About the project
The bind & the need for change
There is still a powerful expectation that a therapist should be “healed” and beyond struggle, rather than a human being able to hold knowledge, skill and professionalism alongside their own trauma, distress, or mental health challenges. For many therapists, this creates an additional burden of not only coping with difficulty but also feeling unable to speak about it.
Driven by our own experiences of practising during periods of distress, and motivated by the shared stories of other therapists, we are launching Talking Therapists – an initiative to open the conversation about what it is for therapists to work with clients while managing their own mental health.
Professional silence causes suffering.
There is currently no national forum dedicated to therapist mental health, little training on how to work alongside personal mental health challenges, and limited opportunities for honest discussion about what therapists themselves go through.
The founders
Meet the two of us
Tori Ufondu, co-founder
[Short bio: current practice, professional training, research interests and public writing or speaking. Two to three sentences in plain English.]
Emily McCoy co-founder
[Short bio: current practice, professional training, research interests and public writing or speaking. Two to three sentences in plain English.]
About the project
What the survey explores, and why
01
What it explores
The survey asks qualified therapists about the barriers they meet when discussing their own wellbeing and seeking help, including practical, cultural and professional factors.
02
Why we started
Much of the conversation about therapist wellbeing happens without therapists' own voices in the research. We wanted to ask the question directly, from inside the profession.
03
How it will be used
Findings will inform wider discussion, peer groups and articles. We may also explore future support and continuing professional development based on what we learn.
04
What comes next
We will share results openly and explain what they do and do not show, so that professional bodies and practitioners can judge them for themselves.
Protecting participants
How we look after your data
Privacy review
Checked before launch
We have reviewed what information the survey collects, why, and how long it is kept. The survey is anonymous, and we do not ask for details that would identify you.
Ethics and researchers
Reviewed and guided
The project has been reviewed for ethics, and researchers have shaped the questions so they are clear, fair and not leading. Your participation is voluntary, and you can stop at any time.
