My good friend and colleague dropped a bombshell on me: someone they knew was studying to become a therapist without ever having experienced therapy themselves. With over two decades of being on and off in the client's chair, I just couldn't wrap my head around stepping into the therapist's shoes without knowing what it's like to be on the other side.
Let me tell you, being the client is no easy feat. It takes guts, vulnerability, loads of introspection, and the courage to show up even when you'd rather disappear. It was my own journey as a client that steered me towards becoming a therapist. Through a rollercoaster of experiences – from the good, the bad, to everything in between – with different types of clinicians and therapy modalities, being a client in therapy deeply informs the way I show up for my clients.
I recommend asking a prospective therapist if they have ever experienced being on the client side of things.