4 Reasons Why Therapy Isn’t “Just A Chat”

One of the most infuriating comments I hear is when people describe therapy as “just a chat” (see also, “Oh, so you spend all day just talking to people!”). These people may not mean anything negative by it, but it’s incredibly discounting of the skills, knowledge and experience that professional therapists have gained, and of the work we do to support our clients to make changes.

It’s important to me to spread more awareness and insight into the profession I love so much, so in this post, I’m going to set out some things you might not know about exactly what goes into therapy, and why it matters. Enjoy!

The core training is intensive

Many people don’t realise how intensive the core training for therapists is. Therapists usually train for YEARS to build up a solid knowledge base so that we can offer the best possible service to our clients (core training can last anywhere between 2 and 7 years, depending on the training provider, and any accreditation processes).

There are the core training sessions themselves that need to be attended, plus assignments relating to the theoretical concepts that have been covered (usually a combination of written pieces and case presentations), skills sessions, and additional CPD opportunities. The depth of knowledge and understanding that needs to be demonstrated increases with each stage, so there is an expectation that personal and professional development will be evident throughout the training.

We have to do 100s of client hours - typically on an UNPAID placement - to gain clinical experience, and attend regular clinical supervision with an experienced supervisor to ensure that we’re practicing safely and ethically. Trainees are usually expected to fund supervision themselves, and each session can cost anywhere between £50-90+ per time.

Most therapists have their own personal therapy throughout their training as a requirement of their course, which we also have to fund ourselves. To give you an example of how demanding this bit is, I was required to have had 160 personal therapy hours over the 4 years of my core training to be able to qualify!

If the core training is delivered by an organisation that is able to accredit trainees through one of the membership bodies (UKCP, BACP, NCPS, etc.), there is usually an additional stipulation that the therapist we work with is accredited by that membership body for us to be able to count the therapy hours we’ve had with them.

The learning doesn’t stop after we’ve qualified

There is an ongoing requirement for therapists to continue to have regular clinical supervision once we’ve qualified as a way to ensure that we are continuously reflecting on our practice and personal development, and working in a way that is ethical and effective for our clients. You can learn more about why therapists have to have supervision here.

Our membership bodies usually have a post-qualifying requirement that we keep up with our annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to expand our knowledge and experience. There may be a particular specialism that we want to explore, or we might prefer to keep up-to-date with general new developments in therapy and mental health, or there may be a combination of the two.

It’s common for therapists to join peer groups with other therapists as a way to stay connected with other professionals, and to have a regular space to discuss any issues that come up personally and professionally, and may be impacting the work. Therapy can be a lonely profession, so these connections are vital for our mental health.

The therapy process is about more than just the actual session time with a client

Therapists are human first, and it’s impossible for us to completely switch ourselves off from our work. Sometimes a client will pop up in our thoughts for no obvious reason, and that might spark a thought about how we approach our work with that particular client, or other clients we’re working with.

We are holding everything we learn about our clients in mind during and between our sessions. This informs how we respond to our clients, the reading and extra training we undertake to give them the best possible support, and how we grow as professionals. We genuinely care about our clients, and want to do everything in our power to support them in the growth and change they’re seeking from working with us.

If we find ourselves thinking about particular clients between sessions, that’s often something we need to explore in personal therapy and supervision, as it can be a sign that there’s an unconscious process going on just outside our awareness, and this could impact the work we do with that client.

There’s lots of unseen stuff going on in the background

For those of us in private practice, we have to keep on top of the admin and other registrations (ICO, insurance, etc) that are part of running a business. This means that although we may only have 16 hours of actual contact time with clients in the form of therapy sessions, we will often have another 15-20 hours worth of admin, CPD, supervision, marketing, and other tasks to get done as well.

Many therapists continue to have their own personal therapy post-qualifying as a way to process things that come up in their personal lives, as well as in response to the issues that are being explored in sessions with clients. Therapists have stuff to work through too, and it’s vital that this is done in a separate space that minimises the risk of our stuff merging with the client’s.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my job, and I care deeply about each and every client I have the privilege of working with, regardless of how long we end up working together. There's so much to therapy, and this is why it infuriates me when the uninformed few discount a profession that literally changes lives for the better.

I hope that this post demonstrates that therapy isn’t “just a chat”, and that it’s actually an incredibly layered process that requires dedication and commitment from those who work in the field. If you’ve taken something from this post and hear someone using this phrase in future, do me a favour and put them right!

If you’re struggling with your mental health and think I might be the therapist for you, I have limited availability for new clients. You can contact me to enquire: by using the form at the bottom of the page; via email to emma@emmapooleytherapy.com, or contact me on Facebook and Instagram @emmapooleytherapy.