Just Like Me: Do you think age matters when working as a therapist or psychologist?
 (Be honest; our feelings wont get hurt!) If so, how can we “compensate” for this?

Karina Lapa, LMHC – South Florida Counseling Agency:  Is the therapist’s age really an issue? Is this really a matter of transference or countertransference in the therapeutic setting, or is it really important? The more I grow older, and the more I acquire experience, the more I continue to think about that. Well, I graduated at 21, and at 22 I was working in a psychiatric hospital. To be totally honest, I have only been asked and challenged by clients regarding my age a couple of times, and I believe that I have answered appropriately and was therapeutically correct in answering their questions. Or so I believe, as the client returned the following weeks…LOL.
I’ve seen poor clinicians at the age of 60, as I’ve also seen competent ones at the age of 25; therefore, competence has no age.  So what do I think really matters? A combination of academic background, life experiences, training in your area of expertise, exposure to   and people, and most importantly being comfortable in your own skin at whatever age you’re in.  Now… does all of that take time to acquire? Absolutely.  But don’t be fooled by looks, or preconceived ideas that a young therapist is not competent to do their job, and that an old one is more skilled.  Like I used to say, a therapeutic process involves way more than just the therapist’s age. My advice for the novice therapist is prepare yourself, know how to answer the question of “how old are you?” in the session, and be open to life, experiences, and to people. Do I think that age matters? It may, but it may not be of any   our clients.  When someone seeks therapy, they are looking for someone who inspires trust, who understands his/her struggles, and who can offer effective help and ease their pain. Be mindful of that! At whatever age you’re in!