The career of a psychologist unfolds through many phases.聽 How does the experience, including both the joys and the challenges of being a psychologist, change over time?聽 Borrowing Jeffrey Kottler鈥檚 (2012) depiction of the stages in the career of a psychologist, we asked MSP faculty to offer their perspectives.聽聽Lee Bach, PhD聽speaks to Stage Eight.
Stage Eight – Revitalization: “What in me is getting in the way?”
In my career as a psychotherapist, I have experienced phases of transition and growth.聽 Following brief
periods of doubt and pre burnout, I had an attitudinal shift that was facilitated by teaching two particular courses at the Michigan School.
In teaching humanistic, existential, and phenomenological theories to MA students, I began to view therapeutic processes through a beginner鈥檚 frame of reference.聽 Role playing both therapist and clients in class, responding to questions relating to clinical work, and re-reading old materials with fresh eyes re-awakened my creativity and enthusiasm for my work as a clinician.
I always knew that practicing psychotherapy informed my teaching.聽 Now I know that teaching positively informs my ways of being a as a therapist.
Kottler, J.A. (2012).聽The therapist鈥檚 workbook: Self-assessment, self-care, and self-improvement exercises for mental health professionals聽(second ed., pp. 10-16).聽 Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.