How do you psychologist/mental health professionals avoid not taking on other pe!

How do you psychologist/mental health professionals avoid not taking on other people's problems?

i personally when i listen to people tlak aobut problems sometimes i start to kind of take them on myself, how does a preson who day i nday out, has to show empathy, not fall in too deep?

You need to maintain good boundaries and remember that your role is to understand and offer opportunities for a client to make changes, not to change the client or "fix" their problems for them. That is critical for two reasons: 1) to prevent you from owning their issues and becoming overwhelmed yourself (and therefore useless to clients) and 2) to enpower clients to find their own solutions so as not to become dependent on therapy for answers. Regular, good supervision also helps therapists to maintain this perspective. Many folks will tell you that keeping your own life balanced and making time for the things that are valuable to you in your own life (like family and friends and hobbies) also helps you keep your balance and avoid being engulfed in the client's pain, and while that is true, I'll admit I find that hard.

It isn't always easy and there are certainly times when we struggle with this. It is never just a job that one simply leaves at the office and the relationship between client and therapist is just as real for the therapist. When a client is in crisis, or I'm unable to help them find an alternative strategy they are able to try, I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me. There have been times when I have had nightmares about a client's situation and times when it is a struggle to let go an image or a feeling about what's been shared. What usually helps me are the following: 1) research to see if there may be something I missed, didn't know or another perspective that may lend itself to more strategies, 2) sharing it with colleagues for ideas or just support, 3) focusing on the client's strengths and resilience and the respect I have for what they endure, 4) patience and trust that the answer will come and 5) prayer-probably in that order! I've been at this long enough to realize fortunately that patience and perseverence is really the key and I've learned that sometimes empathy alone, while it often seems like such a basic thing, is the only thing that helps and actually the only thing that is needed. The longer I do this work, the greater my appreciation for that simple, basic skill and its inestimable value in easing pain that cannot be eliminated. The hardest role for a therapist, in my opinion, are those situations where you and the client cannot eliminate the source of pain, and the only "solution" is to make it easier to bear by sharing the load. But I've also learned how valuable it is to do "just" this as empathy seems to be a rare thing for many people.