Are you feeling stuck in life, even as a mental health practitioner? You aren't alone.
Connect with a support group of like-minded community of mental health clinicians!
Are you feeling stuck in life, even as a mental health practitioner? You aren't alone.
Connect with a support group of like-minded community of mental health clinicians!
As mental health practitioners, we are entrusted to help others overcome their mental and emotional challenges. We act as guides, helping our clients through trauma, allowing them to move forward in life.
However, who is there to help us when we are struggling?
Life is amazing at creating unexpected twists and turns, yet even as healers, we are not immune from falling into unhealthy internal patterns ourselves. We can’t help but be human, so don’t you think we need care too? Don’t you think there’s a lack of mental health support for mental healthcare practitioners?
If you feel that a like-minded community of mental health clinicians helping each other improve their wellbeing and quality of life would benefit you, then keep reading on!
The Healers Helping Healers Coaching Support Group is a safe space created for mental healthcare clinicians by mental healthcare clinicians.
With a trauma-informed expert-led and designed program, this community was created for those who hope to obtain support only fellow professionals can provide as they face unique challenges brought on by working in the field.
The coaching support group regularly meets to learn and explore:
…and more!
—Bride. (2007). Prevalence of Secondary Traumatic Stress among Social Workers. Social Work., 52(1), 63–70. https://doi.org/info:doi/"Prevalence of Secondary Traumatic Stress among Social Workers".pdf
Counselling for All is dedicated to providing a safe space where you feel at ease in sharing your authentic experiences and vulnerabilities.
Created and led by tenured trauma counsellor Mobina Hasan, support group participants can access:
All of which allows them to improve their quality of life.
Let's break down the details!
We meet through video call every other Tuesday of the month
5PM Pacific/ 6PM Mountain/ 8PM Eastern/ 9PM Atlantic
Each meet up is an hour long with the opportunity to interact with others in breakout rooms of 2-4 people
It's all casual —feel free to bring a cup of tea, wine or dinner!
The first part of the meet up is for us to get to know each other and discuss things like:
The following segment will take place in breakout rooms.
A reflective topic is usually offered by facilitators to support you through your personal journey.
Last, but not least, the closing of the meet-up allows for time to share our insights.
A private community of fellow like-minded mental healthcare clinicians
Learning and discussion under the guidance of mental healthcare professionals
Have access to resources and an expert designed program to make positive change for work within the field
Connect to other members and guest speakers through live chat
Check out these benefits you will gain!
Feel comfort knowing there are other mental healthcare professionals who have a similar experience
Be understood and encouraged by fellow clinicians also seeking support and wellbeing
Learn how to navigate your own need for support and healing
Discover relevant practical perspectives for your situation from other mental healthcare professionals within the community
Find ways to manage burnout and compassion fatigue
Have space to discuss, normalise and validate difficult experiences within your personal and professional life as a mental health clinician
Work together with like-minded clinicians to foster a community of trust and connection
Improve your capacity to navigate challenges and setbacks with more strength, adaptability and resilience
Discover more ways to celebrate your achievements
Feel an increase in peace and acceptance
Potentially make lifelong friendships and connections
And much more!
Maybe you’re thinking,
As mental healthcare professionals ourselves, not only do we heavily empathize with our fellow healers, but we’re aware that we may not fully realise how our personal obstacles are harder to overcome:
Many clinicians could feel shame in reaching out for help due to a stigma that they must “have it all together”
As clinicians, we face unique challenges being in the field, making it hard to be understood by those who are not mental healthcare practitioners
Frustration can occur when you have repeated successes with your clients, but feel stuck in your own situation
You could know what needs to be done, but somehow have difficulty pushing through
Feeling like you’re missing a major part of your support system and have no one to turn to
It’s difficult to find someone to safely confide in when dealing with uncomfortable feelings
You could be seeing your own children or loved ones in the next generation repeating the same patterns
As mental health clinicians, we help many clients. It’s very understandable to feel like an impostor when we have our own struggles. Often, the mindset of this stigma is that we must be “experts” in life, and any situation that defies that would challenge our capability and trust in ourselves.
As mental health clinicians, we help many clients. It’s very understandable to feel like an impostor when we have our own struggles. Often, the mindset of this stigma is that we must be “experts” in life, and any situation that defies that would challenge our capability and trust in ourselves.
It is common for us to enter the field due to our personal stories and desire to help others. We experience our stories as the protagonist, holding a very limited perspective of our narratives. With life creating unpredictable plot twists, it would be unrealistic to expect ourselves to always overcome things alone.
We can be a protagonist and a hero, not just to our clients, but also to ourselves if we remember that the best heroes had help along the way.
Who else could bring you the best insight but fellow clinicians who have outside perspective on the patterns your narrative brings
Write a new chapter of major breakthroughs with a community of fellow clinicians supporting your hero’s journey.
—Kinman, G., & Grant, L. (2020). Emotional demands, compassion and mental health in social workers. Occupational Medicine (Oxford), 70(2), 89–94. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqz144
"Emotional demands, compassion and mental health in social workers".pdf
You may not say this out loud...
“I’m a mental healthcare professional and I know my problems best. I shouldn’t need therapy or anyone else’s input for solutions.”
When we treat our clients, we have the distance of being separate individuals. This allows us to see their patterns more clearly. No matter how much we empathize with their pain, we are able to stay objective because we want them to heal.
When it comes to our own problems, we cannot help but have a limited perspective. Not only do we carry the heavy emotional burden of our struggles, but we also have to stay objective to see and apply the solution. No one can work effectively when they are in pain, whether it be physical or mental and emotional.
Mental health difficulties are also more complex as certain factors that contribute to the challenges could be hidden from our self-perception. From a physical point of view, this is why medical doctors ask other doctors for treatments like surgery, birth or even dental cleaning.
Another mental healthcare professional besides yourself would have an expanded view of your situation, and could even detect aspects that you don’t see. This has nothing to do with your effectiveness as a clinician, and has everything to do with simply being human with a limited point of view. However, seeking out support from fellow professionals shows exceptional discernment and self-awareness.
“What if my colleagues judge me?”
It’s understandable to fear judgement, especially when we were previously hurt by it. However, judgement is part of human nature and can be a tool to help us discern how to move forward most effectively rather than ostracising others. Don’t we judge our clients when we treat them, and vice versa, don’t our clients judge us when they choose us as their counsellor?
Bad experiences in the past could have also internalized this pain, transforming it into self-judgement. If that’s the case, then this community offers an opportunity for growth as we learn the benefits of being vulnerable in a safe environment.
Last, but not least, the colleagues in this community are in the same boat. They are clinicians who are also seeking support, so judging you would be like judging themselves for their own struggles.
“My struggles feel very personal. It would be uncomfortable to share this with strangers.”
We get it. Life struggles are usually fraught with difficult emotions which are painful to touch upon. The stigma and shame of not “having it together” as a mental healthcare professional is hard to overcome.
It’s very likely your clients felt the same, but chose to be vulnerable and share their difficulties with you, and you were able to hold space for them. Why not give yourself the same kindness by trusting that your fellow mental healthcare clinicians can do the same?
“I don’t want to ask for support because I don’t want to be seen as weak.”
When we’re used to being around others who don’t support us, it’s normal for us to choose independence. However, too much independence can also be unhealthy if we’re unable to trust those of whom we’ve discerned to be safe. Isn’t this the very concept we teach our clients, so why doesn’t it hold true for us?
When working with clients, do you see them as weak because of their struggles or do you focus on their strength and resilience as they push through their difficulties?
This community is a platform made by clinicians like you for clinicians like you. It is a safe space where you can transmute your struggles into strength.
“I'm too busy. I don't have time.”
We are very aware that society is in a mental health crisis and you’re probably neck deep in work, helping clients left and right. However, we can’t help but worry. Without time for self-care, are you setting yourself up for burnout?
Compassion fatigue is a common problem among us, and taking care of ourselves is a critical aspect of making sure we can keep helping others.
Promote self-healing,
learn ways to manage burnout and compassion fatigue,
foster a supportive community of fellow mental health practitioners,
Still thinking?
members gain access to:
Healers Helping Healers Coaching Support Group is designed to provide a foundational support system for your wellbeing.
As you join the community, you’ll begin to realize how to find balance by meeting your needs, improving your overall quality of life and your effectiveness as a mental health clinician as your passion is re-invigorated, all for free!
This is an ongoing online support community, members can join and leave as they see fit.
The support group does not replace professional therapy.
Support Group Research
Do I need to share right away?
Not at all! You can choose to do whatever you feel comfortable with.
Our expert facilitators will make sure the support group is a positive and safe experience for you.
Do I need to turn on my camera?
Yes. It feels more comfortable to share when we all see each other.
Can I connect with other participants on the platform or outside?
Absolutely! We highly encourage participants to connect with each other through one-on-one chat and share contact details if they feel comfortable. Many of our participants meet outside the weekly meetings and have formed life-long friendships!
Do I need to engage with other participants outside of the sessions?
It’s totally up to you. You may decide how and where you engage with the other participants outside of the weekly meetings.
Research evidence indicates that support groups create more impactful positive changes when participants engage with each other and combine their various insights, perspectives and learned wisdom.
Will the facilitators be available for individual calls if difficulties come up and I need to speak with someone?
We encourage you to let us know you would like to speak with someone through the Healers Helping Healers Coaching Support Group platform’s chat function. You will receive useful perspectives and encouragement from your fellow support group participants while gaining insight from the expertise of the facilitators.
The facilitators are not available for phone calls. If you need further individual support, we recommend exploring professional counselling services. Please see the Q&A below for more information.
What if I need more than what the Healers Helping Healers Support Group community offers?
The Healers Helping Healers Coaching Support Group is not a replacement for professional counselling services. If you feel that you need more individual support, counselling could be helpful for you.
You can reach out to Mobina Hasan at Admin@CounsellingForAll.org for a referral to a counsellor that specializes in working with other counsellors.
How will you protect my personal information?
The Healers Helping Healers Coaching Support Group is a safe space for you and your information. We have measures in place to prevent doxxing and keep important data confidential. Support group participants are encouraged and regularly reminded to refrain from sharing personal information.
What are you waiting for?
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©2024 Counselling for All is a service name of Chisti and Hasan Foundation.
