I am a psychology student aspiring to support individuals with mental health, and I also live with a mental health condition. I am seeking advice from fellow therapists (my potential seniors) on navigating this career path responsibly while managing my own wellbeing.
I know mental health work covers a wide range, from general awareness to severe cases. Right now, I feel relatively stable, but I’m unsure how to assess what I can handle. I worry that my own struggles could be triggered by clients, or that I might reach a breaking point. I also wonder about the work environment — who can I turn to for support, is it safe to disclose my condition to a supervisor, and would I face discrimination for having it?
Some of my questions are:
How do I know if I’m capable of supporting others while managing my own challenges?
To what extent should personal issues be resolved before stepping into this field?
Would I be irresponsible as a therapist if I struggle while trying to help others?
What support systems exist, and is it safe to disclose personal mental health conditions to supervisors?
How can I manage triggers, emotional exposure, and reflective learning without burning out?
Sometimes, I still “feel a lot” even in class when learning about trauma, anxiety, and depression. I know part of training is to be reflective and take the client’s perspective, but I’m unsure how much discomfort is still professional. If I’m easily triggered in class, how will I handle professional training?
Any guidance or perspectives from those with experience would mean a lot. Thanks.
Hey @user6756. Thank you for sharing this so openly. I’m really struck by how thoughtful and conscientious you are because not everyone pauses to ask these questions, and they says a lot about your values and how much care you’re putting into both your future clients and your own wellbeing
Uncertainty and worry shows up in a lot of what you wrote like not knowing how much you can handle, not knowing who it’s safe to trust, and not knowing whether struggling means you should step away. I also sense worry that having your own mental health challenges might somehow make you a liability in this field.
At the same time, I wonder if it might also be true that your lived experience has already given you insight, empathy, and humility that can’t be taught in textbooks. Those qualities doesn’t erase the need for boundaries and support but they can coexist with them.
You asked how “resolved” personal issues need to be before entering this field. Many people don’t enter mental health work because they’ve “finished” healing, but because they’re committed to ongoing reflection, growth, and care for themselves as well as others. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Often, many people grow alongside their work, rather than finishing their own healing first, and what seems to matter most is having ways to care for yourself and reflect when emotionally impacted.
Since you’re already reaching out for guidance, continuing to do so, whether with your own therapist, mentors, or trusted professionals, can be a meaningful way to keep understanding yourself more deeply while also learning about the realities of this career. Ongoing conversations like these can help you notice your limits, your strengths, and what kind of support helps you stay well over time.
Whatever path you choose, I hope you’re able to move forward with compassion for yourself and trust in your process, okie? Your wellbeing matters just as much as your wish to help others, and you deserve care and support as you grow
Thank you for sharing about your journey. Reading your post, I feel that your questions are insightful, considerate and responsible. From my interactions and experiences, may I share that I have observed that many good clinicians start exactly where you are. Having lived experience with mental health does not disqualify you from this field. Please know that your awareness, support, and how you care for yourself alongside the work matters much more.
I also think that one does not need to be “fully healed” to be a capable therapist.
I believe that it is more important for you to manage your own challenges. Do get necessary supervision plus your own personal therapy.
Furthermore, it may help you to know that struggling at times does not make you irresponsible. As long as you remain ethical and follow the code of ethics in your practice, that would be more important. Stay flexible and alert, adjust workload and seek support if you feel your own mental health is impacting sessions with clients.
I hope it helps when I share that it’s only human and very common to feel activated or emotional in class especially early in training. I recommend you ground yourself when this happens and reflect when safer on noticing signs and triggers. It is a dynamic process of self awareness, adjustment as you progress forward.
All mental health professionals benefit from supportive systems like supervision, peer consultation, and personal therapy. Disclosing a diagnosis to a supervisor is a personal choice. Many clinicians share only what’s necessary to get support or accommodations.
I applaud you for asking these questions. To me, it demonstrates care, ethics, and maturity. That’s a strong start and foundation for this field.
Hello, thank you for sharing this so thoughtfully. I want to start by saying that the way you’re approaching this already shows a lot of care, self-awareness, and responsibility. These are qualities that matter deeply in this field.
Many people in mental health work carry their own lived experiences. Having a mental health condition doesn’t automatically make you less capable of supporting others. What tends to matter more is awareness; knowing yourself, knowing when something is getting hard, and knowing how and when to reach for support. From what you’ve written, you’re already doing that.
You don’t need to have everything “resolved” before stepping into this field. Most therapists don’t. Being capable doesn’t mean you’re never triggered or never affected, it means you’re able to notice when something is stirring, reflect on it, and bring it into supervision or your own support spaces rather than carrying it alone.
Struggling at times would not make you irresponsible as a therapist. What would be risky is struggling in silence. Ethical practice is less about being perfectly well and more about being honest with yourself, staying within your limits, and adjusting when needed.
Feeling a lot during classes, especially when learning about trauma, anxiety, or depression, is more common than people often admit. Training is meant to stretch you, but it shouldn’t overwhelm you to the point where you’re constantly dysregulated. Strong reactions aren’t a sign you don’t belong; they’re information. Over time, many trainees learn how to hold that emotional closeness with more grounding and boundaries, but it’s okay if that takes time.
In terms of disclosure, it really depends on the environment. Some supervisors are supportive and reflective; others may be less so…? Disclosure doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Many people choose to share only what’s relevant, focusing on what support helps them work well, rather than specific diagnoses. A healthy training or work environment should include supervision, reflective spaces, and an understanding that therapists are human too.
It’s okay to move slowly. It’s okay to learn your limits gradually. And it’s okay to be both someone who gives care and someone who needs care. Those identities don’t cancel each other out and in many cases, they coexist in thoughtful, compassionate clinicians.
You’re asking the right questions. And you don’t have to have all the answers yet.
