‘You’re just paid to care’: Being Professional and Being Human in Therapy.

Recently, I’ve been reflecting on how much to share on my social media for this business. It’s something I’ve found difficult, balancing being professional and personal. The challenge for me is that therapy is both.

Therapy is a Professional Service.

Therapy is a professional service. Clients pay for it, and there are boundaries, ethics, and a contract that protect both the client and the therapist. Part of my professional duty is to honour that structure, with care and respect. Boundaries and contracts are not there to distance me from my clients; they’re there to create a safe space where real connection can happen.

Therapy is Inherently Personal.

At the same time, therapy is inherently personal. Clients share vulnerable and honest parts of themselves in the counselling room, and I’m deeply grateful for that. The contract and boundaries we set don’t mean I don’t care, in fact, they create safety that allows connection to flourish.

My approach is relational, which means our relationship is central to the work we do together. Often, this involves exploring the dynamic between us. Sometimes, it even includes me sharing parts of my own experience if it feels helpful for the client’s process.

Being Professional and Human.

While my role is professional, it is also deeply human. I genuinely care about my clients and often think of them between sessions. Something might come up that reminds me of a client’s story, it could be in the news, a poem, or even a feeling.

Sometimes, a client might have a significant week ahead, and I’ll be thinking of them. Or I’ll be out and about, and something small will remind me of a conversation we had, a phrase they used or a place they mentioned and I’ll quietly hope they’re doing OK.

Why I Chose This Work.

I chose this work because I want to connect deeply with people. The safe container of therapy helps me to do that. For me, it’s about being real while still holding the structure that protects both of us, a balance I’m continually learning to navigate.

Therapy is both professional and personal. It’s structured, ethical, and contract-bound, and at the same time, it’s human, relational, and full of care. That’s what makes this work meaningful to me.

Finding the balance between professionalism and humanity isn’t always easy. If you’d like to explore your own experiences in a safe, supportive space, my counselling sessions are here to help you do that.