It’s not unprofessional to show up authentically in a therapeutic relationship.
When I was searching for a place to do my second-year practicum in graduate school, Millennium Counseling Center quickly checked two boxes: its focus on athlete mental health and its belief in genuine relational work.
In this work, the relationship between therapist and client is central. Therapists are not distant experts (as in the old Freudian-style psychoanalysis) but active participants in the relationship, working with their clients in a collaborative manner. The therapist and client influence each other, and both bring their own experiences, feelings, and reactions into the therapeutic process. This mutual influence is seen as a source of valuable insight. Therapists at Millennium strive to create a safe, empathetic, and authentic environment where the client feels understood and supported.
And I do understand. I wish I’d had someone to talk to when I was a student-athlete, and I am not afraid to admit that to my clients. Sure, I am a professional, and to some people, that means that I am supposed to have my sh!t together. Spoiler alert – that is not the case in the slightest. This is not to say that my experience perfectly mimics that of my clients, but instead it allows me to genuinely connect with them.
I take the perspective that to provide clients with a space to heal, grow, and thrive, the therapist needs to show up as another human in the therapeutic relationship. We have histories intertwined within us that relate to how we are showing up in our current lives, and it is okay to share that every now and then.
My history includes being a basketball player. In my family, being an athlete is the norm, and I was beyond excited to join in on the fun at the ripe age of four. Basketball, soccer, volleyball, swimming, you name it, I wanted to give it all a go. Eventually, basketball stuck, and I chose to turn all my attention toward being the best I could. Quickly, that turned into missing family vacations and friends’ birthday parties in order to travel around the country hoping to catch the eye of a college coach. Throw in a few injuries to test my love of the game, and it got more challenging to find the motivation to stay locked in.
The weight of being an elite athlete is heavy. I am not going to deny that to my clients. Rather, I will highlight that. Affirm that.
A core belief among athletes is that we cannot show signs of breakage, but I want to create an environment where athletes can show weakness and be heard. Millennium’s mission is to create a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for people from all walks of life. We are committed to developing a treatment plan uniquely tailored to your needs and who you are as a person. It is my professional belief that this mission goes hand in hand with an understanding that clients need to be both validated and affirmed.
Connect with Lilly, author of “I Understand”: Bio | LinkedIn
Learn more about MCC Athlete Wellness
Listen to a podcast episode by MCC Athlete Wellness: Life After Sport
More related content to “From Athlete Turned Therapist to Athlete “I Understand.”:
Life After Sports with Derek Bylsma | Athlete Wellness | Substance Use in Athletes
