Human. Scientist. Practitioner.

You’re probably wondering what this means.

Well, I’m sure you’ve heard ‘scientist-practitioner’ countless times. And yep, that’s important.

But what about the human? Where are YOU in this phrase? Where are you in this ‘role’?

I’m sure that all of us who would identify as ‘scientist-practitioners’ would say the ‘human’ bit is implied.

But … I don’t want to ‘imply’ it. I want to embrace it. Embody it. Be it.

And yes, that includes ‘being human’ in the therapy room.

These are all me.

But also not ALL of me.

I feel extremely fortunate that my own experience of Supervision in addition to my intensive Gestalt Psychotherapy training, provided me with a safe and boundary-ed space to develop my Self. To understand the parts of me and how to bring them all together, including in the therapy room (and beyond).

I gained so much from this training and have continued to seek and explore more ‘personal development’ experiences, since those intensive few years. It really was the birthplace of my life-long commitment to developing my self-awareness, my preparedness (and courage) to sit with and sift through discomfort and my desire to try ‘new’ ways of connecting with, experiencing and understanding, myself.

And not just in the privacy of the individual therapy space.

Nope.

I have had the privilege of being witnessed as I’ve unpacked ‘stuff’, ‘gone there’, fumbled, flailed and fallen. You know how deeply impactful it is to have your therapist ‘hold’ you in your most vulnerable state.

Well, it is an equally beautiful thing to be witnessed and ‘held’ by many hands. And to witness and hold others #befullyhuman without any need to be their therapist is comforting, humbling and freeing.

I have NOT got this down pat. And despite the personal and professional resilience I have built, I am far from immune to being knocked to my knees. And I’m quite sure, it will happen many more times.

But, I am a work in progress. And I’m okay with that.

HSP is many things but at the same time, one thing.

The integration of WHO you are, with HOW you show up in the therapy room.

It begins and ends with connection to Self.

The in-between is the felt-experience of one’s heart, mind, body and spirit.

Through creativity. Movement. Breath. Journalling. Dialogue.

The beauty of HSP is that it offers YOU the opportunity to be witnessed and to witness others. But unlike client-work, you have no one to take care of but yourself.

The end result (although is there ever really an end?) is a psychologist who not only possesses psychological knowledge and skill to bring to the table, but also the human who is reflective, has (ever-increasing) self-awareness, is connected to Self (body, mind, spirit), is able to set healthy boundaries and respect those of others (even when it’s hard), knows when to show up and share, and shut up and listen, and can balance the responsibilities that come with the work alongside their own need for nourishment, space and rest.

Lots of good (and important) ‘stuff’ that creates a strong foundation for the PERSON upon which the PROFESSIONAL develops.