📬 Burned out and need a soft place to land? Join my pen-pal list for therapists who are over it, in it, or finding their way out. I send real letters—and I write back.

👉 https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

What happens when a thriving group practice becomes too much to hold?

In this episode, I’m joined by Shulamit Baer Levtov—a therapist, entrepreneur, and burnout recovery coach—who shares her deeply personal story of walking away from a successful group practice because it no longer aligned with her values or her health. Together, we talk about the behind-the-scenes of therapist burnout, especially in leadership roles, and the tricky relationship many therapists have with money.

Shulamit brings clarity and compassion to topics that so often carry shame: struggling in your business, feeling stuck in scarcity, and believing you’re failing when in fact the system was never set up for your wellness in the first place.

In this episode, we explore:

• The hidden costs of group practice ownership and why it’s not always the burnout solution we’re sold
• How scarcity mindset impacts our brains, decision-making, and ability to dream bigger
• The gendered messaging therapists receive about money—and how it shows up in our fee-setting, boundaries, and burnout
• Why business education is critical for therapists in private practice, and how Shulamit is helping to change that
• Practical ways to set up support, systems, and mental health infrastructure in your business
• What AI can and can’t do when it comes to easing therapist overwhelm
• Shulamit’s powerful reminder that burnout is not a personal failure—it’s a signal something needs to change

Whether you’re a therapist on the edge of burnout, rebuilding after stepping away, or navigating the stress of entrepreneurship, this conversation is a reminder: you’re not broken, and you’re not alone.

Resources & Links:

• Connect with Shulamit at shula.ca
• Subscribe to her newsletter: shula.ca/newsletter
• Join my pen-pal list for burned-out therapists: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb
• Learn more about Dr. Michael A. Freeman’s research on entrepreneurship & mental health
• Private Practice Made Simple: Everything You Need to Know to Set Up and Manage a Successful Mental Health Practice Paperback – June 2 2011 by Randy J. Paterson PhD (Author)
• 12 MONTHS TO YOUR IDEAL PRIVATE PRACTICE (book and WORKBOOK) By Lynn Grodzki, Lynn
• Freeman study 2015: https://michaelafreemanmd.com/Research_files/Are%20Entrepreneurs%20Touched%20with%20Fire%20(pre-pub%20n)%204-17-15.pdf
• Most recent freeman study:  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352673424000131

✉️ Join the Therapist Pen-Pal List:

A low-pressure way to stay connected, get podcast updates, and receive reflections that support your career and wellbeing. Sign up here

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Show Notes for Episode 66: The Problem with Therapy Chatbots

Hey therapists—today we’re diving into a hot topic that’s been making waves: AI in the therapy world. Specifically, I’m breaking down the first randomized controlled trial of a therapy chatbot, recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The chatbot is called Therabot—and yep, it’s stirring up a lot of feelings.

👉 You can read the full study here:

Artificial Intelligence–Delivered Psychosocial Intervention for Depression and Anxiety

In this solo episode, I share my honest take on what the study actually shows, what it misses, and why I’m not ready to hand over the therapy chair to a bot—no matter how efficient it is.

Here’s what we get into:

• Why reducing burnout to “just write your notes faster” totally misses the point
• What the study found about Therabot and the therapeutic alliance (spoiler: it’s not all bad news)
• The valid, complicated concerns about safety, confidentiality, and ethics
• Why I think we need to draw a clear line between human-centered therapy and AI-driven tools

And I’m not just talking theory—I tested this myself.

I told Wysa, a well-known therapy chatbot, that I was suicidal. It immediately offered a safety plan. But because it's anonymous, it had no way to follow up with me. No continuity, no real-time support, and no accountability. That moment sealed it for me: AI can be many things, but what it offers is artificial therapy. And it should never be labeled as the real thing.

After reviewing the research, my position is this: AI has many potentials when it comes to therapy-adjacent tools. It’s an important distinction that it isn't human-delivered therapy. These chatbots can offer psychoeducation, summarize ideas, reflect back emotions, and even help people feel momentarily supported. But they parrot—not feel—human experience.

That brings us to a big question:

Is the human part of therapy actually the most important part?

For me, the answer is yes. Therapy is the moment we feel seen, heard, and cared for by another human. AI may offer something useful, but it can’t replace that kind of connection. And in a time where technology has already made us more isolated, more depressed, and more disconnected—we have to be cautious about the kind of “help” we’re normalizing.

Plus, I read some of your thoughtful comments from a recent LinkedIn post where this conversation really took off. Because clearly, I’m not the only one feeling this tension.

Spoiler: AI isn't going anywhere. But calling a chatbot “therapy”?

That’s where I draw the line.

If you opened your calendar right now, what would it tell you about your life?

Catch the last installment of my alive series how to feel ALIVE this week: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

Your calendar is a reflection of your priorities, but sometimes, what’s on it doesn’t align with what actually fuels you. In this episode, we dive into how to identify energy drains in your daily life—both at work and at home. We explore the importance of assessing every task, even those that are supposed to be "good for you," and recognizing whether they truly restore or deplete your energy. If you’re feeling stuck in burnout, this episode will help you take small but meaningful steps toward reclaiming control.

Key Takeaways:

• Identifying Energy Drains: Open up your calendar and assess how your commitments make you feel. What’s truly non-negotiable, and what can be adjusted or removed?
• Small, Impactful Changes: Even if you can’t make sweeping career changes right now, there’s always something within your control. This could be as small as rethinking meal planning or offloading a single household task.
• Delegation & Mental Load: Are you carrying an unseen mental load? Whether it’s managing your kids’ schedules or handling everything at home, recognizing these responsibilities can help you ask for support.
• Brain Dumps & Organization: Writing things down—whether on a physical planner, whiteboard, or digital calendar—helps free up mental space and prevents overwhelm.
• Saying No & Setting Boundaries: What are you willing to let go of? Setting clear work and personal boundaries, like not scheduling late appointments or prioritizing deep work, can create more balance.
• Restoring Your Energy: Choose one category each week to focus on—nutrition, sleep, movement, or connection. Even small steps, like sitting down for a proper lunch or planning social time, can make a big impact.
• Scheduling Renewal Time: Building in intentional time for rest and connection is key. Whether it’s playing a sport, planning coffee with a friend, or calling family members, these moments help sustain you.

Resources Mentioned:

• Deep Work & Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Related Podcast Episodes:
  • Ep 63: Burnout and the Brain: https://drjenblanchette.com/podcast/063-therapist-burnout-and-the-brain-why-you-feel-stuck-in-survival-mode/
  • Ep 64: Small Steps to Prevent Overwhelm https://drjenblanchette.com/podcast/064-tips-for-overwhelm-for-therapists-in-burnout/

Final Thoughts: Burnout can make it feel like everything is out of your control, but small shifts add up. What’s one thing you can delegate or say no to this week? And how will you prioritize one act of renewal? Let me know—I’d love to hear from you!

Catch my alive series on the email list this month (ONE week left!) Join here: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

Ever feel like you’re sprinting through life with no chance to catch your breath? In this episode, I dive into the power of pacing—how to slow down and work at a human pace in a world that never stops. Drawing from my experience in neurorehabilitation, I break down the impact of cognitive fatigue, burnout, and why structured rest isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Plus, I’ll share practical ways to reduce information overload, manage digital consumption, and make small but powerful shifts to support your brain health and well-being.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How to incorporate the neurorehab pacing framework into your daily life
• The importance of structured rest: 10 minutes per hour, one hour per day, one day per week, and one week every 12-16 weeks
• How burnout affects cognitive function and why rest is non-negotiable
• The impact of digital inputs on stress levels and how to minimize overstimulation
• Practical ways to build small, sustainable habits for better mental clarity and energy

Key Takeaways:

• If you feel like you can’t stop working or your brain is always “on,” you may be experiencing cognitive burnout.
• Digital overstimulation, especially from our phones, is draining our attention and rest time. Consider a digital declutter challenge.
• Start small: bookend your day without media, take short movement breaks, and spend just 10 minutes outside to reset.
• The laws require breaks at work—yet many of us don’t take them. It’s time to change that.

Resources Mentioned:

• Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Premack Principle & Habit Stacking for behavioral change
• COGSmart program from the VA for cognitive rehabilitation
• Related Episodes:
  • Episode 29: The Anxious Generation & Therapist Burnout – Why forcing yourself to work harder won’t fix burnout and what actually helps.
  • Episode 30: Hot Take: Your Phone and Burnout – How systemic pressure to overwork keeps therapists stuck and strategies to resist it.

What’s one small change you can make today to support your brain? Let me know! Join the therapist pen-pal list above

This is the question I get all the time. Jen why is my brain is so confused, exhausted, and foggy?

I dive into the neuroscience and the parrallels with the impacts of trauma neurologically.

This month on the Newsletter, feel alive today: get my alive series and join the therapist pen-pal list: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

Believe me, you're not the only one. I hear repeatedly from other therapists that they just feel like, I can't think, I can't do my work. I have no idea which way to go. I feel like I'm spinning.

And since it’s March, I want to touch base on Brain Injury Awareness Month. I am a certified brain injury specialist.

Brain Injury Corner for the Month of March: Did you know that at least 64 million adults report having experienced at least one traumatic brain injury (TBI) in their lifetime? Or that there are at least 2.9 million TBI-related emergency department visits each year in the U.S.?

Would it surprise you to learn that 81% of adults in the U.S. do not recognize concussions as traumatic brain injuries? This is a huge issue because a mild TBI—aka a concussion—is still a brain injury. I worked with folks who had a concussion and never fully recovered—losing jobs, relationships, and their sense of self. The emotional impact of brain injury is significant, and many people don’t get the follow-up care they need.

If you suspect a concussion, the best thing you can do is get checked—ideally by a physical therapist specializing in concussion management. Outdated advice told people to avoid screens and stay in a dark room indefinitely, but we now know that moderate aerobic activity (like walking) is one of the best treatments for recovery.

For therapists, I highly recommend taking a free training on concussion awareness, like the CDC’s Heads Up online courses. Having this knowledge is invaluable for referring clients and understanding the broader implications of brain health.

Key Topics:

• My personal story of burnout in 2020, balancing a private practice and parenting without childcare
• The emotional and cognitive symptoms of therapist burnout
• Recent research on how burnout rewires the brain, affecting emotional regulation and executive functioning
• How burnout mimics trauma responses, including an overstimulated amygdala and reduced ability to downregulate emotions
• The moment I realized I had to make a change—and why many therapists struggle to do the same

Why This Matters:

If you’ve ever felt like you’re just going through the motions, struggling to connect with your work or your loved ones, this episode is for you. Burnout isn’t just a phase—it’s a neurological and emotional shift that affects every part of our lives. Understanding what’s happening in the brain can help us recognize the signs earlier and take steps toward real recovery.

Resources:

• Episode 5: How Burnout Rewires Your Brain – A deep dive into the neuroscience of burnout from an earlier episode.
• CDC Heads Up Concussion Training – Free online training for healthcare professionals on concussion awareness.
• Therapist's Experiences of Burnout Article
• Golkar Brain and Burnout Article
• How Trauma Changes the Brain-Boston Clinical Trials Website

Join the Conversation:

Have you ever experienced burnout to the point of feeling disconnected from yourself? What helped you recover? Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on [LinkedIn].

What I've realized after nearly two years out of private practice is that the opposite of burnout isn't just taking a break—it's being truly alive. Actually being a human, seeing nature, being with your loved ones, and making memories. And sometimes, to find that aliveness, you have to take a radical leap.

Jump on the therapist pen-pal list to get my feeling alive series on the newsletter--you get all the good stuff and I write back: The Burned Out Therapist Pen-Pal List

That's exactly what my guest, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby, did.

Forget the couch, she hit the open road in an Airstream. For a whole year! That's right, a year of trading in the traditional practice for the open road. Today, Dr. Bobby is sharing how that wild adventure led to a thriving practice and a life she truly loves. We're diving into her journey, from the depths of burnout to the freedom of the Airstream, and how she ultimately found a way to build a career that resonated with her soul.

Key Takeaways:

• • Multiple Burnout Chapters:Dr. Bobby experienced significant burnout during her doctoral internship, marked by overwork, vicarious trauma, and feeling inadequate in all areas of her life.
  • She later faced burnout in her solo private practice due to feeling ineffective with clients whose needs didn't align with traditional clinical therapy models.
  • The Impact of ADHD:Dr. Bobby discusses how her undiagnosed ADHD contributed to her stress, particularly in managing administrative tasks and time management.
  • She also highlights the "superpowers" associated with ADHD, such as flexibility and a different approach to life.
  • Life-Changing Decisions:A period of intense burnout led Dr. Bobby and her husband to take a year-long road trip in an Airstream, demonstrating the possibility of radical life changes.
  • This lead to a life of more joy, and less conformity.
  • Evolving Career and Coaching Psychology:Dr. Bobby found renewed purpose by incorporating coaching psychology into her practice, which better served clients with non-clinical needs.
  • She emphasizes that therapists have more career options than they are often taught, and she seeks to empower her supervisees to explore these possibilities.
  • Supervision and Empowerment:As a clinical supervisor, Dr. Bobby aims to provide a different perspective to early career clinicians, offering hope and showing them they can design their own careers.
  • She tries to help clinicians see their own strengths, and to not make career decisions from a place of depletion.
  • Challenging Traditional Paths:The interview touches on the pressures placed on therapists to conform to traditional career paths, such as taking insurance or solely focusing on clinical work.
  • She stresses that there are many different successful paths to take.
  • The importance of recognizing personal needs:Dr. Bobby highlights the importance of recognizing when life needs to change, and that it is okay to make those changes.

Connect with Jen

• Website: www.drjenblanchette.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjenblanchette/
• Newsletter: The Burned Out Therapist Pen-Pal List

Connect with Dr. Bobby

Website: www.growingself.com

Ever feel like friendships were easier when you were younger? You’re not imagining it. As adults—especially as therapists—life pulls us in different directions, making deep connections harder to maintain.

Want to get my emails? My pen-pals get all the good stuff! https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb I write back :)

In this episode, I’m breaking down why adult friendships take more effort, how loneliness intersects with burnout and depression, and what we can do to build meaningful relationships—even when it feels impossible.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How loneliness impacts both clients and therapists
• The challenges of treating physiological depression and how it intersects with burnout
• Why adult friendships require more intentional effort than childhood friendships
• The role of proximity, chemistry, and timing in forming lasting connections
• How technology and the rise of smartphones have reshaped social interactions
• Practical strategies for initiating and sustaining adult friendships
• The importance of shifting perspectives from rejection to logistics when making social connections

March Preview:

• Next week features a therapist interview (guest TBA)
• March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month, and Jen will explore the concept of "overwhelmed brains"
• As a certified brain injury specialist, Jen will share insights from her work in neuropsychology and burnout prevention

Key Takeaways:

• Depression can make social connection feel impossible, even for therapists who encourage it in clients.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is often used for depression, but co-occurring issues like anxiety and trauma complicate treatment.
• Adult friendships don’t happen as effortlessly as childhood friendships due to shifting life demands.
• The "great scattering," a term coined by Mel Robbins, describes how careers, families, and other responsibilities pull people away from close friendships.
• Instead of waiting for invites, therapists (and adults in general) should take an active role in fostering friendships.
• Smartphones, while helpful, also contribute to feelings of disconnection and information overload.
• Research shows that meaningful friendships require consistent effort and intentionality.

Listener Engagement:

• How have you navigated friendship as an adult?
• What strategies have worked for you in maintaining deep connections?

Join the conversation on LinkedIn or email Jen with your thoughts! Don’t forget to check out last week’s episode (Ep. 60) for more insights on adult friendships.

Connect with Jen Blanchette:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjenblanchette/
• Website: www.drjenblanchette.com

Thank you for tuning in! If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a fellow therapist or leave a review.

Therapist, you spend your days holding space for others—but who’s holding space for you?

Join the therapist pen-pal list! I write back: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: friendship, and why therapists need real, meaningful connections too. If you’ve been listening for a while, I hope you consider me a friend in some way, but let’s be real—no podcast can replace the power of in-person connection. Inspired by a recent conversation that left me rethinking everything I thought I knew about friendships, I was blown away by the research on how they directly impact our mental and physical health. Let’s talk about why friendship isn’t just a ‘nice to have’—it’s a necessity.

I also discuss groundbreaking research, including Julianne Holt-Lunstad’s studies on social connectivity and mortality risk. Her research found that strong social bonds reduce the risk of death by 50%—a greater protective factor than even quitting smoking. In other words, friendships aren’t just nice to have; they are essential for our survival and well-being.

I reflect on my own experiences of isolation as a therapist and how the nature of therapy work can make it difficult to build and maintain friendships. I also explore how modern life and technology have contributed to a loneliness epidemic. Inspired by Mel Robbins’ discussion of ‘The Great Scattering,’ I examine how friendships naturally decline as we move through different life stages, and why it takes intentional effort to maintain them as adults.

Finally, I share a personal story about navigating rejection in friendships and how my perspective has shifted over time. If you’ve ever felt disconnected or struggled to maintain friendships while balancing the demands of being a therapist, this episode is for you.

Key Topics Covered:

• The shocking lack of mental health resources for therapists
• The connection between social isolation and mental health struggles
• My personal experience with depression and how disconnection played a role
• The powerful research on friendships and longevity
• Why therapists, especially in solo practice, need to prioritize friendships
• How life transitions and modern technology contribute to loneliness
• Strategies for building and maintaining friendships as an adult

Resources Mentioned:

• Episode 59: Are You Burnt Out or Are You Depressed?
• Julianne Holt-Lunstad’s research on social connectivity and mortality risk
• Mel Robbins’ podcast episode on friendships and ‘The Great Scattering’
• Platonic by Dr. Marisa Franco

Join the Conversation: What has your experience been with friendships as a therapist? Do you find it hard to maintain connections outside of work? Let’s talk about it—DM me on LinkedIn and share your thoughts!

Am I burned out, or am I actually depressed? That's the question I'm unpacking this week. It’s a tough one, and if you’ve ever felt completely depleted and disconnected from your work, you’re not alone.

💌 Join my pen pal list for resources, updates, and support: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

🔹 The blurred line between therapist burnout and depression

🔹 Understanding burnout: the role of exhaustion, cynicism, and compassion fatigue

🔹 How resentment can be a warning sign that you need support

🔹 When burnout becomes a safety issue for both you and your clients

🔹 The physiological aspects of depression, including hormonal changes

🔹 The power of connection and why strong relationships are essential for healing

If you’ve been feeling stuck, exhausted, or questioning your next steps, this episode is for you. You deserve care, too.

📌 Practice Closure Guide – A free resource to help therapists navigate closing their practice:https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/closureguide

📌 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 for immediate support:https://988lifeline.org/

📌 NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Professional Support Resources for therapists and front line workers: https://www.nami.org/your-journey/frontline-professionals/health-care-professionals/confidential-and-professional-support/

💌 Join my pen pal list for resources, updates, and support: [email protected]

🎙 Want to share your burnout story on the podcast? Reach out – you can even remain anonymous!

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts—send me a message or share with a fellow therapist who needs to hear this.

In this episode of The Therapist Burnout Podcast, I dive into one of the most challenging aspects of our work—terminations. Whether you’re closing your entire practice, making the difficult decision to leave certain clients behind, or navigating the ethical complexities of unilateral terminations, these conversations are never easy.

I reflect on Irvin Yalom’s insights about the therapist’s experience of termination, acknowledging that we, too, feel the weight of these goodbyes. Therapy is a space filled with anguish, conflict, fear—and undeniable beauty. Leaving it, in any form, carries grief.

• When and how to close your practice – including what to tell clients and how much to disclose.
• Unilateral terminations – making the call when therapy is no longer beneficial for a client.
• The emotional toll of saying goodbye – and why we don’t talk enough about what therapists need during these transitions.
• The grief of leaving therapy behind – whether you’re stepping away from one client or the profession as a whole.

If you’re facing terminations—planned or unexpected—know that it’s okay to struggle with these decisions. You’re not alone in this.

🔗 Download my free practice closure guide and join the pen-pal list! Click for step-by-step support in navigating this process: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/closureguide