u/New_Document_132

Hello all. It’s rare that in 14 years of practice I’ve had to refer a patient out because of my own countertransference that I couldn’t overcome/regulate. However, today I had to do so. I feel like I failed this patient who I have already worked with for two months. He is a veteran and a first responder. He needs lots of help. However, I was so dysregulated by his presence that I was losing sleep. I know I need to seek therapy myself for this in order to get down to the bottom of it. I’m just really struggling with feeling like I failed him.

Therapist by profession, overthinker by nature, trying lately to become a little more adventurous and connected in life.
I love psychology, fitness, deep conversations, personal growth, good humor, and hearing what makes other people tick. I’m happiest talking about life, relationships, human behavior, travel dreams, or random late-night thoughts that somehow turn philosophical.
Looking to meet interesting people who can actually hold a conversation and enjoy genuine connection. Bonus points if you’re emotionally intelligent, self-aware, ambitious, funny, or have lived enough life to have good stories.
Tell me:
What’s something you’ve learned about life in the last few years that surprised you?

I’m a licensed therapist who works with trauma, and I’ve realized there are gaps in what I understand—especially with military and first responder PTSD.

If you’re open to sharing, I’d really value hearing:
– What do therapists tend to get wrong about your experience?
– What actually helps vs. what feels useless or frustrating?
– What makes it hard to open up or trust someone in therapy?

Not here to debate or fix—just trying to understand better so I don’t unintentionally miss the mark.”