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This morning, I’m thinking about all of the informational demands that are placed on me for any given day. These demands are critically important to attend to, for both of my clinical positions.

Each day, I need to review all of my emails for my CHE Behavioral Health Services position. I also need to check my clinical dashboard, to see if I might have received any new referrals, as well as to review when clients require updated treatment plans.

For my BetterHelp position, I need to check daily if I’ve been matched with new clients. I also need to respond to clients’ messages. In addition, I need to check my schedule for any new appointments that may have come in. I also check my stats, to see if any clients have decided to transfer to a different therapist.

Completion of all of these tasks keeps me extremely busy on any given day. Thankfully, I’ve recently been feeling much better.

The increased anxiety and depression that I had been experiencing after my total hysterectomy appears to have diminished considerably. I’ve been taking Remifemin, an over the counter menopausal supplement, for a period of several weeks.

Despite this improvement, I’m currently more concerned about the status of my idiopathic subglottic stenosis. I’ve recently been experiencing increased throat clearing, which is typically associated with my condition worsening.

It’s close to seventeen months since my last dilatation surgery, my nineteenth one. Nevertheless, this is actually an improvement for managing this rare condition. For the past few years, I’ve needed throat dilatation surgeries every six months.

I’ve really been challenged recently by multiple competing demands. Trying to schedule all that needs to be done has been a real juggling act.

I’m so thankful that both of my jobs have a lot of built in flexibility. This allows me to incorporate medical appointments whenever necessary.

There always seems to be something to do in my life these days. Within the past week, I submitted my monthly column for Rochester Woman Online.

I also completed updated treatment plans for all of the residents at the two nursing homes where I provide psychological services. Doing so is required for all residents, every three months.

I’m continuing to feel very challenged by my position with BetterHelp. There remains a lot to learn about establishing, as well as maintaining, an adequate caseload.

https://doctoraspatient.blog/2020/09/14/practicing-good-self-care/

Working as a clinical psychologist is an extremely stressful job. You are continuously up close and personal with individuals who are, after all, experiencing varying degrees of emotional distress.

This occupation can easily leave you feeling very depleted. After all, we all have finite physical, cognitive, and emotional resources.

A profession that requires active listening to others’ distress is a very demanding one. Unless a psychologist takes time for his/her own mental health and well-being, he/she can feel like they’re pouring from an empty pot.

Counselors frequently pursue their own therapy. Doing so has multiple benefits. It helps lessen the probability of having one’s own issues interfere with effective responses to a client’s concerns.

I have periodically been involved with therapy at several different points during my life, for a variety of reasons. I’ve recently been thinking about doing so again, for a number of reasons.

I’m now ten days into my new position with BetterHelp. I’m really enjoying this position so far. I’ve already been very challenged by interesting cases.

It’s been a challenge to schedule new and existing clients. For now, I’ve chosen to keep my caseload stable, as opposed to accepting new clients. In only ten days, I’ve already accrued twenty-eight clients.

I so enjoy the conveniences associated with doing online counseling: I don’t have to commute, I don’t have to be tested for COVID-19, and, most importantly, I don’t have to wear a mask.

I still continue to see my regular caseloads of residents at the two nursing homes where I provide psychological services. I really enjoy working with geriatric residents.