As summer draws to a close, millions of children, adolescents, and college students prepare to begin a new academic year. While back-to-school advertisements often focus on school supplies, new clothes, and exciting opportunities, mental health professionals recognize that this season represents one of the most significant periods of transition throughout the year. New classrooms, unfamiliar teachers, changing peer groups, increased academic expectations, and evolving family routines all occur within a relatively short period of time. For many students, these changes are exciting. For others, they can bring anxiety, uncertainty, grief, and emotional overwhelm.

Self-care has become one of the most common phrases in the mental health profession. We tell clients to practice it. Graduate programs remind students about it. Supervisors ask about it when we appear overwhelmed. Professional organizations warn us about burnout and encourage us to take care of ourselves. Yet many therapists are still exhausted. Perhaps the problem is not that therapists do not understand self-care. Perhaps the problem is that we have been taught to think about it too narrowly.

Every June, Pride Month invites us to celebrate visibility, authenticity, and the resilience of LGBTQ+ communities. Across the country, rainbow flags appear in businesses, schools, healthcare organizations, and social media feeds. For many people, Pride is a time of joy, connection, and community.

Healthcare is changing, and not always for the better.

When emerging therapists think about professional identity, the focus often turns inward. What theoretical orientation fits me best? What kind of therapist do I want to become How will I develop my own counseling style?

Each May, Mental Health Awareness Month invites a national and global pause to recognize the importance of mental health, reduce stigma, and expand access to care. For the general public, it is a time to learn, reflect, and support. For emerging counseling professionals, it carries an additional layer of meaning.