The Thriving Therapist

Matt Hersh, PhD, is a practicing clinical psychologist in the Boston area with over twenty years of clinical experience. He has maintained a full-time private practice for the past decade. Dr. Hersh works with teens and adults who struggle with anxiety disorders, executive function deficits, relational conflicts, and stress-based difficulties. In addition to being a psychotherapist, Dr. Hersh holds a consultant affiliation as a mindfulness teacher with Harvard University's Center for Wellness and Health Promotion; he is a certified Koru Mindfulness teacher and a diplomate of Comprehensive Energy Psychology. He is founder of The Thriving Therapist, an online resource for mental health professionals to prevent burnout and cultivate enduring self-care and well-being. For more, visit TheThrivingTherapist.org.

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I. Nourishing the Roots of Self-Care
Chapter 1. Exploring Professional Self-Care: Myths, Mistaken Identities, and Meanings
Chapter 2. Our Unique Stressors, Pressures, and Challenges
Chapter 3. The “Big Four” Occupational Hazards
Chapter 4. Our Ethical Imperative Toward Sustainable Self-Care
Chapter 5. Why We Become Psychotherapists and What Sustains Us
Chapter 6. Mapping Our Self-Care Values
Chapter 7. Identifying and Addressing the Blocks to Being Our Own Best Allies
Part II.  Flexibly Grounded: Mindful Awareness of Habits, Patterns, and Needs
Chapter 8. Developmental and Career Stage Realities
Chapter 9. Listening to Our Bodies
Chapter 10. Knowing Our Habits of Mind and Emotion
Chapter 11. Relational Patterns and Fulfillment of Needs
Chapter 12. How’s Your Frontal Lobe Doing? and Other Executive Functioning Questions
Chapter 13. Money: Our Unspoken Needs, Beliefs, and Habits
Chapter 14. Spiritual and Religious Beliefs and Needs
Chapter 15. Cultural Influences on Self-Care and Well-Being
Chapter 16. Person-Therapist-Work Alignment
Part III: Intrinsic Self-Care: Soft Strength, Hidden Resilience
Chapter 17. Cultivating Mindful Awareness and Intentionality
Chapter 18. Fostering Acceptance, Equanimity, and Acknowledgment of Impermanence
Chapter 19. Nurturing Compassion
Chapter 20. Encouraging Forgiveness
Chapter 21. Gifting Gratitude
Chapter 22. Inspiring Laughter, Humor, Joy, and Playfulness
Chapter 23. Learning Optimism
Part IV: Extrinsic Self-Care: Powerful Practices, Transformational Habits
Chapter 24. Biological Foundations of Self-Care I: Sleep and Breath
Chapter 25. Biological Foundations of Self-Care II: Movement and Nutrition
Chapter 26. Meditation
Chapter 27. Subtle Energy Practices
Chapter 28. Rest, Time Off, and Recharging Our Batteries
Chapter 29. Supportive Connections and Healthy Boundaries
Chapter 30. Supporting Our Frontal Lobe for Sustainable Self-Care and Well-Being
Chapter 31. Mindful Use of Technology and Media
Chapter 32. Personal Grounding and Growth: Making Space for Creative Endeavors, Self-Growth, and Pursuing Our Own Therapy
Chapter 33. Professional Grounding and Growth: Seeking Professional Development, Diversity of Experience, and Consultation/Supervision
Chapter 34. Navigating Our Work Environment
Chapter 35. Enhancing Our Workspace for Better Health
Part V. Thriving: Creating Sustainability of Self-Care and Well-Being
Chapter 36.  Willingness, Readiness, and Motivation to Integrate Self-Care
Chapter 37. Integration and Embodiment of Self-Caring Into Everyday Life
Chapter 38. The Gifts of Stewardship and Paying It Forward: A Communitarian Approach to Helping Our Fellow Helpers

Appendix A. Mindful Self-Care Scale--Clinical Version
Appendix B. Selected Resources for Psychotherapists’ Professional Development and Well-Being
Appendix C. Addressing Our Blocks, Barriers, and Objections to Being Our Own Best Allies
Appendix D. Selected Resources for Psychotherapists With a Highly Sensitive Temperament
Appendix E. Mindful Check-In
Appendix F. Selected Mindfulness and Meditation Resources
Appendix G. Selected Subtle Energy Resources and Practices
Appendix H. The Rapid Relief Energy Sweep
Appendix I. Selected Self-Care Practices to Integrate Throughout the (Work)Day
Appendix J. Mindful Self-Caring Plan and Calendar
Appendix K. Selected Resources for Healthy Habit Formation and Building a Meaningful Life
References
Index
About the Author