“Life as a therapist is a life of service in which we daily transcend our personal wishes and turn our gaze toward the needs and growth of the other. We take pleasure not only in the growth of our patient but also in the ripple effect—the salutary influence our patients have upon those whom they touch in life.”
― Irvin D. Yalom, The Gift of Therapy
Another favorite of mine to refer to clients (and other therapists) is Irvin Yalom.
He has a great mindset, which is necessary to be a sound and effective counselor. I love the “ripple effect” he describes in the above quote.
Not only does he call therapy a “life of service (to) transcend our personal wishes,” he also shows how there are people affected outside of the therapy room, as the client gets back into the world and is around others. This truly amplifies the potential good that we as therapists can do in serving others.
