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.

Ever feel like you're just waiting for the day when someone finally calls you out as a fraud? You're not alone. In this episode, we're diving deep into the nuances of imposter syndrome specifically within the world of therapists. Arya Prasaad, a seasoned therapist and mental health advocate, joins us to unravel how this pervasive feeling of inadequacy impacts therapists more than we often acknowledge.

In this insightful conversation, Arya Prasad and I explore the less-talked-about aspects of imposter syndrome in the therapeutic profession. While it’s a common struggle across many fields, therapists face unique challenges when their self-doubt is tied directly to their ability to help others. We discuss how imposter syndrome can exacerbate feelings of burnout, lead to overcompensation, and even impact client outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

• The Hidden Burden: Therapists often carry the extra weight of imposter syndrome, which can lead to burnout as they strive to prove themselves worthy in their roles.
• Impact on Client Care: How self-doubt might subtly influence your work, from over-preparing for sessions to hesitating in setting boundaries.
• Practical Strategies: Arya shares actionable advice for recognizing imposter syndrome and developing a healthier relationship with your professional identity.

Quotes:

• "Imposter syndrome isn't just a personal struggle; it's a systemic issue that can deeply affect the quality of care therapists provide."
• "When we tie our self-worth to our professional success, the stakes become impossibly high. It’s no wonder so many therapists burn out."
• "Therapists need to give themselves the same grace and understanding that they offer their clients. We're all works in progress."

More from Arya: https://www.linkedin.com/in/workwitharya/

More from Jen: https://linktr.ee/drjenblanchette

In this hot take episode, Dr. Jen Blanchette delves into the challenges that smartphones and screen time pose to modern-day parenting, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares her journey of self-awareness and steps taken to minimize digital distractions, inspired by authors like Susan Cain and Cal Newport. The conversation reflects on how these digital habits contribute to parental burnout and the importance of being present for both personal wellbeing and effective parenting.

Are you struggling with burnout and want to quit? Check out this free guide

What is really going on with Gen Z's mental health? For Therapists that are parents or work with parents or youth, this is a must listen! This book is blowing my mind about the role of phones in the lives of children and for all humans.

Here are some the takeaways:

• The impact of smartphones and social media on the mental health of the younger generation.
• Evidence of a significant increase in mental health issues like depression and anxiety since the introduction of smartphones.
• The negative effects of a decline in play-based childhood and overprotection, leading to decreased socialization and physical activity among youth.
• Recommendations for parents include limiting screen time, promoting in-person activities, and fostering independence and responsibility.
• Emphasizes the need for therapists to address their own burnout and consider the impact of social media on their well-being.

All my stuff: https://linktr.ee/drjenblanchette

Email me, yes, I'll write you back: [email protected]