Why Helping, Healing, and Crisis Response Professionals Need Therapy — From the Very Start

Keywords: therapist self-care, vicarious trauma, burnout prevention, compassion fatigue, wellness for helping professionals

When we think of therapists, nurses, social workers, first responders, and crisis counselors, we often see them as pillars of strength—the ones who show up when others can’t. They hold space for pain, navigate chaos with calm, and help others rebuild after trauma and tragedy.

But beneath the surface, these professionals carry immense emotional weight. What’s often overlooked is that they need help, too. Not after burnout strikes or compassion fatigue sets in—but from the very beginning of their careers.

The Emotional Toll of Helping Others

Professionals in trauma-exposed roles face constant emotional demands and often work in under funded bureaucracies. As a result, secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and moral injury could be viewed as predictable occupational hazards of helping work.

Research confirms this: trainees and early-career professionals consistently report vicarious trauma, moral injury, and secondary traumatic stress (Harrison & Westwood, 2009; Knight, 2013; Cohen & Collens, 2013). In one study, 10% of counselors reported moderate to extremely high levels of compassion fatigue symptoms (Martinek, 2015).

Therapy as Professional Hygiene

We wouldn’t tell a surgeon to skip handwashing until an infection shows up. In the same way, therapy is mental hygiene for helping and healing professionals. Regular therapy prevents emotional wounds from festering and strengthens resilience over time. The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit (Office for Victims of Crime, 2017) emphasizes that ongoing therapy, supervision, and peer support are essential for sustaining wellbeing and preventing burnout among trauma-exposed staff.

Breaking the “Helper” Myth

Many caregivers believe that seeking therapy means they aren’t strong enough for their jobs. This belief is dangerous and untrue. The ability to recognize one’s limits and seek support is a sign of emotional intelligence, not weakness. Promoting early therapy normalizes vulnerability as a professional strength and models healthy boundaries for clients and colleagues (Barnett & Cooper, 2009).

Practical Steps to Build Early Support

1. Start Therapy Before You “Need” It: Establish a relationship with a therapist before crisis hits. Early engagement reduces stigma and helps new professionals manage the emotional weight of their work (Cohen & Collens, 2013).

2. Schedule Regular Check-Ins: Treat therapy or supervision as non-negotiable—like continuing education. Routine sessions help prevent emotional exhaustion (Knight, 2013; Harrison & Westwood, 2009).

3. Recognize Early Warning Signs: Common signs of burnout or compassion fatigue include irritability, detachment, and loss of empathy (Stamm, 2010). Early recognition allows for quick recovery.

5. Advocate for a Culture of Care: Leaders can promote therapy and emotional health as organizational norms. Trauma-informed workplaces see improved staff wellbeing and retention (Office for Victims of Crime, 2017).

6. Normalize Therapy for the Next Generation: Supervisors can model openness about therapy, fostering a healthier professional culture where helpers get help too (Cohen & Collens, 2013).

The Takeaway

Empathy is a gift—but also a responsibility. Therapy from the start of a helping career isn’t indulgent; it’s essential. When therapists, nurses, and crisis responders care for their own wellbeing, they extend more authentic, sustainable care to others.

I specialize in supporting those who support others—therapists, nurses, social workers, first responders, and other caring professionals. My approach integrates evidence-based trauma therapy with somatic and yoga-informed practices to foster balance, resilience, and embodied healing.

📍 Based in Vancouver, BC
📧 nicole@fbcounselling.ca
🌐 Learn more or book a consultation at https://finebalance.janeapp.com/

References

Barnett, J. E., & Cooper, N. (2009). Creating a culture of self-care in clinical training programs. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 16(1), 16–20.

Cohen, K., & Collens, P. (2013). The impact of trauma work on trauma workers: A metasynthesis on vicarious trauma and vicarious posttraumatic growth. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 5(6), 570–580.

Figley, C. R. (2002). Compassion fatigue: Psychotherapists’ chronic lack of self-care. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(11), 1433–1441.

Harrison, R. L., & Westwood, M. J. (2009). Preventing vicarious traumatization of mental health therapists: Identifying protective practices. Psychotherapy, 46(2), 203–219.

Knight, C. (2013). Indirect trauma: Implications for self-care, supervision, the organization, and the academic institution. The Clinical Supervisor, 32(2), 224–243.

Martinek, J. (2015). Compassion fatigue and self-care in counsellors. University of Lethbridge.

Office for Victims of Crime. (2017). Vicarious Trauma Toolkit. U.S. Department of Justice.

Posluns, K., & Gall, T. L. (2020). Dear mental health professionals, take care of yourselves: Self-care and wellbeing in mental health professionals. Canadian Psychology, 61(4), 283–295.

Stamm, B. H. (2010). The Concise ProQOL Manual (2nd ed.). Pocatello, ID: ProQOL.org.