How to Keep Your (Work) Passion Alive

This month we are celebrating the “C” in The P.E.R.Fi.C. System, Happier Living’s roadmap to a more balanced life. The “C” stands for careers and our passion for them. 

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We asked four of our clinicians, with four to 34 years in the field, to share what keeps them passionate about the work that they do with their clients. 

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Gary Lewis, PhD

Psychologist

26 years in the field

I started out in private practice, then moved to working in a men’s prison environment, then with clients in skilled and rehab facilities, and finally here. With each move, the challenges grew in new and different ways, working with a variety of clients with a wide array of mental health issues. And with each new challenge, my passion to move forward grew as well. 

When I was a very young man, I was asked, “What do you want your tombstone to say?” and I replied, “He made a difference.” And as I look back on my time working with others I can say with certainty my passion for the field allowed me to make a difference. 

Jonathan Allan, MD

Psychiatrist

4 years in the field

I keep my passion for my work by connecting with what drew me to the discipline. I am fascinated by neuroscience and psychotherapy, psychoanalysis in particular. Using those disciplines to help people generate insight into themselves and make changes in their lives is a thrill. 

Alexis Weisinger, PhD

Director of Clinician Experience

25 years in the field

Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, I remember the cardinal rule of being a healthcare provider: We are only as useful to others as we can be to ourselves. To that end, I'm always doing my best to check in with myself, ensuring that I am engaging in regular self-care and finding that work-life balance to prevent compassion fatigue and burnout.

Secondly, I make a concerted effort to remind myself of what drew me to this work and why I love it so. Participating in regular case conferences, giving and receiving feedback/supervision to and from my peers always brings me back to the excitement of case formulation and figuring out how to best help someone. Moreover, interacting with other clinicians in the field who are similarly passionate about their work is infectious and galvanizes me to redouble my efforts, so I can do my best for my clients.

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Arthur C. LaPlace, PhD

Psychologist

34 years in the field

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I think I still have a passion for doing therapy after all these years and even being 66 years old, because I have a very strong sense of wonder and curiosity and I'm able to see the uniqueness of every client as an individual.

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I have learned how to quickly bond with clients even those that are very different from me because I can see each person as a child of someone who loved them and cared about them. Also, I'm very spiritual and I see each person as a unique creation or child of God. 

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