The Wounded Healer: Why Therapists Must Prioritize Their Own Mental Health
Steve Drzewoszewski
Co-President / Clinic Director - MSW, LCSW, LCADC, CCS, ICCS, CPATP, MINT Member
July 21, 2025
In over two decades working in the mental health and addiction fields, I have witnessed an unsettling pattern: many therapists and helping professionals who dedicate their lives to healing others often neglect their own well-being. This oversight can lead to burnout, depression, anxiety, vicarious trauma, and in some cases, relapse or addiction. The irony is striking: those who guide others through the darkest parts of their lives often struggle silently with their own burdens. This article explores the concept of the wounded healer, the risks inherent in the helping professions, and why it is essential for therapists and other helping professionals to prioritize their mental health for the sake of both themselves and their clients.
The Calling to Heal: Understanding the Motivation
People don't enter the fields of social work, counseling, behavioral therapy, or other helping professions for the financial rewards. Instead, they are often driven by deep compassion, empathy, and a desire to make a difference in the lives of others. These qualities are the lifeblood of the work, forming the core of what makes a great therapist. However, these same qualities can also become liabilities if not managed with care. Without clear boundaries and intentional self-care strategies, empathy can become a gateway to emotional depletion, and compassion can morph into chronic self-neglect.
The Cost of Compassion: The Risk of Burnout and Vicarious Trauma
Therapists and healers carry the emotional weight of their clients' traumas, grief, and crises. Over time, without proper outlets and support, this emotional labor can manifest in various detrimental ways:
Burnout: A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. It is characterized by feelings of energy depletion, increased mental distance from one’s job, feelings of negativism or cynicism, and a reduced sense of professional efficacy. Burnout can make therapists feel detached from their work and clients.
Vicarious Trauma: Also known as secondary traumatic stress, this condition occurs when therapists internalize the trauma narratives of their clients. Symptoms can mirror those of PTSD, including intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, and emotional numbing.
Depression and Anxiety: Persistent exposure to the suffering of others can exacerbate a therapist's own mental health vulnerabilities, leading to clinical depression or anxiety disorders.
Relapse and Addiction: For therapists in recovery or those with a predisposition to substance use, the chronic stress of the profession can become a trigger, increasing the risk of relapse or developing new addictive behaviors as a form of escape or coping.
Warning Signs of a Wounded Healer
Recognizing the signs of personal distress is a critical component of maintaining professional efficacy. Some warning signs that indicate a therapist may be struggling include:
Increased Irritability or Impatience: Snapping at clients, colleagues, or loved ones more frequently than usual.
Emotional Numbness or Detachment: Feeling disconnected or disinterested in clients' stories, which can compromise the therapeutic alliance.
Chronic Fatigue or Insomnia: Difficulty falling or staying asleep, or waking up feeling exhausted despite rest.
Loss of Enthusiasm for Work: Dreading sessions, procrastinating on case notes, or fantasizing about leaving the profession.
Escapist Behaviors: Increased reliance on substances, overeating, excessive screen time, or other unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Feeling Overwhelmed or Hopeless: A pervasive sense that the problems clients face are insurmountable, leading to feelings of helplessness.
How to Avoid Burnout and Maintain Wellness
Every Therapist Should Have a Therapist: Just as we advocate for our clients to seek help, therapists must normalize the practice of having their own therapist. Engaging in regular therapy provides a confidential space to process personal issues, work-related stress, and emotional challenges. This ongoing support helps therapists maintain their emotional resilience and provides an outlet for the inevitable emotional residue left by client work.
Set Boundaries: Clear professional boundaries are essential for sustainability. This includes establishing firm session limits, not overbooking clients, and being vigilant about time management. Personal boundaries are equally important—avoiding work encroaching on personal time, and creating rituals to transition from the role of therapist to individual.
Develop a Self-Care Routine: Self-care is not a one-size-fits-all concept; it requires intentional planning and consistency. Key components of a comprehensive self-care routine include:Physical Health: Regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and sufficient sleep.Mental Health: Mindfulness practices, meditation, journaling.Social Connection: Spending time with supportive friends and family.Hobbies and Leisure: Engaging in activities purely for enjoyment and relaxation.
Engage in Supervision and Peer Support: Ongoing supervision provides both a clinical safety net and emotional support. Peer consultation groups offer a space to discuss challenging cases, share experiences, and gain perspective from colleagues who understand the unique pressures of the work.
Practice Stress Management Techniques: Stress management should be an everyday practice. Techniques such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and yoga can help reduce stress levels. Time management skills, such as prioritizing tasks and delegating responsibilities, are also crucial.
Take Time Off: Therapists must utilize their vacation days, schedule regular breaks, and honor time off as sacred. Taking periodic mental health days allows for recovery and rejuvenation, preventing chronic stress accumulation.
You Matter Too: The Foundation of Effective Helping
The truth remains clear: You cannot pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself is not selfish—it is a professional imperative. A therapist’s capacity to be fully present, compassionate, and effective is directly tied to their own mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Additionally, when therapists model self-care, they provide clients with a living example of healthy boundaries and wellness practices. This modeling can have a profound, albeit indirect, therapeutic impact.
Conclusion
Being a healer is a profound and meaningful path, but it comes with inherent risks if self-care is not prioritized. The wounded healer archetype reminds us that while our own pain can inform our empathy, unattended wounds can impair our effectiveness and well-being.
To all therapists and helping professionals: You matter too. Your health, happiness, and personal fulfillment are just as important as the well-being of those you serve. By taking care of yourself first, you not only preserve your capacity to help others but also ensure that your career remains a source of purpose and pride rather than a burden.
Stay vigilant. Stay supported. Stay well.
