‘control & stop’ them quickly as otherwise, I’m a bad psychologist, right? We are assumed to be great communicators. We are expected to solve all of our personal problems with ease.
Now all of this is quite unfair. We are humans and we too go through similar life challenges to anyone else. Yes, we are aware of the ways we could resolve the concerns, however, it isn’t that easy when one has to deal with their own issues. Sometimes we can work through them and then there are difficult times when we get stuck.

These come from my personal & peer experiences while functioning in our professional life. I’m sure there are many who have similar experiences. Hopefully someday with more awareness and effort, these problems will be resolved.

At Closure, we are building a safe haven for the community of mental health practitioners where issues like these can be discussed, addressed, and bonded over. We aim to build a strong network that believes in treating mental health the holistic way – with a balance of mind & body treatments. If you want to be a part of this community too, write to me at sayli@theclosurecommunity.com.