Working in a CMHT

[Cautiousoptimism]

As part of my course, I've been given a placement working in a CMHT. Don't get me wrong, it's absolutely fantastic, but it's extremely difficult too. I can't help but feel like a hypocrite. There I am, telling clients with depressive disorders to work on daily activity plans, and telling self-harmers to utilise ditraction techniques. Yet I've been in the same boat, and rarely take any of my own advice.

I've never had experience with a CMHT in the past personally, so I can't really imagine how they would react if they knew about me.

Would you think I was being hypocritical? Or would you feel better talking to someone in a CMHT who had first-hand experience of what you were going through? Or would you feel as if I was taking a "higher stance" and being patronising and looking down on the "poor mentally ill"?

I love this placement, but it's so frustrating when all I can think about it how much of a damn hypocrite I am.

[Schleier von Dunst]

I think it would be extremely beneficial, as you know, from first hand experience, what each person is going through, and so you can give advice from a first hand point of view instead of telling them what you have learned to tell them, if that makes sense. In other words, go for it, enjoy your placement and I hope you get something from it

[Popple]

I think generally in life not just when it comes to mental health alot of people are hypocritical because its easy to give others advice but its not so easy to take your own. Having an insight though into what it is like I think it massibely helpful because its often very frustrating and patronising when you have some one talking to you who doesn't understand and has no idea what it feels like to be like that.

So yeah don't worry about being a hypocrite we all are sometimes and you never know you might learn to take your own advice now and then!

[Heidi Tiger]

There are oodles and oodles of threads on here about people who want to become mental health nurses, psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists. All because of their own experiences.

Personally if someone from the CMHT said to me "I've been there, I know what you are going through" I'd take it really well. I think it probably gives you a deeper understanding of what your clients are going through. And how would you be patronising and looking down? After all if anything having your own problems resolutely puts you on the same level as the clients.

You aren't a hypocrite at all. Just think of part of the reason RYL works so well is that people with issues give each other support. And to be able to be in that position of working shows you must at least be partially on top of your issues, so who knows you may even be inspirational to some.

[Ninja Orange]

I don't think you're being hypocritical. I would actually prefer people I have seen to have had some sort of the same experiences as what I was going through. Because although a lot of therapists are very good at what they do, they don't always undersand completely what you feel; they know the theories behind it, but not how it feels to feel a certain way.

Good luck in your placement.

[Cautiousoptimism]

...why does it all seem so much more obvious now you've all replied? >.<

Excuse me, I must've had my blinkers on to the world! Thanks for the replies x

[l'il esky]

when i had my first cmht back in october the lady was telling me how most of the people that worked at that cmht had had previous problems themselves. so dont think you are alone. like the others have said you can bring your experiences into your treatment, and understand how they feel about things

x

[starnight]

I don't think you're hypocritical I think if I knew one of my team had been through similar things I wouldn't feel so alone and know that they understood.