5 Common Questions About What it Means to be a Therapist
Written by Vanessa Power, Therapist
Vanessa Power is a dynamic psychotherapist with 21 years of clinical experience in a wide variety of settings. She is an Air Force veteran, boy mom, cat lover, travel junkie, and fitness enthusiast.
Therapy is often understood in simple terms, but the reality of clinical work is far more layered, nuanced, and deeply human. In this conversation, a licensed therapist reflects on the emotional, ethical, and practical dimensions of guiding clients through healing and self-understanding.
1. How do you help clients overcome feelings of inadequacy and embrace a more fulfilling and meaningful life?
In my experience, there are a lot of people who struggle with self esteem and self worth. This is a much broader, systemic issue. However, as an individual therapist, part of my job is to offer a safe space for people not only to share about their feelings of inadequacy, but to figure out why they are experiencing them in the first place.
Research has shown that approximately 95% of how we move through the world as adults is subconscious. This means we are operating below the level of conscious awareness. Our subconscious beliefs are mostly driven by childhood experiences and serve as a memory bank for the brain.
A question that I often ask my clients is, what message did you learn about yourself as a child? Or, at what age did you learn that? That tends to help open the dialogue about what they believe to be true about themselves and how that is working, or often not working, for them in the present.
2. What steps do you take to ensure that your virtual therapy sessions are as effective as in person meetings for client transformation?
There are so many benefits to working in the virtual space. As a clinical therapist licensed in ten states, I have the opportunity to reach people I would not otherwise have had access to. I have clients in three different time zones, in cities, rural areas, even on an island! What a privilege it is to serve so many individuals from so many parts of the country.
Virtual therapy also gives clients the opportunity to fit therapy into their busy lives. In therapy, we so often preach about slowing down and creating space for oneself in such an overwhelming, fast paced world but the hard truth is, we are a part of hustle culture and people are busy. As a client, being able to engage in virtual therapy without leaving the office or changing out of your pajamas allows for people to get help and support without making too many sacrifices to the rest of their day.
Finally, working virtually saves me time and money. I do not commute to work, I eat at home, I do not rent space from anyone or worry about sharing space in a traditional private practice setting. I am also able to run quick errands, go for walks, or move the laundry from the washer to the dryer. The ability to do things like this helps with my own work life balance.
3. How do you foster a supportive and non judgmental environment that empowers clients to be open and honest about their struggles?
All clinical outcomes start with an attuned, aligned therapeutic relationship. The relationship between a therapist and client is a sacred one in my opinion. I make it clear to my clients that my virtual office is a safe, non judgmental space. Therapy is a space where we can identify, observe, discuss, and process feelings and work together to achieve agreed upon treatment goals.
4. How do you tailor the frequency and structure of your therapy sessions to accommodate clients' individual needs and schedules?
This is a great question. I work really hard to meet the needs of my clients while balancing my own needs. For example, it is imperative that I exercise regularly. I will usually sign up for a workout class well in advance and then block that time on my calendar. There are always exceptions but that time block is typically non negotiable for me. I know I am a better therapist, mother, and overall person when I am regularly moving my body.
As I mentioned above, I am licensed in ten states. The ten states span across three different time zones. As such, I need to have availability in my schedule to meet the needs of my clients schedules. I usually work approximately two evenings a week and I try to have some weekend availability at least twice per month.
5. What role does your background play in shaping the depth and impact of the therapeutic services you offer?
So much of my life experiences have shaped my clinical practice. I think some of the best therapists have been through their own hardships and use those experiences to provide the best care to their clients.
In order to become a licensed therapist, one has to earn the appropriate degrees, complete a clinical internship, obtain clinical supervision, and then pass a comprehensive exam. I am also required to maintain clinical competency which I do by attending conferences and trainings regularly.
Attending relevant trainings is important to me not only to uphold the requirements of my licensure but also because I want the most up to date information for my clients. I also regularly consult with other trusted therapists and clinical supervisors. Yet, some of the best education I have received was through my own life experiences. Our life experiences help shape us and I find that a lot of what I have been through personally translates to my professional work.
Read more from Vanessa Power
Vanessa Power, Therapist
Vanessa Power is a versatile mental health provider, with 21 years of experience in the behavioral health field. She is located in Tampa, FL and has active clinical licenses in FL, IN, KY, LA, MD, MO, NC, TN, TX, and WA. She is also a qualified supervisor in the state of FL which allows her the opportunity to mentor and coach new therapists. In session, Vanessa utilizes authenticity, curiosity, compassion, and humor, as well as her own life experiences to help her clients achieve their goals and live their best lives.
