ABSTRACT
About two years ago I was talking with a biology professor over dinner; he was curious about what it meant to be a therapist. I described various aspects of the work, what was rewarding for me, what was frustrating, etc. During the conversation he finally remarked, ‘I can’t imagine dealing with all of that emotional intensity, it must be a tremendous weight on you.’ I reflected a moment; ‘Yes, sometimes it is…and sometimes that is what makes it so rewarding.’ At that particular point in time I was feeling physically tired and emotionally drained. I wondered what work was like for this biology professor who was ‘only’ involved in teaching and research. How pleasantly simple his life seemed from afar. Why did I become a therapist? Maybe I chose the wrong career.
