How therapists keep their mental health in check

From depression, failing marriages, parenting to unhealed trauma, a therapist has to deal with all kinds of cases and here’s how they keep themselves detached

National Doctors’ Day, observed today, perhaps holds more importance now than ever before. The Covid-19 crisis continues to take a toll on the physical and mental health of people across the world — and our doctors are no exception. Yet, they stand firm as a rock, dealing with the challenges on a daily basis. This year, we speak to mental health experts on how they manage to take care of themselves.

It’s important for our community to focus on our health and consider therapy, says a mental health expert (Shutterstock)

From depression, failing marriages, parenting to unhealed trauma, a therapist has to deal with all kinds of cases. “A person who fixes others, needs someone to fix them, too. It’s important for our community to focus on our health and consider therapy. I take care of myself by practising self-relaxation techniques and taking some time off on my weekends,” says Shazeen Hafiz Bandeali, psychologist and co-founder at Menté Casa, Nagpur.

For Dr Ishina Choudhary, counselling psychologist and founder of Insight Alchemy, her family is like her therapist, with whom she can share all her thoughts and feelings. “I also feed positive data to my mind by reading, writing, listening, and speaking things that make me happy. I meditate daily, which keeps me balanced,” she says.