As a person who is not a therapist, we often forget that the person who spends hours a day dissecting the human mind and behavior is, at the end of the day, a human being too. They have their own sets of trials and tribulations and traumas too. They are attuned to so much hardship in other people’s lives that it affects them too, and most therapists have their own therapist for that very reason. Many of them are still working on themselves, just like you. So if a therapist has asked you out and you are wondering, “Are psychologists good partners?”, then you are in luck. Consultant psychologist Jaseena Backer (MS Psychology), who is a gender and relationship management expert, points out a few things to know before dating a therapist.
What Is It Like Dating A Therapist?
The thought of dating a therapist can be intimidating for a lot of people. While some people fear having their every move scrutinized and everything they do be judged, others assume a therapist is always put together, and some think dating a therapist will fix their life for them. None of these things are entirely true. “One of the things to know before dating a therapist is that they don’t have all the answers,” Jaseena explains, “You might feel that one of the benefits of dating a therapist is you get a manual for life and relationships, but that is not the case. No one is perfect and this applies to your therapist partner as well.” As a therapist, your partner might be better equipped than others to help you process things. But no one else apart from you alone can fix your life. That is for you to work out entirely. You may hire your own therapist to help you in this process, but that doesn’t mean you treat your partner as one. If you have decided to start a relationship with a therapist, then get ready to talk. Communication is important in a relationship and when you are dating a therapist there is going to be a lot of it. They are very detail-oriented and you might spend 2 hours talking about something to get to the root of the issue and to understand the pattern of your and their behavior. And for someone who is not accustomed to this, this intense experience can be one of the struggles of dating a therapist. One might wonder, are psychologists good partners? No one is perfect and we all have our flaws. But if you want a partner who will try their best to make the relationship work, then there is no one better than them. One of the major benefits of dating a therapist is when in a relationship, they will do their best to make it work even when things seem tricky. But does it mean that if you are dating a therapist, your relationship will be a bed of roses? Most likely not. Every relationship has its drawbacks and charms; a relationship with a therapist is no different. Here are some pros and cons you should consider before you start dating a therapist.
7 Pros Of Dating A Therapist
Therapist, whether in training or one who’s practicing, keeps evolving their life hacks. They have developed skills in their profession that allows them to read and understand a person better. “When you are dating a therapist, you are going to feel understood,” Jaseena says. “They understand the importance of communication and understanding in a relationship and they will bring a lot of it into the relationship to keep the relationship strong and happy.” A therapist has a lot to offer, as you will soon find out. Here are some things to appreciate when you start dating a therapist.
1. They are empathetic
You can’t really be a therapist without having a high EQ. And you cannot have a high EQ without being empathetic. Therapists can put themselves in your shoes and understand your feelings and emotions. “When you are dating a therapist, there will be a lot of communication in your relationship. The good, the bad – everything will be talked about. Being great listeners, they will pay attention to all that you have to say, without scoffing at your feelings or judging you,” explains Jaseena. It can be heartbreaking when you open yourself up to someone and they disregard or worse, humiliate you for your vulnerability. This will not be one of the struggles of dating a therapist. A therapist will be mindful in his relationships, so you will be heard and understood and your feelings will be validated. You will not be judged for being vulnerable and that is a beautiful thing to have in a relationship. A good therapist knows that therapy cannot occur in a void, so this person will also hold empathy for socio-economic and political issues and how they intersect with everyone’s mental health. That’s a gem of a person right there.
2. Benefits of dating a therapist: Patience
With great listening skills, comes great patience. Doesn’t come as a surprise now, does it? Therapists are trained to be patient. Spending hours after hours, day after day listening to people, you can’t help but learn to be patient. It is a very important part of being a good therapist, and this quality will be predominant while dating them. They are willing to put effort into the relationship. They will work through problems step by step and keep their calm. They will try to resolve a conflict in a way that works and where no one’s mental health is badly affected, including their own. If you like drama, then on the flip side, this patience means your fights might not be as satisfying as you like them to be. No yelling or throwing dishes. No tornadoes meeting volcanoes, which to some people might feel like one of the dating a therapist cons. A therapist will calmly listen to you while you shout yourself hoarse, get to the bottom of your anger, and then try to resolve the underlying issue at the same time. Frustrating!! Yes. But also, very healthy. But remember, they also know not to indulge in too much drama and might walk out if the relationship is no longer healthy for them.
3. You will always get good support and advice
When you are dating a therapist, you will definitely get a lot of emotional support and a morale boost when you need it. No matter at what stage of dating you are in, whether you are dating a therapist online or married to one, a therapist partner will always take care of your emotional needs and be there for you. Therapists are trained in human psychology. They have an intricate knowledge of how the human brain works. So whatever your problems are, whether it’s a friend who constantly seems to be putting you down, or a family member with whom you are perennially waging a war, they will be on your side. They will help you get to the bottom of the problem and also give you solutions to sort out your issues.
4. They understand how you function
To some people, this can come off as one of the dating a therapist cons. When you are dating a therapist, chances are they understand you really well. This might make some people feel vulnerable and exposed. After all, they are trained to read the little cues and body language signs that one cannot hide. However, there is a huge positive to this. Jaseena says, “If you are dating a therapist, then they will know what your triggers are and how to work around them. A therapist is more likely to understand the source of your emotions and will have the patience to deal with them.” They will know how to make you feel better. When you are in a dark place mentally, they are the ones who will be able to penetrate that darkness and get you out of it, or at least know how to sit with you in the dark.
5. They really want to please you
Are psychologists good partners? Let’s answer it this way: An interesting thing about being with a therapist is if they say they love you, they mean it. A therapist is a person who knows who they are and what they want in a relationship and life. If they’re committed to a mutually healthy relationship, they are committed. A pro-tip for dating a therapist is knowing their feelings are sincere for you and that you are not a subject for their experiments. Your therapist partner understands you at a very deep level, wants to love and please you, and that is something worth cherishing, is it not?
6. Dating a therapist means fun conversations
One thing is guaranteed. When you are dating a therapist, conversations will never be boring. A therapist worth their salt will have the skill to steer the conversations into deeper waters. Also, they will ask all the right questions to get to know you better. When you study to become a psychologist, you are taught to make a person talk (at their own pace). It is a must-have for their profession. Needless to say, you are bound to have some really good conversations, even for hours at a time. If you are a sapiosexual and believe in love at first conversation instead of love at first sight, then dating a therapist is bound to get you weak in your knees.
7. You can be your true self
We all know that if you are unable to trust your partner, the relationship will collapse after a while. A couple might trust each other not to stray, but is this really the limited definition of ‘trust’? Too often we see couples who are very loyal to each other unable to be themselves in their relationships. A healthy relationship gives a person a safe space to be vulnerable and when you are dating a therapist, this security is ensured. There is very little that surprises a therapist. After all, they deal with a wide range of clients and mental health issues. “A therapist’s job entails that they provide a safe environment for their client to open up,” says Jaseena, “They can keep secrets without being judgmental. Things spoken in confidence will always remain in confidence.” They will encourage you to be yourself, love yourself and love you for who you are . All that said, life with a therapist is not always sunny. Issues might crop up from time to time like they do in every relationship. Here are some dating a therapist cons you should keep in mind as well.
3 Cons Of Dating A Therapist
Dating a therapist, or anyone for that matter, is a double-edged sword. Every relationship has its own set of problems. There is an image that comes to our minds when we think of a therapist. The image is of a person who understands you and is able to connect with you on a deep level. And it is true to a great extent, but the reality might be a little different. As Jaseena so aptly puts it, “The communications, attentions, compassion, and understanding feel good initially, but going further, the constant probing and over-analyzing can make the partner feel that they are losing their emotional freedom.” Here are some reasons why a relationship with a therapist could feel like an uphill climb.
1. They are going to be busy
And that is an understatement. With more and more people becoming aware of mental health issues and the importance of mental health in general, the demand for a therapist has increased. So be prepared for a hectic job schedule. Or waiting for them for a long time on a dinner date because they had to take on an emergency session with a client.
2. They might try to psychoanalyze you
It is very difficult to not bring the work back home. When you are doing something for 8 hours straight in your day (that’s one-third of your life), it becomes a part of your personality. It’s the same when you are dating a therapist. “One of the struggles of dating a therapist is that they are unable to take their therapist hat off when they are off work,” shares Jaseena, “Your therapist partner may try to psychoanalyze you from time to time and give advice as to how to handle your emotions. They will also expect you to constantly analyze yourself and behave accordingly.” One of the important tips for dating a therapist is to remember your boundaries and reinforce them. You are their partner, not a client. No matter how difficult it is for your partner to leave work at the office, it is beneficial for your relationship that they maintain a work-life balance.
3. People will be approaching them all the time
The moment you tell your friends and family that you are dating a therapist, chances are some of them will try to approach your partner in the hopes of getting a little bit of counseling every now and then. Be it getting them to guess their personality type or asking if their husband is a narcissist or not. No matter the reason, they are bound to be approached by people. Even if you are dating a therapist online, your partner’s other matches are going to talk to them even after you both have become exclusive. They, like others, will try to reach out to your partner for advice on their issues, their love life, mental health, and other relationships. And if you are a person who gets jealous easily, this can become a huge issue. One important thing to remember when you are dating a therapist online or in reality is to not go into the relationship if you are insecure. You can have a very healthy and fulfilling relationship with a therapist, but if you are insecure, then you might not be able to see the good aspects of your dynamic. And this can have a very damaging effect. When you date a therapist, the universe hands you a mirror. There will be days when you don’t like what you see and then again there will be days you will be stopped dead in your tracks, marveling at the beauty that is your relationship. One of the most essential tips for dating a therapist is to love yourself and be confident, and I assure you, your relationship with your therapist partner will be an adventure of a lifetime.
