Ownership. I am part of a group on Facebook called “Becoming a more effective therapist.” Someone had asked what some good books are to read that would be applicable to a mental health practice. One suggestion is a book called Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willnk who commanded a battalion of Navy Seals. I downloaded the audiobook mostly out of curiosity as Mr. Willnk is presently a coach and consultant for some high-profile corporations. Excited, I pressed play.
The author described some of the events that he led as a Navy Seal on the battlefield in Afghanistan and the infamous “hell week” which is part of the training regimen. The first few chapters described the incredibly grueling training where an applicant was not allowed to sleep for 72 hours. Another detail was about a group of five men having to carry a 200-pound rubber raft over 2 miles of obstacles resulting in soldiers coming back with parts of their head, arms and legs bleeding because of chafing due to sand and other obstructive material.
Willnk emphasized that there are on average of 100 people who go through the training and maybe 70 people will give up from exhaustion or extreme discomfort. The author said the “muscle heads” and “Ironmen triathlon victors” were the first to go. These people came in with huge egos and the author stated that the best solider is humble because they know their weaknesses and limitations. This point went on to emphasize the importance of working as a team as each person making up the team can compensate for each other’s weaknesses.
A quote that really resonated with me is “Implementing Extreme Ownership requires checking your ego and operating with a high degree of humility. Admitting mistakes, taking ownership, and developing a plan to overcome challenges are integral to any successful team.” “How does this apply to counseling?” I thought.
As a therapist, clients see me as an authority in the field of psychology and therefore my duty is to give them the best care possible. A lot of this is done in meeting clients several thousand times. Another is to further my education in taking a course or registering for a seminar. The harder lessons to learn are looking at my own weaknesses and deficiencies. Do I need more education in order to better help a client. I am not done with the book yet, so more blogs based on this book are going to pop up!
If you are looking for a therapist near you and a Google search is a great way of finding one. I happen to be a therapist in Charlotte, NC but am licensed to counsel anyone in the state of North Carolina. In Google, try looking for “psychotherapist,” “find therapist,” “therapy near me,” or even “counseling charlotte, nc.” If you feel like you have hit a wall you are not able to get past, call me at (704) 458-6298 or email me at jeffhelms@clearerthoughtspllc.com.
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