10 Therapist Boundaries That Protect My Well-Being and My Work
I share 10 personal boundaries and limits I keep as a mental health therapist
Throughout my six years of working as a mental health therapist, I have developed certain boundaries and limits for myself. I was naïve in my first years as a clinical trainee thinking I couldn’t have them. As I gained experience as an associate therapist, I slowly identified things that made me an unhealthy therapist while other things made me productive. It took me a long time to name my needs and wants, but it took me even longer to not compare myself to other therapists.
I think it is incredibly useful for mental health providers to identify and implement their own boundaries and limits in their work. Whether a therapist is licensed or working on their clinical hours, having your needs met can foster regulation and assist with preventing burn out. In this article, I discuss my own boundaries and limits as a licensed therapist that I use. These are my own that help me maintain a healthy work and life balance.
Boundaries and Limits
I cannot see more than 6 clients a day.
When I was working for a large mental health corporation, we were expected to see a minimum of thirty-six clients a week. Most to all my clients always showed to their appointment and I was seeing about seven to eight clients a day. This type of work environment burned me out in four months. I noticed I was dysregulated physically and mentally. I had unhealthy eating habits, I was quick to snap at others, I did not clean my home often, and I was sleeping all the time. I quickly realized that kind of client expectation was not sustainable for me as a clinician or as a person.
I need to have control over my schedule.
I am someone who schedules clients at a regular time a month out. Routine is very important to me in feeling comfortable with preparing for my day. I have worked for several companies when there are multiple hands in my schedule. Over time, I have discovered I become irritable to same-day scheduling and disruption to my schedule from outside sources. This is due to my feelings of lack of autonomy, routine, and feeling of preparedness.
Passions change over time and that’s okay.
Early in my career, I believed that a therapist specializes in one thing and that’s it for the rest of their career. The reality is, we are forever learners and it is okay if our passions shift in another direction. Our specialty, niche, or overall work can change over time, we just need to allow ourselves the permission to pivot.
Knowing what clients I work best with and not is so important.
When you are first starting out as a clinician, you really are just getting a feel for everything. It wasn’t until a few years in that I realized what clients I work well with and don’t. I know now I work better with adults than adolescents and children. I once had my own therapist ask, “What are the clients that make you feel alive?” It is a game changer in my work because I feel more energized and motivated when I’m working with clients I feel aligned with.
Consultation is a must for me.
Now that I am licensed, it is not technically a requirement to have weekly or monthly consultation with peers. I still believe it is an important aspect of my work and best practice. I enjoy being able to bounce ideas off of others and collaborate. Being a part of a strong group is a safe space to show my raw self and times uglier parts. This is a good way to hold myself accountable with transference/countertransference and continue to have a high standard of ethics.
Find a good ebb and flow with working with clients.
At times I find myself working harder than the client. When this happens, I realize I have to reel back and work with where the client is at. I feel like this is something that will constantly ebb and flow in my career. It is something that I need to consistently monitor, but I have gotten better at identifying when this happens.
The ambiance of the counseling room must be comfortable.
I think good ambiance can set the tone for therapy. This means instead of office chairs or fluorescent lighting, I’m having a couch and warm lighting. In order for me to be a capable therapist, I need feel comfortable in my environment. I also think it allows my clients to feel comfortable and ready to do the work.
I need to wear comfortable clothing.
For me to show up fully for this work, I have to feel comfortable in my own skin and that means what I wear. I’ve worked at plenty of places with strict early 2000s dress codes: slacks, blouses, closed-toe shoes. I dressed that way for years, but eventually noticed it was taking a toll on me. The fabrics, the fit, and the texture all clashed with my sensory needs and left me feeling dysregulated. These days, I stick to nice, comfy clothes that let me breathe and focus on what matters most: my clients.
I don’t work past 5pm or on weekends.
I used to work hours from 8am-7pm and 11am-7pm. I have began to notice my mental decline starts in the afternoon. By 5pm I am spent for the day. I am not as of an effective therapist working late. I also protect my peace of not working on weekends. They are reserved for my own regeneration and rejuvenation.
I am confident in setting boundaries within the workplace.
I have noticed a shift in power dynamics from being a clinical trainee to a licensed therapist. It has given me a sense of confidence. All of these boundaries and limits listed are things I identified over time. Without these, I am not a successful therapist. I am now empowered to express these boundaries and limits in the workplace, because it helps me maintain being the best therapist I can be.
I understand every mental health clinician’s boundaries and limits are different for different reasons. I respect that! These are the ones that I have developed through my own clinical experience. It feels good to be able to name my needs and put them into practice. I also understand that certain work environments and even being an unlicensed clinician can make it hard to implement these. I still find importance in naming them and hopefully finding places that can honor them for your own well-being.
💬 Question for you!
What are your personal boundaries and limits to be an effective clinician? Do any of yours look similar to mine? How do use them in your own practice?
That is great to hear! I wasn't a therapist, but I was a tutor and a coach, and I had to create the max six clients a day rule, too! Sounds like you are really aware of what works for you, which I applaud!