Therapist Burnout Podcast: Mental Health, Business, and Career Tips for Therapists, Counselors, & Psychologists

Burnout is something almost every profession deals with, but for therapists, it hits differently. We’re not just exhausted from the long hours or the endless paperwork—it’s the emotional weight of holding space for others, the vicarious trauma we take on, and the unrelenting pressure to be “okay” so we can keep helping our clients.

In today’s episode, I dive into why burnout for therapists has its own unique layers, and why it often takes us much longer to admit we need help. I’ll share some of my personal struggles with burnout, how I got trapped in a cycle of overwork, and what finally made me realize I needed to make a big change.

Key Takeaways:

Caseload & Case Mix: It’s not just the number of clients, but the emotional toll of each case. Regularly auditing your caseload can help manage triggers and reduce stress.

The Payment Dilemma: Relying solely on client sessions for income adds pressure to maintain a full schedule. Diversifying revenue can ease this burden and reduce burnout.

Fear of Losing Your License: Ethical pressures and people-pleasing often cloud treatment decisions. Focusing on therapeutic outcomes instead of trying to keep everyone happy is key.

The Expectation to Be Superhuman: The pressure to seem emotionally resilient can be overwhelming. Setting boundaries and embracing vulnerability is essential for long-term sustainability.

Emotional Labor & Compassion Fatigue: Holding space for clients’ trauma can be exhausting. Understanding the nuances between burnout and compassion fatigue is important for healing.

Moral Injury: Dealing with systemic injustices can lead to moral injury, further deepening burnout.

Burnout Before the Profession: Burnout can start as early as graduate school, with heavy workloads and financial stress. Robust support systems are critical for students entering the field.

Get Support:

• Coaching for Therapists: Jennifer discusses her coaching services aimed at helping therapists navigate burnout, offering strategies like pausing, creating a 90-day game plan, and providing ongoing support. https://drjenblanchette.com/love-it-or-leave-it-coaching/

Resources Mentioned:

• Episode #38: Conversation with Kate Donovan, host of Fried: The Burnout Podcast.https://drjenblanchette.com/podcast/038-escaping-burnout-with-cait-donovan-the-host-of-fried/
• LinkedIn Poll Insights: Featuring quotes from Michael Rose, Colin Albrow, Tamara Hubbard, and Brittney Lindsay. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/drjenblanchette_therapists-and-mental-health-professionals-activity-7240405419452436480-UE6X?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
• Compassion Fatigue Literature: Definitions and distinctions between burnout, compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and vicarious traumatization. http://www.figleyinstitute.com/documents/Workbook_AMEDD_SanAntonio_2012July20_RevAugust2013.pdf
• National Center for PTSD: Information on moral injury and its implications beyond the military context. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/cooccurring/moral_injury.asp

Let's go back in the way back machine. Jen Blanchette reflects on their career journey as a psychologist, sharing insights on what they would do differently if given a second chance. Discussing their transition from private practice to school psychology, the conversation touches on the importance of setting boundaries, managing emotions, and navigating the challenges of therapist burnout. The host also previews upcoming podcast topics, including the unique aspects of therapist burnout and the impact of election cycles on therapy sessions.

Have we really talked about the impact of the pandemic on therapists? I don't think so! Emily Irwin shares her burnout story, which includes experiences in the school system and private practice. She discusses the challenges of working in a dual role as a school psychologist and counselor, the impact of stress on her mental and physical health, and the decision to leave the school district and open a private practice. She also talks about the additional challenges and burnout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the pressure to fix clients, and the fear and restrictions imposed by the profession. Emily also explores the concept of masking and the toll it takes on neurodiverse individuals, as well as the importance of showing up as our true selves in therapy. The conversation explores the idea of healing in community settings and challenges the traditional one-on-one therapy model. It discusses the impact of the mental health industrial complex and the need for systemic changes in the field. The conversation also touches on burnout in private practice and the search for joy and meaning in life. The concept of play and its role in healing and regulating the nervous system is highlighted.

Takeaways

• Working in a dual role in the school system can lead to burnout due to the high workload and diverse responsibilities.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has added additional challenges and stress to the field of therapy, including the shift to virtual sessions and ethical considerations.
• The pressure to fix clients and the fear instilled by ethics training can contribute to therapist burnout.
• Masking, or hiding one's true self to be socially accepted, is common among neurodiverse individuals and can contribute to burnout.
• It is important for therapists to show up as their authentic selves in therapy and create a space where clients can do the same. Healing in community settings has been a traditional approach in many cultures, and there is a need to explore alternative therapeutic models that prioritize collective healing.
• The mental health field is influenced by the mental health industrial complex, which treats mental health as a commodity and often fails to prioritize the well-being of therapists and clients.
• Burnout in private practice can be addressed by setting boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and exploring alternative ways of practicing therapy.
• Finding joy and meaning in life involves adding activities and experiences that bring joy and regulating the nervous system, rather than focusing on restrictions and limitations.
• Play is an essential aspect of human well-being and can contribute to healing and regulating the nervous system.

More From Emily: https://www.emilyirwin.com/about

More From Jen: www.drjenblanchette.com

Are you a therapist who's ready to quit? I've got you. Let's talk on a free 15 minute consult call: https://drjb.hbportal.co/schedule/6160e28b5e574330da01b03d

Have you felt so alone in your burnout that you feel like you literally have nothing to give this world? In this conversation, Dr. Jen Blanchette interviews Cait Donovan, host of the Fried, the Burnout Podcast, about her personal experience with burnout and the importance of addressing both the mental and physical aspects of burnout recovery. They discuss the similarities between therapists and acupuncturists in terms of work dynamics and the impact of burnout on their health. Kate shares her journey of discovering burnout and the self-judgment she experienced as a practitioner of stress management techniques. They also explore the role of self-neglect and the need for self-care practices that go beyond face value in burnout recovery.

The conversation highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to burnout, including therapy, coaching, and physical practices like yoga or acupuncture. They emphasize the need for therapists to be gentle with themselves and prioritize their own well-being. The conversation explores the importance of nature and movement in combating burnout. Walking in green spaces, being among trees, and getting sunlight can have significant benefits for mental and physical well-being. The definition of burnout is often limited to workplace stress, but it can also be caused by cultural, family, health, and environmental factors.

Takeaways

• Burnout is not just a mental issue, but also affects the entire physical body.
• Burnout prevention is stress management, but it may not be enough for those already in burnout.
• Therapists and acupuncturists often have a higher tendency to have experienced trauma, which can impact their ability to notice and respond to stress.
• Engaging in self-care practices, such as movement exercises like Tai Chi or Qigong, can help emotions move through the body and aid in burnout recovery.
• A multidisciplinary approach, including therapy, coaching, and physical practices, is crucial for addressing burnout. Walking in nature and being among trees can have significant benefits for mental and physical well-being.
• Burnout is not limited to workplace stress and can be caused by cultural, family, health, and environmental factors.
• Therapists may be susceptible to burnout due to their high ACEs scores and the nature of their work.

Sound Bites

"If you just pee when you need to pee for a few weeks, your life will be different, because your brain will be different."

"Your ability to learn what your body feels like at safety is a key element to your ability to recover."

"Engaging in something like Tai Chi or Qigong allows emotions to move through the physical form."

"Just knowing like walking can be one of those simple tools, gentle walking, know, in somewhere green."

"When you are walking amongst trees, not only are you having this, this, you know, carbon dioxide oxygen exchange, but you're also the sunlight when it reflects off bark turns into infrared light."

"There's no money made off walking or a tree, you know, like, you're not going to see an advertisement walking the new cure for everything. Trees, touch them. Not really going to happen."

More from Cait:

https://www.caitdonovan.com/

https://www.friedtheburnoutpodcast.com/

More from Jen:

The therapist burnout newsletter (the pen-pal list): https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

www.drjenblanchette.com

How can we ever truly balance the weight of this work? That's the question I seek to answer in this episode. In this conversation, Dr. Jen Blanchette discusses the myth of work-life balance and offers a different perspective on how to think about it. She shares four reasons why work-life balance is a myth and emphasizes the importance of counterbalance instead. Dr. Blanchette talks about the different seasons in life and how they require different levels of attention and focus. She also addresses the challenges of being constantly connected through smartphones and social media, and provides strategies for setting boundaries and managing time. Overall, the conversation highlights the need for self-care, breaks, and support in order to maintain a healthy work-life integration.

Takeaways

• Work-life balance is a myth, and it's normal for our lives to be out of balance at different points in time.
• Counterbalance is a more realistic and helpful concept to strive for, considering the different seasons and demands in our lives.
• Setting boundaries and managing time are essential for maintaining a healthy work-life integration.
• The influence of smartphones and social media makes it harder to achieve a sense of equilibrium, but establishing non-negotiables and guardrails can help.
• Self-care is important, but it cannot fix burnout or depletion. It requires constant care and attention to restore ourselves.
• Taking breaks and having time for ourselves is crucial, and we deserve it.

Let's Connect:

The List: The Therapist Burnout Newsletter- I write back: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

Before you Quit Consult Call: https://drjb.hbportal.co/schedule/6160e28b5e574330da01b03d

In this conversation, Dr. Jen Blanchette interviews Andy Benckart about his experience with burnout. Andy shares his burnout story from working in residential treatment and how he decided to go back to school as a way to alleviate burnout. They discuss the challenges of being a former client working in the recovery community and the blurred boundaries between work and personal life. They also touch on the feelings of resentment and frustration that can arise when clients don't make progress in therapy. Andy talks about his current experience as an MSW student and how the structure and support of the program have been helpful in preventing burnout. The conversation explores the importance of community and connection in preventing burnout among therapists. It highlights the transition from a supportive and communal environment in graduate school to the isolation of solo practice. The lack of emphasis on community care for therapists is discussed, as well as the need for intentional efforts to cultivate peer supervision groups and support systems. The conversation also touches on the concept of counterbalance rather than balance, emphasizing the need for small, daily actions to restore energy and prevent burnout. The importance of self-care and making non-negotiable commitments to oneself is emphasized. The conversation concludes with a discussion on finding joy in small things and the potential for change and growth in the field of mental health.

takeaways

• Working in a high-intensity setting with blurred boundaries between work and personal life can contribute to burnout.
• Former clients working in the recovery community may experience unique challenges and feelings of resentment.
• Therapists may feel frustrated when clients don't make progress in therapy, but it's important to remember that everyone has their own journey.
• Structured support and supervision in a graduate program can help prevent burnout and promote self-care. Community and connection are crucial in preventing burnout among therapists.
• Transitioning from a supportive graduate school environment to solo practice can be isolating and contribute to burnout.
• Intentional efforts are needed to cultivate peer supervision groups and support systems for therapists.
• Counterbalance, rather than balance, is important in preventing burnout, and small daily actions can help restore energy.
• Non-negotiable commitments to self-care are essential for therapists to prevent burnout.
• Finding joy in small things and making 1% changes can lead to personal growth and prevent burnout.

Sound Bites

• "I was so overworked at residential and not moving up at all that somehow the way to be less burned out for me was going to school."
• "Being a client and then a provider is impactful and helpful, but it also led to feeling like I had no control over my life and job."
• "I wanted clients to change their lives and when they didn't, it built resentment."
• "We go from all of that supervision, talking about our work, being seen in our work, to then not doing any of that. Being alone, which I think is really the problem."
• "There should be more of a built-in community system that we just don't have."
• "We talk about community all the time with our clients. And I did it. But on the back end, we never do that for ourselves."

Let's Connect: My pen-pal list! My newsletter for therapists, I write back: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

My website: www.drjenblanchette.com

Ending a therapeutic relationship is never easy, whether it’s because you're closing your practice, changing your career path, or setting necessary boundaries to protect your own well-being. In this episode, I share my personal experiences and challenges with therapy terminations, especially when they’re not planned or mutual. We dive deep into the fears therapists often have about letting clients down and the emotional toll that comes with the decision to prioritize your own mental health.

Join me as I discuss the importance of setting boundaries, handling the complex emotions that arise during terminations, and finding ways to ensure both you and your clients feel supported through the transition.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• The common fears therapists experience when deciding to end therapeutic relationships, such as the fear of letting clients down.
• My personal journey with therapy terminations and the impact of these decisions on my practice and personal well-being.
• Strategies for effectively communicating terminations to clients in a way that acknowledges their feelings while setting clear boundaries.
• How to recognize when it's time to make changes in your practice or career for your own mental health and sustainability.
• The importance of self-compassion and self-care during the process of ending therapeutic relationships.

Key Takeaways:

• Recognize Your Limits: Understanding and acknowledging your own boundaries is crucial for long-term sustainability as a therapist.
• Clear Communication: Honest, empathetic communication can help ease the transition for both you and your clients.
• Emotional Resilience: Allow yourself to feel the emotions that come with terminations, and seek support when needed.
• Prioritize Clinician Wellbeing in Therapy: Taking care of yourself is not just beneficial for you; it's essential for providing the best care to your clients.

Resources Mentioned:

• Episode 12: Secret Grief when a client dies: 012: Secret Grief: Attending to the Loss of Therapists | Dr. Jen Blanchette (drjenblanchette.com)
• Insights into how to handle complex emotions and fears around ending therapeutic relationships.
• APA Guide on Termination: https://www.apaservices.org/practice/good-practice/discontinuing-treatment-issues.pdf

Let's connect!

Are you thinking of quitting your role as a therapist (or drastically reducing 1:1)? Be the first to hear about podcast updates, resources, and ways to work with me by joining my list. I call it the therapist pen-pal letter. I write back! It's a love letter to you. Sign up here: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

My free 15-minute consult call: https://drjb.hbportal.co/schedule/6160e28b5e574330da01b03d

In this episode, Dr. Jen Blanchette discusses the intersection of imposter syndrome and burnout. She shares her personal experience with burnout and how it made her question her career and worth as a therapist. Dr. Blanchette talks about the difficulty of leaving a private practice and the feelings of being an imposter in a new job. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing our accomplishments and giving ourselves permission to take time and space to recover from burnout. Dr. Blanchette also encourages therapists to explore alternative career options and not feel trapped in their current path.

keywordsimposter syndrome, burnout, career, worth, private practice, job, experience, time, space, choices

takeaways

• Imposter syndrome can be exacerbated by burnout and can make us question our abilities and worth as therapists.
• Taking time and space to recover from burnout is essential and can look different for each person.
• Therapists have choices and can explore alternative career options if they feel stuck in their current path.
• Recognizing our accomplishments and leaning into our experience can help combat imposter syndrome and build confidence.

titles

• The Intersection of Imposter Syndrome and Burnout
• Leaving a Private Practice: The Fear and Challenges

Sound Bites

• "I honestly didn't trust myself anymore."
• "Oh, I don't have to do therapy anymore."
• "I bring up all that experience in this role. Like, oh yeah, I worked residential. Oh yeah, well, I remember this one time I was working, da, da, da, da."

How to replace your 1:1 Therapy income Freebie link: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/tshwticuti

My Website: www.drjenblanchette.com

Have you ever felt like you don’t know enough as a therapist? Maybe you’ve questioned your competence, especially when burnout has you feeling drained? In this episode, Dr. Jen Blanchette gets real about imposter syndrome—a struggle that hits hard for therapists. Sharing her own story of feeling unprepared in a postdoc neuropsychology role, she opens up about the self-doubt many of us face in new or challenging situations.

Jen highlights statistics from a Monitor on Psychology article, revealing that imposter syndrome impacts up to 82% of people, and dives into how this feeling is heightened for those in caregiving professions, like therapists. Whether it's feeling like you should "know it all" or thinking you’ll be exposed as a fraud, imposter syndrome is a real mental battle that needs addressing.

In this episode, Jen reflects on:

• The pressure therapists feel to be experts from the start
• Stories of other therapists navigating self-doubt
• How imposter syndrome affects those from underrepresented backgrounds
• Practical ways to work through imposter syndrome

If you’ve ever felt like you’re not enough, this episode will remind you that you’re not alone—and you are more than enough.

Connect with Jen:

• Get the newly updated pod-course and free money guide HERE

In this episode, I share my personal frustration with insurance companies and how their delays and denials led me to burn out. During the pandemic, I went months without payment, which made me feel like I was being scammed by the system. This experience, along with many others, eventually pushed me to leave my insurance-based private practice.

I reflect on how therapists, including myself, often feel like failures in these situations, when in reality, we’re facing a broken system. Many of us are moving away from insurance panels, opting for private pay models or newer platforms like Alma or Headway that promise more reliable payment.

I also discuss the importance of finding supportive communities and building systems that prevent isolation in private practice. We need to stop feeling guilty for making changes that protect our well-being.

If you’re feeling stuck in your practice or considering a change, don’t wait. Think about what your future self would want you to prioritize. If you need support, I’m here to help with a free consult.

Links to all my stuff including my free 15-minute consult: https://linktr.ee/drjenblanchette

Key Takeaways:

1. Insurance Woes: Therapists often struggle to get paid by insurance companies, facing delayed payments, clawbacks, and denials, which leads to burnout and financial stress.
2. Systemic Failures: The broken insurance system adds to the emotional toll on therapists, making them feel like failures when in reality, the system is flawed.
3. Choosing a Different Path: Many therapists are moving away from insurance panels to prioritize their well-being, with private pay practices becoming more common.
4. Community & Support: Therapists need supportive systems, both professionally and socially, to combat isolation and burnout in private practice.
5. Imposter Syndrome & Visibility: Being visible and sharing personal struggles can be difficult for therapists, but it's essential for destigmatizing burnout and creating community.
6. Making a Change: If you've been thinking about quitting or changing your practice, don't delay. Ask yourself what your 80-year-old self would prioritize and consider how to create a career that aligns with your values.