Therapist Growth & Inspiration
The journey of becoming, and remaining, an effective therapist requires continuous learning, humility, and inspiration. From overcoming imposter syndrome to finding your voice, cultivating creativity to learning from memorable moments, therapist development never ends. Stories of transformation, turning points, hard-won wisdom, and humor in dark times remind us why we pursued this calling in the first place, and how we can continually renew our commitment to growth. These articles share insights into therapists' journeys, creative discoveries, and sources of inspiration across five decades of psychotherapy. Explore wisdom from seasoned clinicians and celebrate the therapeutic craft.
Becoming a Confident Therapist
What Two Seasoned Experts Taught Me About Finding My Clinical Self
Things I Was Taught Not to Do in Therapy – That I Do!
5 Therapists' Stories About Going Against the Grain
In the following video from her 2018 Networker Symposium storytelling piece, couples and family therapist Sue Johnson shares a therapeutic moment that stands... Read more
In Networker editor Rich Simon’s introduction to the conference, he likened it to a deeply stimulating marketplace of ideas, where clinicians get an expanded... Read more
At this cultural moment of the #MeToo movement, which has heightened awareness of a broad range of transgressions, psychologist and bestselling author Harriet... Read more
In our own small way, the Networker has tried to revive the ancient, tribal practice of storytelling. At our third annual Symposium storytelling event, five... Read more
Therapy, in order to shake people loose from their tragic stances and bounce them into the human comedy, is at its best when it is funny, when the tragic... Read more
Decades ago, therapy was about transformation. But is it even desired by clients anymore, or necessary for successful therapy? Read more
The self-assurance of practitioners who publicly present their work can lead others to believe that psychotherapy is a far more predictable than it actually is. Read more
Some claim that much of psychotherapy is a pseudoscience, promising far more than it can deliver, with lengthy, expensive interventions for the common problems... Read more
As therapists, we’re taught to be master detectives who methodically investigate our clients’ symptoms in search of a “culprit”—the source of their... Read more
We asked six respected clinicians to share their most meaningful sessions. Read more
Psychologist Kelly McGonigal believes that stress isn’t the public health menace it’s usually made out to be—our compulsion to avoid it is often the... Read more
David Whyte specializes in helping people make sense of their life’s journey in a way that ordinary psychology can’t. In his latest book, he uses... Read more
In our profession, it’s often more alluring to explore new gimmicks than to acknowledge that our success largely hinges on simple, commonsense factors. Read more
Poet John O'Donohue's introduction to the therapy field came through his unlikely friendship with neuropsychiatrist Daniel Siegel, known for his book The... Read more
To get through to clients in our increasingly ADD culture, therapists must learn to evoke a deeper, more visceral engagement with them. At this year’s... Read more
Erving Polster talks about the concept of creativity how he sees it and how it is applied to the work we do with our clients. Read more
Gestalt Therapy pioneer Erving Polster is recognized as a master at bringing a quality of immediacy and connection into his work. Here’s a video clip that... Read more
Making yourself profoundly unhappy takes tenacity and creativity. But the real art of it is to behave in ways that allow you to claim yourself to be an... Read more
How do you help 200 teenagers who’ve had to flee their country find a path to peace in a new place? A psychiatrist who’s traveled across the world to help... Read more
To have real therapeutic impact, we need to help clients learn to relate to themselves and the world in entirely new ways. Read more
Actively cultivating creative power can be a revelation. It changes your brain, your outlook, your perception, and your problem-solving ability. Read more
Noticing a client’s nonverbal shifts isn’t enough. You must know what these shifts mean. Read more
Therapists usually enter the field because they’re drawn to it and have innate capacities to do the work. But whether they excel depends largely on their... Read more
In a world where differences between people have become increasingly demonized, more than ever, the therapist's job is to help people expand their circle of... Read more
Many clients believe that the therapy process all by itself will magically improve their lives and relationships. We must help them recognize that without... Read more
The search for the elusive experience of being "in the moment" isn't as complicated as you think. All it takes is a cup of tea, a walk, a question, a blessing... Read more
From the July/August 1994 issue SHE WORE A SEMITRANSPARENT WHITE SHIRT, AND underneath I could detect her fine lace bra. When she leaned toward me to take my... Read more
This essay offers 38 radical life solutions on truth, work, love, politics, and spirit—all urging you to stop running and be the solution. Read more
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