Kelly Higdon is a licensed marriage and family therapist and the co-founder of ZynnyMe, a company that helps therapists grow their private practices. In a recent podcast episode, Higdon discussed the issue of burnout among therapists and shared some tips and advice on how to avoid it.

The Importance of Self-Care

Higdon emphasized the importance of self-care as a way to prevent burnout. “Is there room for your own therapy, your own healing modalities, your own consultation, those kinds of things of like who is taking care of you in your business?” She noted that many therapists neglect their own self-care in favor of taking care of others. However, self-care is essential for therapists to maintain their well-being and avoid burnout. Higdon recommended finding someone who is supporting you in your business and reaching out to them regularly. There is a community aspect to self-care.

Remember to “Set Boundaries”

“Where are your boundaries? What have you been starting with, and are you holding to them?” Setting boundaries is critical for therapists to prevent burnout. Higdon suggested that therapists set clear boundaries around their work hours and communicate them clearly to their clients. Following through on your commitments is an excellent way to prevent resentment and burnout “And then when people cancel and you don't enforce and you don't follow through on your commitments, Resentment. It starts and then it moves into agitation. Then it moves into anger and frustration, and then that gets that shows up in the therapeutic relationship.”Other ways to set boundaries include not taking calls or emails outside of work hours, taking breaks between sessions, and setting limits on the number of clients they see each day.

Therapists often fall into the trap of martyrdom. While they take of everyone else their own needs are trampled. Higdon also stressed the importance of keeping your boundaries with clients and staff as a way to prevent burnout. She noted that many therapists struggle with boundaries, often feeling responsible for their everyone’s well-being. However, Higdon emphasized that living this way is not healthy and builds up anger and resentment. When working with clients setting expectations around communication, appointment scheduling, and payment. It can also involve setting limits on the amount of time spent in the session or the number of sessions offered. With employees, it means attracting the people who buy into your vision and mission and having honest conversations with them about what you can and can’t do.

“Be Honest and Authentic”

Being authentic is a way to protect yourself from burnout. “…getting really clear about who you feel passionate about working with, knowing that you can change the messaging and who you wanna work with.” If you get excited about what you do this shows up in the session. Higdon also emphasized the importance of honesty and authenticity in setting boundaries with clients. She advised therapists to be transparent about their own limitations and boundaries, as well as to communicate their concerns and expectations clearly. This can help to establish a sense of trust and respect between therapist and client, which can ultimately help to prevent burnout.

Links and resources

Wise Practice Facebook Community Group

Whitney Owens on Instagram

Visit Whitney Owens Consulting

Email your questions to Whitney

Zynnyme Website

Starting a Counseling Practice Success Stories podcast

Kelly on Facebook

Kelly on Instagram

Kelly on YouTube

Free Private Practice Library