Mental health issues are a high priority today, and given the statistics related to Americans making use of mental health services, there should be many of us working as providers. But there aren't enough therapists in parts of the U.S. to meet the overwhelming need. Topping off the shortage of providers, most of those offering mental health services fail to get the support they need and deserve.

The promise of confidentiality extended to clients leaves providers alone, isolated, with no one to talk to as they deal with clients' difficult problems. Therapists can't go home at the end of the day, eager to phone their best friends, to unload worries about those clients who seemed particularly depressed or anxious during sessions, mere hours before. It's unethical --and for most professionals, it's illegal-- to talk to anyone about their clients, unless they've hired a licensed professional, an expert in the same field or profession.

Following years of training and hours of experience acquired during internships and post-licensure, many of us believed we should be able to work independently. We may have thought needing a consultant indicated weakness.

Instead, knowing how to use regular consultation despite lengthy training and years of experience may be a sign of strength.

Martin, a 36-year-old client, happily married and working as a project manager at a large tech company, used to talk easily; he always had plenty to say. But recently he's been withdrawn, growing silent or even irritable. You think he's depressed and he knows it, but he's avoiding a meaningful discussion. You can't seem to do anything "right"; his sessions seem to have stalled.

Another client, Anna, has been canceling sessions, giving you phony excuses. You get it; she doesn't want to take time out of her day. Maybe you failed a test; you missed it.........

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