A Psychologist at work place

The theme of 2024 mental health day was “mental health at work”. Lately, the mental health of corporate employees have been discussed widely. Mental health in general is widely being discussed. However, the mental health of psychologist at workplace is seldom discussed.
The work stress of a psychologist is often underestimated.

There are several factors which makes a psychologist stressful. There are both internal and external factors contributing to it. One of the main reasons being a psychologist in a developing country where hustle culture is considered inevitable.

What would a psychologist do if s/he is mentally unwell? What if they have got appointments when they are undergoing stress or family issues or grief or any mental health issue?

It’s ethically right to not to take sessions when a psychologist cannot invest to a client. But what if the psychologist is going through grief for a very long time? So the psychologist is not supposed to work during that time?
So what about the financial wellbeing of the psychologist? While most of us are not privileged enough to take long leaves, how is it applicable to do a job where all your mental presence and cognitive-emotional-behavioral investment is needed?

Ofcourse, all these depend on the emotional regulation of a psychologist; how well s/he copes up to situations. The skills to seperate personal life and professional life. But the work of a psychologist is completely dependent on the thoughts and emotions. So how well can a human seperate personal and professional thoughts? What if the psychologist is going through a breakup and s/he has to deal with a client’s breakup issue? What if it is grief and client’s stories brings back the memories of psychologist’s dearest person’s death? What if it’s a bad day for a psychologist and s/he cannot cancel any appointment?

These issues are not exclusive to a psychologist as most people while having mental health issues turns up for work with every bit of the left energy. In India, when is it possible for anyone to take a leave saying I don’t feel okay today so I can’t work. Isn’t it a basic human right?

Like physical health emergency, mental health emergency is a thing. Psychologists gets calls during the odd hours, some are genuine clients some are perverts. Psychologist’s work is considered to be a part of hustle culture. You need to be available when the client needs you. But usually that is not how it is supposed to work.We sometimes live with the guilt of not being available all the time when someone needs you urgently though, what we do is ethically right. We sometimes work at night mostly as mental health consultations are considered to be happening during ‘free times’. When all the work of the day is done. Most of the psychologists works day and night. There is no fixed timing as some clients are okay during day time and most of them are available during night.

When there are not fixed times it is a boon as well as a curse. You can fix appointment checking your availability. But mostly it feels like you are working all the time.

Mental exhaustion is a real thing. Although a session is scheduled from 45 minutes to maximum 1 hour, most of the times it’s difficult a task to make the client be aware of it. Sometimes, it’s hard to stop the client when the clock ticks as they may be going through a very difficult day. But being a good psychologist in a professional perspective, you are supposed to end the session at time but from a client’s perspective to be available for them until they vent out. It’s a war between these two.

A few thoughts and considerations can make the psychologist’s work and workplace less stressful.
Psychologists can also be vulnerable like you. S/he may also have difficulties to cope up with life situations.
Psychologists are not always working. They are not ready to listen to your problems all the time. Also, counselling/ psychotherapy is not a free service.