Therapists are Human Too: The Importance of Therapist Self-care in our Current Mental Health Climate

The practice of psychotherapy is highly rewarding and gratifying but can also be emotionally demanding. The current mental health crisis has created additional challenges for therapists. The mental health needs of healthcare providers have been gaining attention as a major public health concern and threat to quality care delivery. We will review key statistics and insights of our current mental health climate and the challenges this climate poses to therapists.  We will discuss therapist stress, burnout and vicarious traumatization and explore how stigma and shame are barriers to therapist self-care. Lastly, we will review domains of wellness, positive coping behaviors for self-care and treatment interventions, including transcranial magnetic stimulation, magnetic e-resonance therapy, IV nutrition/NAD, and intensive outpatient programs for professionals. 

Educational Learning Objectives

 1. List four wellness domains.

2. List three components of therapist burnout.

         3. List three positive coping behaviors for therapists.

         4. List two FDA-indications for transcranial magnetic stimulation.

         5. List three diagnoses for which magnetic e-resonance therapy is very effective.

BIO:

Dr. Martha B. Koo, M.D., completed her undergraduate studies at Princeton University and her medical training at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She obtained her psychiatry residency training at the UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Institute and her subsequent psychoanalytic training at the New Center for Psychoanalysis. Dr. Koo is double Board Certified in Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine. She is also certified in psychedelic assisted therapy and research from the California Institute of Integral Studies. For over 25 years, Dr. Koo has provided outpatient psychotherapy, psychoanalysis and pharmacological treatment for individuals, couples, and families in her private practice. A pioneer in the development and application of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), Dr. Koo is the founder of Neuro Wellness Spa, where she offers TMS, Magnetic E-Resonance therapy, iv ketamine, Spravato, iv nutrition, and photobiomodulation as novel interventions for treatment-resistant mental illness.  Dr. Koo is also the Medical Director at Clear Recovery Center, a residential detox and intensive outpatient treatment center for individuals struggling with mental health, addiction, and dual diagnoses. She is on the Board of Directors of the Clinical TMS Society and the Beach Cities Health District, an active lecturer at the New Center for Psychoanalysis and a clinical supervisor at MB Professional Group.