Dave Spriggs

Photo by Kindel Media on Pexels

I love my job as a therapist. Listening to people’s stories, learning about mental illness, diagnosing a problem, and developing a plan are all interesting. What really drives me is making a difference in the lives of my patients: helping them recover from hurts and challenges and be happier and healthier. Sometimes that involves helping them develop a new life skill or learn something that helps them manage their situation better. Other times it is simply listening to them and communicating concern for their wellbeing — that I care about them.

Another aspect of my work that is fulfilling is helping my coworkers. Sometimes I am part of a team working together on a project. Other times I mentor a newer coworker. I often provide consultation to primary care providers and nurses.

I have worked in the same healthcare system for the past 20 years. There have been many changes, but the same parts of the work still hold. Like many in healthcare, I feel like it is much faster paced now, and our staff are always asked to do more with less — more patients seen with fewer team members.

That faster pace has left fewer moments to connect with coworkers informally. I still do it, because I find it essential both to my job satisfaction and to what we are actually there to do, but I have to be intentional about it. Those connections don’t happen as easily as they did ten years ago.

I am grateful for the ones I had today. Two coworkers and I interviewed several potential new team members. Most of our time together was task oriented, but we also had some time to socialize and support each other. I needed that, and I want to make more space for it — for me and for the people I work with.

When I got home this evening, I spent a while looking at family photos. The ones I keep coming back to are the casual shots of my daughters in elementary school and as teenagers. Those are special memories, and I hold them fondly.

Connection at work, memories at home. It was a good day.