Ever feel like you’re always giving—whether it’s to your clients, your family, or even strangers on the street—and somehow your own needs get pushed aside? You're not alone. In fact, this might be part of a much bigger issue that’s rigged against women when it comes to self-care. If you're a female therapist, juggling the demands of your clients, family, and personal well-being, this episode is going to shine a light on why that balance feels so elusive—and what you can do to break the cycle.

Today, we're talking about the hidden forces that keep women stuck in the 'human giver' role and leave little room for genuine self-care. We’ll dive into the cultural expectations and productivity systems that make it harder for women to prioritize themselves. But here's the good news: You can change the game. Join us as we explore how to reclaim your time, passions, and well-being—without guilt, shame, or burnout. Ready to shift the paradigm? Let’s dive in. 

Episode Highlights:

• 3 ways the self-care game is rigged for women: 
  • Seeing ourselves as ‘human givers’
  • Pressure to fit into male-dominated productivity systems
  • Not feeling permission to have passions
• Self-Care Experiments:  
  • Let yourself be a human being, not a human giver
  • Gather up the ‘time confetti’
  • Focus on integration over ‘greatness’
  • Give yourself permission to have passions

Resources Mentioned:

• Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski 
• Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World and Fair Play: A Game-Changing Solution for When You Have Too Much to Do (and More Life to Live) Not Enough Time, both by Eve Rodsky
• Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time by Brigid Schulte
• The Plan: Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius by Kendra Adachi
• This is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch: The Joy of Loving Something - Anything - Like Your Life Depends On It by Tabitha Carvan
• Our past podcast interview with Tabatha Carvan
• Visit our website to get your own copy of our FREE 4 C's Self-Care Assessment:  http

Connect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist:
[email protected]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/

Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapist

Ready to upgrade your self-care? Check out the independent study version of our course, Thrivival Skills for Therapists, and earn 3 CE credits! Because self-care is PART OF our jobs! More info at: https://intentional-therapist.newzenler.com/courses/thrivival-skills-for-therapists-independent-study

Disclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.