Sometimes, it’s easy for people to forget that therapists are only human. They have just as many problems and struggles in life as everyone else. While people might think therapists can always work through those problems because of their skills and expertise, that’s not always the case.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health care saw a considerable spike. More people were experiencing great deals of stress and anxiety, causing an influx of new therapy patients across the country. However, therapists were/are not immune to the same pressure and anxiety.

So, what was it like being a mental health provider during a global pandemic?

Loneliness

One of the most significant issues so many people faced during the pandemic was isolation and loneliness. At the start of COVID-19, many people were under lockdown or had nowhere to go as businesses across the country closed to keep people safe.

Many mental health professionals closed their offices for in-person visits, as well. That was a positive precaution to keep both mental health providers and their patients safe. However, it caused an increase in loneliness for many therapists. While some got into teletherapy and offered virtual appointments, it’s never quite the same as connecting with people in person.

Stress

Again, therapists are only human. They go through the same experiences as everyone else, and it’s not always easy to self-diagnose or treat a mental health concern on your own. Think of a doctor trying to operate on her own body or provide long-term medical care for her illness. That wouldn’t happen–she’d rely on the expertise of another in the medical field.

Unfortunately, it can often be easier said than done to reach out for help when it comes to mental health issues. Many therapists became bombarded with new patients throughout the pandemic. So, even if they were experiencing a lot of stress (or even anxiety), they may have ignored some of the common signs to focus on their patients.

Burnout

Because of that significant influx of patients, many therapists experienced a great deal of burnout during the pandemic. Some of the common signs of burnout include:

• Self-doubt
• Exhaustion
• Loss of motivation
• An increasingly negative outlook
• Detachment

Indeed, those aren’t helpful symptoms for anyone, but they can be exceptionally damaging to a therapist’s career, let alone their mental health. Not only can burnout impact a therapist’s ability to work, but it can also make it more difficult for them to reach out for help they might need.

A Sense of Togetherness

If there was one positive thing to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the knowledge that all of us were going through similar experiences. There was a sense of community and togetherness amid struggle and stress. Therapists are no exception to that. That kind of togetherness helped to combat loneliness. It made it easier for many therapists to be empathetic and sympathetic with patients dealing with exceptionally difficult experiences during the pandemic.

However, a therapist can’t rely on their patients to help them deal with their own struggles. If you’ve seen a therapist in person or virtually throughout the pandemic, you likely didn’t know if they were having a hard time or not.
With that in mind, it’s important to understand, once again, that therapists are just people, too.

Being a mental health provider during a global pandemic was a difficult task, so don’t be surprised if your therapist sought out help of their own or is still attending therapy. It’s another aspect of all of us being in this situation together, and it’s essential to empathize with those in the mental health field.

We are here to support you too when you are ready. Connect with us today so we can talk about how we can guide you during this time.