Continuing the discussion about being emotionally present with patients, one of my new trainees told a story about how, in another supervision, all of the trainees were sharing stories of when they nearly cried in front of their patients, near miss examples of being unprofessional, weak or vulnerable, or allowing countertransference to impact the work. Her supervisor countered that they shouldn't hold back the tears, that it was okay to cry in front of their patients... just not more than their patients.
So true isn't it? Does anyone have stories of their own experience, when the 'crying with' felt supportive or felt too much? Please comment below!