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What is the "Person of the Therapist" Model?

Dawn Davis, MA, LMFT, LCMFT, CGT

February 2, 2026

Question

What is the "Person of the Therapist" model?

Answer

The therapist training model known as the "person of the therapist" emphasizes the purposeful and skillful use of a therapist's personal self within their professional role. In this model, therapists are encouraged to explore their own therapeutic themes, personal histories, and emotional wounds, recognizing how these experiences can resonate with and support their clients' healing processes. By acknowledging both strengths and vulnerabilities, therapists develop greater self-awareness, acceptance, and comfort with their inner experiences, which complements their clinical knowledge and skills.

This self-reflective approach is crucial because therapists who do not engage in their own internal work and lack self-awareness are at higher risk for burnout, which negatively impacts client care. Conversely, therapists who regularly reflect on their experiences and maintain self-awareness experience lower levels of burnout and compassion fatigue, greater job satisfaction, and improved emotional balance during challenging sessions. Ultimately, this model not only supports therapists' well-being but also directly enhances the quality of care provided to clients.

This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, ‘Therapeutic Best Practices: Media Influence, Key Factors, and Ethical Considerations,’ presented by Dawn Davis, MA, LMFT, LCMFT, CGT.

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