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“Oh, are you trying to analyse me right now?”

“Let me tell you all about my nephew’s mental health difficulties…”

“Ok, tell me what I’m thinking right now…”

“I bet you’re wondering why so many people are wearing green shoes tonight…”

“I could never do what you do, it seems so upsetting.”

My answer to most of these questions is to politely avoid the question and go talk to someone else. I have no desire to be a psychologist when I’m out at a party or event, but I also don’t want to be rude.

But the last question sticks with me sometimes. Why do I choose to do a job where I listen to people’s trauma and sad lives? I’m not voyeuristic. I’m not someone who listens to gruesome crime podcasts in my spare time. I don’t watch TV shows that are violent or contain distressing material. I especially don’t want to hear about sexual trauma in my spare time. But in my job I am very willing to listen to anything and........

© Psychology Today