It’s the glow bugs in therapy.
As a therapist, it’s very easy to get caught up in the things that are not going well for our clients, things that are not going well in sessions, feeling like no progress has been made or feeling frustrated when you can see the potential in your clients, but they can’t see it yet. Getting caught up in these things and focusing on them makes it feel as though we are not doing our job and not helping anyone. It can feel defeating.
When I get stuck in this mindset, I remind myself to look for the “glow bugs”. If you stop and look at the little things that happen in sessions or in interactions with our clients, it’s almost like glow bugs shining in the dark. They glow for a moment and then disappear as they fly around the dark sky.
It’s looking for the little moments, such as a client telling you that they couldn’t wait to share something with you that happened since the last session or when they talk about something that they’ve never been able to share before or when they’re in crises and suicidal and continue to come to session and are open to talk about it.
It’s these small things that we can forget as therapists that show how much we can mean to our clients and how much our relationship matters.
Over the years, I’ve had little moments such as clients excited to show me their prom pictures or how they redecorated their room and wanted to show me pictures or without me prompting them they started talking about something that they’ve never shared before or they just become more engaged and chatty in session than they ever used to or they thank you at the end of a session.
It’s hard not to get caught up in the “manual of therapy” - if the client is making progress or completing goals. And although every client has a different intention for therapy, the relationship and rapport with the client become the most important. It’s with that rapport that you see more glow bugs!
To my fellow therapists, I encourage you to prioritize self-care, such as supervision, journaling or case consultation meetings, and take the time to reflect with yourself or peers, and to not get caught up in defeat- look out for the glow bugs!
Share below what glow bug moments you’ve had with clients during this last year.