Celebrant Mental Health Matters
Oct 06, 2024This World Mental Health Day, we want to recognise the importance of Celebrants prioritising their own mental health. While the role of the Celebrant is frequently filled with joy and celebration, we also recognise that sometimes Celebrants struggle with certain aspects - and this can lead to poor mental health and wellbeing.
Investing in good mental health can create an upward spiral of positivity, work satisfaction and success within your role. So, whether you are already an established Celebrant, or are considering Celebrancy as a career path, it’s crucial that you do what you can to keep yourself as healthy as possible. Here are some points to consider.
The Emotional Aspects of Celebrancy
One of the most significant reasons you should prioritise your mental health is due to the emotional elements of your role. You will witness events that are not only milestone moments but that are also laden with deep emotions. Many of these emotions are positive - Love, joy, excitement, friendship and amusement. Some emotions can be difficult.
Funerals, in particular, can be emotionally taxing, as you gently guide grieving families through some of the most challenging moments of their lives. But even when delivering joyful ceremonies such as weddings or baby-naming ceremonies, celebrants can still be tasked with managing intense emotions and complicated dynamics. If you find these situations overwhelming, it could affect your mental health. You might find that you become emotional yourself, or feel affected by certain challenging situations for a long time after they occur.
When you train with ICPC, you are as prepared as possible for the emotional elements of the role. You are given time to practise, reflect, and process your emotions during your 5-day training. Our face-to-face residential course allows you to safely explore your emotions and reflections amongst peers in a peaceful, exclusive-access venue free from distractions. Find out more about our training here.
It’s also good to have the support of Celebrant peers as you embark on your career. Your cohort will be there alongside you to talk with you when you face challenges. Talking things through is always beneficial, which is why we encourage you to maintain your ICPC membership after training - for continued emotional and practical support.
Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma
Everyone, no matter who they are, will face challenges within their careers at some point. Some unique mental health challenges Celebrants face in particular, are compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. What are these?
Compassion fatigue can happen when you are frequently exposed to the emotions of others and consequently can become emotionally drained and depleted. Celebrants in funeral work, for instance, may be particularly susceptible to this form of fatigue due to the repeated exposure to bereavement.
Vicarious trauma is similar. This occurs when you absorb and internalise the trauma of others, even if you are not directly involved in the traumatic event yourself. You can be left feeling as though you yourself had that trauma, leading to burnout, depression or anxiety. It’s more common if you are exposed to extremely challenging deaths or stories - such as suicide or the death of a baby or child. It’s also more common in Celebrants who have unresolved personal traumas that are triggered by certain ceremonies.
Keeping a close watch on your own thoughts, feelings, responses and fatigue levels can help you to slow down or take a break when needed. If you think a ceremony is going to bring up extreme feelings, ask yourself if you are the right Celebrant for that particular booking. It’s ok to say no. You might also consider options for dealing with your own traumas, such as counselling or a form of therapy.
Performance and Public Speaking
Many Celebrants are confident public speakers. We see a lot of teachers and actors joining the profession - and tend to find that people from these professions are happy to stand up in front of others and deliver a script. Others are less confident and can get genuine anxiety before public speaking. Frequent exposure to this anxiety can cause poor health if not addressed. The stress of potentially making mistakes, forgetting lines, or mishandling a delicate emotional situation can become overwhelming. It’s important to remember - nerves are normal. But constant anxiety is not, and shouldn’t be tolerated.
If you are anxious about public speaking - we can help! By becoming an ICPC member, you can partake in regular CPDs, member days and workshops which specialise in areas Celebrants may wish to develop in. Look out for topics relating to public speaking and confidence to help you relax and feel better about this element of the role.
The Rewards and Risks of Self Employment
Celebrants are self-employed. When you train with ICPC, we ensure that you are completely ready to set up your Celebrancy business as soon as you leave our 5-day residential training. Something to consider is that, self employment, while extremely flexible, rewarding and freeing, can also have some hurdles. Irregular hours, weekend work, balancing responsibilities, and ensuring you have sufficient work to pay the bills, are all elements that can, if not addressed, cause stress.
The good news is that, with our support and the support of your peers, you can implement tried and tested methods to minimise the risk of self-employment struggles, resulting in better mental health and wellbeing. In fact, self-employment gives you an opportunity to create a business that fits around your existing life - so if you want to prioritise time with your children or work around another commitment, you can do! In turn, you might experience more positive mental health than your average 9-5 worker.
Be Kind To Yourself
Being a Celebrant is hugely rewarding, and brings with it a sense of satisfaction and achievement. Reward yourself for your hard work and your successes to date. Congratulate yourself for completing your training, and for being brave enough to embark on a new career path. By regularly practising positive and gentle self-talk, you can naturally build a more positive outlook and keep negative-self-talk at bay.
Remember, good mental health can equate to more job satisfaction, better work performance, more bookings, better relationships with others, and true joy in writing and delivering ceremonies. Even if you feel fit and well, it’s important to continually work on your mental wellbeing to maintain it properly. Reach out to us if you are struggling, and we will do what we can to support you.
Not yet trained with us? Want to learn more about Celebrancy? Download our brochure here.