Therapy for the Helping Professions

Helping professionals (such as teachers, police, firefighters and others) and health care providers (psychologists, physicians, nurses, and others) dedicate their professional lives to helping others. However, the unique responsibilities of these professions can lead to stress and emotional reactions. Psychotherapy can help.

Acute stressors faced by helping professionals

• Being overwhelmed by the problems of others

• Exposure to others’ traumatic experiences

• Being overworked and understaffed

• Difficulties coping with the public

Common emotional difficulties

• Emotional exhaustion

• Feeling overwhelmed

• Irritability and anger

• Trying to “tough it out”

• Burnout

• Compassion fatigue: not being able to sympathize with clients or the public because of emotional exhaustion

• Vicarious traumatization: feeling traumatized because of hearing about the traumas of others.

Unique responsibilities and stressors of health care professionals

• Life or death decisions
• High level of responsibility for patient care
• High job stress
• Difficult patients and coworkers
• Administrative hassles

Dr. Willer’s qualifications

• Specializing in the difficulties of helping professionals and health care professionals
• Mentored psychology trainees for many years
• Knowledge of the developmental issues of younger professionals, as well as the personal and career concerns of mid-career health care providers
• Extensive experience treating post-traumatic stress and related conditions
• Extensive experience collaborating with various health care professionals

Please contact me if you are interested in learning more at 773-859-1822 or e-mail me.