Therapy for Therapists
Mental health professionals carry a unique occupational burden: the daily work of facing and experiencing other people’s pain, crises, and vulnerabilities while sometimes struggling with their own. If so, it can be difficult to stay focused on work and not get distracted by one’s own troubles during session. This can create a particular kind of isolation, and one that’s not always discussed openly among colleagues. Many clinicians find it genuinely difficult to reach out for their own care, whether due to concerns about confidentiality in a small professional community, discomfort with being on the other side of the therapeutic relationship, fears of professional “judgment”, or a mistaken belief that, as a provider, you should always be able to take care of your own problems.
Effective therapy for a fellow clinician requires an understanding of these specific professional dynamics from the outset. I provide individual psychotherapy for psychologists and other mental health professionals. This has been a substantial and ongoing part of my clinical practice.
About Dr. Sharpless
I am a licensed clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience. This has included extensive work training, supervising, and providing consultation to graduate students and other clinicians throughout my career. This training and supervision took place at the Pennsylvania State University, The University of Pennsylvania, Washington State University, and beyond. I understand the demands of graduate training, licensure, private practice, supervision responsibilities, and the particular kind of fatigue that comes from being a professional helper, researcher, and teacher.
I frequently work with fellow psychologists and mental health professionals in my own practice. I also provide supervision and consultation to clinicians treating complex cases, which gives me additional insight into the challenges therapists face both with their clients and in their own professional lives.
Who This is for
Psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers, and other mental health professionals experiencing:
- Burnout or compassion fatigue
- Difficulty maintaining boundaries between work and personal life
- Overidentification with a patient or type of patient
- Anxiety, depression, or other personal struggles compounded by the demands of the profession
- A desire for a therapist who understands the specific pressures of graduate training, licensure, supervision, or private practice
What to Expect
Therapy with a fellow mental health professional in mind starts the same way any good therapy should: with a thorough understanding of your concerns and goals. We’ll work collaboratively to address whatever brought you to therapy as well as the approach with might be most promising, Though I practice contemporary forms of both psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapies, I’ve noticed that most therapists who reach out tend to request the former. Sessions are available via secure telehealth across many states (check the status of your home state here), with limited in-person availability in Frederick, MD.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you only work with psychologists, or other mental health professionals too? I work with a wide range of professional health providers including psychologists, social workers, licensed counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychiatric providers. I also obviously work with other types of providers (non-psychiatric MDs)
What if I’m worried about confidentiality given how small the professional community can feel? This is a completely reasonable concern, and one I take seriously. We can discuss any specific concerns you have about overlap or confidentiality directly, and I maintain the same strict confidentiality standards with all clients.
Do you offer this same kind of support through supervision or consultation instead of therapy? Yes. If you’re looking for case consultation or clinical supervision rather than personal therapy, visit the Services for Other Professionals section of my Services page.
Contact Dr. Sharpless
If you are interested in an evaluation and/or treatment, please contact me here or click the Contact button at the top or bottom of this page.