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It’s of the utmost importance to know how you’re spending your hard earned wellness dollars...

I was talking to my brother the other day and we were discussing counseling. I was attempting to explain to him what I actually do on a large scale as a psychotherapist. Randomly, I thought of an analogy that captures it.

Working as a volunteer Emergency Department Rape Crisis Counselor was the first time I became painfully aware of power dynamics in clinical settings.This volunteer position required that I meet with a sexual assault survivor directly after their power had been violently snatched. It was emphasized throughout my training that my role was to assist survivors in regaining their sense of power back. And although I understood this concept on an intellectually level it CRYSTALLIZED when I was in a room with a teenage boy, covered in bruises, hunched over on the examining table, his sobs causing his fragile body to shake uncontrollably.

It’s been a while since the last time I posted! I’m excited to explore the next characteristic of Helpers in this post. In case you’re just joining us in this process, the point of this series is to raise awareness and ultimately gain an understanding of what comprises a “Helper” in order to nurture them. This series works to honor the helper by taking the time to not only see them but celebrate them as well!

This article is the second in the series “Helpers Helping Helpers” and will explore the characteristics that are unique to those who find themselves in this role. This concept is one that assumes “helpers” have similar characteristics prior to entering their field (the term "helpers" used here was defined in the past blog post).