Therapy for Healthcare Workers: Why You Don’t Have to Hold It All Together
If you work in healthcare, chances are you’ve heard — or told yourself — some version of: You have to be strong - for the patient, for your colleagues, because there isn’t time to feel big feelings, because there’s no alternative…
But what if being strong all the time is exactly what’s breaking you down?
Working in medicine or healthcare often means taking care of everyone else's pain, while quietly carrying your own. You show up for patients, stay composed in crises, and hold space for families — even when your own reserves are running dangerously low.
This post is a reminder: you’re allowed to need support, too. Therapy for medical professionals isn’t about weakness. It’s about sustainability, safety, and reclaiming your own humanity in a system that often asks you to set it aside.
Why Anxiety in Healthcare Often Goes Unnoticed
In a field that runs on high stakes, adrenaline, and constant pressure, anxiety can become part of the baseline. You’re expected to move quickly, make life-altering decisions, and keep your cool — even when things feel far from okay. In fact, anxiety can seem like an asset. One of my therapy colleagues once told me, after learning I worked at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), that “CHOP was by neurotic people, for neurotic people”; the implication being that unless you’re a neurotic, anxious person, you won’t succeed there.
Here’s how anxiety in healthcare professionals often shows up:
You’re always “on,” even off the clock
You replay difficult cases or conversations endlessly in your mind
You feel guilty taking a sick day or asking for help
You can’t stop second-guessing yourself
You fear being seen as “too emotional,” “too slow,” or “not enough”
And because you’re good at your job — because you hold it together — it can be easy to overlook how deeply this is affecting your well-being.
You Don’t Have to Earn the Right to Struggle
So many of the healthcare workers I support say things like:
“Other people have it worse.”
“It’s just part of the job.”
“I’m the one people come to — I can’t fall apart.”
But here’s the truth: you don’t need a catastrophic reason to deserve support. Chronic stress, emotional labor, moral injury, and vicarious trauma are real — and they compound over time.
Therapy can offer a space to put it all down, even briefly. A space where you don’t have to be the expert, the strong one, or the calm one.
What Therapy for Medical Professionals Can Look Like
As a therapist licensed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Washington DC, and Vermont, I specialize in working with healthcare workers, social workers, and other helping professionals.
Together, we focus on:
Recognizing and treating burnout and anxiety
Processing moral distress and complex grief
Setting boundaries in emotionally demanding environments
Reconnecting with your identity outside of your professional role
Making room for joy, rest, and personal growth
This isn’t about “fixing” you. It’s about supporting the you who has been quietly carrying too much, for too long, and figuring out how you can continue to show up well for your career.
You Deserve to Be Supported, Too
You don’t have to hold it all together to be good at your job. You’re allowed to take the mask off. You’re allowed to be human.
If you’re a medical professional looking for therapy in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Washington DC, or Vermont, I’d be honored to support you.
💬 Ready to take the first step? Reach out here to schedule a consultation.