The Diverse Motivations to Become a Psychotherapist
Some time ago, we launched a call for contributions, aiming to understand the original intentions of people choosing to become psychotherapists. In the solicitation, we mentioned two types of original intentions for becoming a psychotherapist. One is to prevent others from experiencing the pain one has endured, and the other is to use one’s enthusiasm to warm the whole world.
We editors were deeply touched by everyone’s enthusiasm and wonderful messages. We were also surprised to find that the reasons for becoming a therapist are far more than these two. Each original intention gives us courage in its unique way. Due to limited space, we have selected some representative messages to share with you.
Do you still remember why you chose to become a therapist?
Fascinated by Human Nature
- @Wu*: Human nature fascinates me. The thought of embarking on a journey with clients with a sense of awe and exploring the infinite possibilities of human nature sounds really interesting.
- @Yang*Mao: When I was very young, the therapists I saw in movies and on TV seemed to not have to work on a fixed schedule. They were free, wealthy, and appeared to help people with ease. I silently planted a seed in my heart, thinking this job was really great. But when I actually became a therapist, I found that what was shown on TV was all lies. However, during this process, I discovered how wonderful it is to explore a person’s life story with them. Every weekly one – hour session is both the same and different. The clients’ problems may be similar, but each person is unique. The richness and interestingness of human nature have become the most attractive thing to me.
- @Zhou*: An interesting question. When I was a child, it was quite interesting that classmates in my class, even the “weirdos,” liked to tell me their secrets. Later, after experiencing some things myself, I hoped to help those around me reduce their inner pain. And then, I realized that I was the biggest beneficiary during the learning process. Now, I still firmly want to become an excellent psychotherapist. The reason is simple, and it’s also my original intention: everyone’s story is so unique, and I love these moments of deep connection.
- @Today****SleepYet: I wanted to become a psychotherapist when I was in junior high school. That nearly one – thousand – page book Mental Doctor sparked my interest in human nature. It gave me an intense desire to get close to and understand “people.” This was the first time I had such a wonderful feeling (˶‾᷄ ⁻̫ ‾᷅˵). I even had the belief that “I’m willing to spend my whole life interpreting people’s hearts.” I hope everyone can have a high – quality lifestyle (perhaps related to the many sad examples I’ve witnessed in life: the way relatives around me educate their children, doctors in hospitals taking care of patients’ physical conditions but ignoring their mental health, and people misunderstanding abnormal phenomena as ghosts and spirits due to lack of psychological knowledge). This has motivated me to be the one who can make a difference.
- @Xian*: Because I revere life and hope that everyone can exist in this world “as they are.”
- @Zhang*Yue: To become a psychotherapist is nothing more than being curious about people, satisfying my voyeuristic desire, and not making myself too bored.
- @Feng*: Neither of those. I’m simply curious about human nature. Every time I delve into the inner world of a person, the deeper I go, the more I feel it’s all – encompassing, ever – changing, and boundless. It’s like facing an entire world. Especially those moments of turning things around in counseling. This dark world is really fascinating and awe – inspiring. I don’t dare say I understand anything. I just think it would be great if I could open up this world a little and let some light into reality. That’s why I love psychology and psychotherapy, and the same goes for philosophy.
- @Yi**Mou: Why am I so determined to be a therapist? It’s a kind of fascination. I’m fascinated by how two complete strangers, in this setting and situation, can open up, shed their masks and defenses, slow down time, take a deep breath, and look inside. Looking at the abyss in our hearts and the flowers blooming in the abyss. It’s really moving. How many such moments can there be in real life? Our lives are either rushing forward blindly without pause, or we turn away and divert attention in those moments when we could go deeper. When we gently and firmly cut a piece of cake, we’ll find… it’s red velvet inside! (drooling)
- @*Jing: I want to be a therapist because I want to see the glimmer of light in the dark side of human nature, and witness the courage to strive for survival in various desperate situations.
Choosing It Out of Love
- @Mei*: I fell in love with the psychotherapy industry when I first came into contact with it nine years ago. Later, I increasingly felt that my traits were suitable for this profession. I chose this because of love…
- @*Hui: I resolutely switched from the medical device industry, where I had worked for six years, to psychotherapy. Because there’s nothing else I want to do more. Because even the tiniest things in this line of work feel meaningful. Because I’ve found a true sense of belonging here. So, here I am.
- @Bing**Jie: My feeling towards the profession of a psychotherapist is like finding the right partner. When the feeling is right, all other reasons become secondary. I’m still on the way from being a trainee psychotherapist to a full – fledged one. There are some tough moments, but I never doubt my goal.
- @Yi**Shi: My beliefs and values make me feel that I’m suitable for being a psychotherapist. Also, my mother has schizophrenia. It feels like there’s some kind of predestination. So, “aspiration and interest” can summarize my reasons.
- @Yang*: I’m of the second type! I fell in love with psychology at 30 and didn’t engage in this industry until I was almost 40. I always say I was going through a mid – life crisis. To find the meaning of life and not waste my life in vain, I resigned from the job that everyone envied and became a full – time psychotherapist. My income dropped back to what it was twenty years ago… It was really a tough time! But I don’t regret it. On the contrary, I’m full of hope for the future and have a clear plan! Come on! I can definitely do it.
Having Been in the Abyss, Not Wanting Others to Fall In
- @Ca****ine: I should belong to the former type. Having seen the white desolation and the empty void in my heart where any faint sound can echo, I think I can better understand those in the same situation. I want to be a capable person who can firmly hold others up.
- @Cong*: When it comes to the original intention, the motivation comes from my childhood. I was about eight years old. My dad’s mistress came to our house with a kitchen knife, forcing my mom to leave. I wasn’t scared. I tried to snatch the knife from her and fought with her. When my dad rushed back, instead of protecting me and my mom, he slapped my mom. I wasn’t scared by the knife, but I was terrified by that slap. I hid under the old – fashioned sewing machine and sobbed until late at night, with no one coming to pull me out. My parents thought I had run out in a panic. I stayed in that corner for about ten hours. However, it took me more than ten years to truly crawl out from under that sewing machine. I hope that every child who has ever hidden in a corner, shivering, will have someone to accompany them. Hi, everything will be okay.
- @Shui***Xin: Because I was often bullied and insulted by classmates when I was a child, and sometimes I still feel inferior and weak even now. So, I want to be a psychotherapist to help more people like me.
- @Yi**Guang: I’ve been immersed in this industry for seven years and have unswervingly adhered to psychology. The most superficial reason was that I was going through a breakup at that time. It felt like a part of my body was being ripped away. I was in such excruciating pain. Every time I opened my eyes, the world still seemed as dark as night, pitch – black. I was still a student at that time and had no intention of reviewing for exams at all. I just flipped through various books every day. In one book, I read an article about how childhood experiences affect adult life. It was like seeing the dawn, and I was completely attracted. A voice in my heart said this was what I had been looking for. That time, I completely listened to my inner choice and finally chose psychology as my career. Looking back now, I know that the breakup was just a trigger, shaking up all the emotions and fears of separation that had been suppressed for years. Although I still need to keep growing, every personal experience is accompanied by tears. However, I still truly love psychology. It’s as if only with its little – by – little company can I pull myself out of despair.
- @Di*: Help others by helping myself. Continuously improve and enrich myself. When my inner world is powerful enough, I can warm some people around me. That would be my greatest luck.
- @San*Shu: I initially wanted to be a therapist probably because when I was receiving psychological counseling, I felt that the therapist had pulled me out of my abyss. So, I also hope to become a beam of light shining into others’ abysses.
- @Qiu**：The pain of my mother’s death was frozen in my heart for ten years. As the pain thawed, I started to integrate little by little. It was not an easy process. Fortunately, with the accompaniment of psychological counseling, it was like having someone by my side even in the deepest darkness. Such healing is profound. I also hope that the insights I gained from my mother’s passing can give me the strength to accompany more people who have lost important loved ones, and truly transform grief into strength. In this way, I will feel that my mother’s life has more meaning. Her passing was not in vain.
- @Be****BY: I want to light myself up and warm others.
- @Pu**Kong: In those bottomless days, I made so many efforts. It was not until I met you that I saw a glimmer of starlight.
Wanting to Be a Light Illuminating the World
- @S**l: When I see others in pain, I can’t help but feel distressed and want to help them.
- @Jun**Nan: One should do something meaningful for humanity while alive, something that can bring benefits to others, and something that can leave love in this life. That’s why I want to be a psychotherapist.
- @Na****MA: Devote all my tenderness to spread a warm sunbeam.
- @San*Hou: Warm the world with my passion. I want to leave my mark in others’ lives. Maybe it’s selfish, but it’s very meaningful. Just like poets and fairy – tale writers, I love this feeling that can endure hardships and keep thriving. May my love forgive my tenderness, and may my tenderness give birth to the power of love.
Some Unique Reasons
- @Lv***An: I want to earn back the money I spent in the counseling room. As the saying goes, get up where you fell.
- @Liu*Chen: As material for writing novels.
- @Jiu****Du: Actually, it’s just because of three words – “Leslie Cheung.” I hope to love this world on his behalf.
- @H**d: Because I think it’s cool to be a psychotherapist. It’s amazing to be able to touch those hidden parts deep in people’s hearts.
- @Yue*****yn: I feel I have the talent, and it would be a waste not to use it.
- @Qing*: I want to hear the true thoughts in people’s hearts in this world. I also thought about adapting these stories into novels. I think people in the world all suffer. As a pair of eyes, I want to tell others about the little bit of light I’ve seen.
- @Eli****Ying: Because I’m a bit more sensitive and have a slightly stronger insight than others, I thought I could understand and help others. Later, I realized that every client has a powerful and shining side. I let go of my persistent savior complex and truly started to experience and accompany them. Doing what should be done is the real meaning of psychological counseling.
This issue’s messages remind me of a sentence from the Taiwanese poet Ye Qing: “The sea has ebbed, and the people on the road have all left. What remains in the heart at such a time is generally called a desire.” Those original intentions that we are reluctant to forget are such a kind of desire. It stands independent of the crowded crowd and the torrent of the times, only related to our souls. Perhaps it’s the most important thing.
After reading so many touching wishes, in the end, we still come back to the simplest blessings:
May you live up to those wishes born in the darkest moments;
May you, after going through numerous trials, still remember the simple yet extraordinary reasons for setting sail;
May your tenderness and courage never be changed by the world.
