How Being a Sex Therapist has Quietly Healed me, too
Discourse abounds around how stressful and intense and sometimes even dangerous the job of a therapist can be. And yes—that can all be true. Vicarious trauma and burnout are absolutely (potential) realities we therapists face each day. Add in being a sex therapist, and the jokes, stereotypes, and puns (of varying quality) multiply.
And there is another side to this work—the thing I know keeps so many of us going. That’s how absolutely inspiring and healing this work can be. As a therapist, witnessing a client heal can be a part of one’s healing journey. Please don’t get me wrong—I’m not making this all about me. In sessions and in this work in general, the container, discourse, and processing are highly client-focused. (As they should be!)
And I think it’s simply honest to acknowledge how this profession and my amazing clients have contributed to my own growth and healing. In industry speak, we call this type of reflection “person of the therapist.” Here are some brief personal musings around this as they relate to my work as a therapist focusing on sex and relational challenges (and growth!)
Times Being a Sex and Relational Therapist Has Helped Me in My Own Healing:
🌪️ The times when clients own up to the fact that they have been sexually shaming their partners.
Witnessing this helped me heal a part of me that suffered from being sexually shamed by partners. 💔➡️💗
🛠️ When a couple makes repair around something I’ve struggled with in my own relational life.
It’s inspiring because it reminds me of what is possible and of how far I’ve come. ✨💞
🔥 When a person steps into fuller ownership of their sexuality.
It’s a poignant reminder of my own growth and ongoing healing journey in the space of reclaiming every part of myself. 🌹🌀🌕
I’m so grateful for these experiences and honored to keep serving!
🌿 This work continues to shape me in quiet, powerful ways—and I’m grateful you’re here to witness part of that journey.
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Thank you for being part of this evolving conversation.
With care,
Bria