• The concept of guardrails in therapy and personal life
• Practical boundary-setting techniques for work-life separation
• The impact of systemic issues and environment on burnout
• Personal stories of systemic injustice and boundary violations
• How to implement small guardrails in daily routines
• The importance of saying no and adjusting workloads
• Reflections on burnout prevention strategies and the limits of individual efforts
• The role of self-awareness and systemic change in therapist wellness

Resources & Links:

• Oliver Berkman - 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
• Cal Newport - Deep Work
• Mary Oliver - Poem on Our One Wild Life (related poem)

Connect with Jen Blanchette:

• Leaving the Chair Newsletter (subscribe for stories, journal prompts, and updates)
• Jen’s Website

Connect with Therapist Colleague:

• Website
• LinkedIn

Are you a therapist who keeps adding certifications, trainings, and credentials, hoping that this one will finally make you feel like you're enough? In this episode, Jen gets personal about the inner voices of imposter phenomenon — the ones that say "I failed," "I'm not cut out for this," and "how did I get it all so wrong?" — and shares the reframes (and the time it actually takes to get there) that helped her find compassion for herself and her journey.

IN THIS EPISODE

The knowledge trap in independent practice When we're working alone, we rarely get to mirror our expertise back to others — and that silence can make us feel like we're missing something. Jen explores how that feeling can send us chasing certifications instead of addressing what's actually going on.

The dog walker who hit different Jen's new dog walker is a former ornithologist who left her career and summed it up simply: "I was never done." That phrase perfectly captures the arrival fallacy — the belief that once you hit a certain milestone (the EMDR cert, the LLLP, the full fee), you'll finally feel like you've arrived.

The voices of imposter phenomenon Some of the loudest thoughts Jen experienced during burnout: "I'm not cut out for this. I failed. I worked so hard — how did I get it all so wrong?" She shares why these thoughts are so sticky, and why it can take years (not weeks) to move from being stuck in them to finding a true reframe.

Tools for distancing from looping thoughts You already have these tools — now use them on yourself. Jen encourages therapists to apply the CBT and mindfulness techniques they use with clients to their own imposter thoughts: visualizations, cognitive defusion, and anything that creates distance between you and the story your brain is telling.

The reframe that took three years "Of course you needed a break." Holding a therapy practice through a pandemic, as a mother of young children — of course that was too much. Jen reflects on the compassion she's finally found for herself, and invites you to find yours too.

Slowing down instead of piling on Instead of launching a new program or changing your whole practice model, what if the answer was to prune? To get quiet? To figure out what you actually need? Jen makes the case for softening — and for finding someone to help you sort through it.

LINKS & RESOURCES

Episode 105 — Certifications and burnout: are you adding credentials to solve the wrong problem? Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/therapist-burnout-podcast-mental-health-business-and/id1698139097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Z1uyhMcqZHh2SH1uCZaZx

Leaving the Chair Newsletter — practical, honest writing for therapists who are burned out, burned through, or just figuring out what's next. Going twice monthly. https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

Thanks for listening. If this episode resonated with you, share it with a therapist friend who needs to hear it — and subscribe to the newsletter for more at https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

In this episode: Jen asks the question therapists are thinking but not saying out loud — are certifications in our field kind of like an MLM? She digs into the research, shares her own EMDR certification journey (including the $6,000 price tag), and gives you a real framework for knowing when a certification makes sense — and when burnout is the actual problem you're trying to solve.

What you'll hear:

• Why Jen started her private practice — a new baby, heart surgery, postpartum anxiety, and no real options
• The training gap from grad school — lots of CBT, almost no trauma treatment, and EMDR had a "voodoo" reputation
• Her EMDR journey from PESI training to full EMDRIA certification — and where she actually started to feel competent
• The "MLM ladder" in therapy training: training → advanced training → consultation hours → certification → consultant → trainer — and who's making money at each rung
• The proliferation of low-barrier certifications and what it means when the fine print says "certification does not imply endorsement of clinical competency"
• A side-by-side of a low-barrier DBT credential vs. the DBT-Linehan Board Certification (endorsed by Marsha Linehan herself)
• What the 2025 Dodo Bird meta-analysis tells us about therapy modality and outcomes
• Why burnout makes training feel like the answer — and why it usually isn't
• A practical guide: when to get certified, when it's the wrong move, how to evaluate if a cert is legit, and how to know if burnout is your real issue
• Research mentioned:
  • Boxell et al. (2025) — Dodo Bird meta-analysis, Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy. 90 trials, 2014–2024, n=9,637. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-025-09712-7
  • Simpson et al. (2025) — EMDR clinical and cost-effectiveness review, British Journal of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.70005
  • Wampold's contextual model — therapeutic alliance, empathy, positive regard, and therapist responsiveness drive outcomes more than modality
  • U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs — trauma prevalence statistics

  Links:

  • 📬 Leaving the Chair Newsletter (twice monthly, free): https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb
  • EMDRIA: https://www.emdria.org
  • DBT-Linehan Board of Certification: https://dbt-lbc.org
  • Maine Association of School Psychologists: https://www.masp.org

Tired of the overwhelm, the over-functioning, and maybe even the therapy chair itself? Leaving the Chair is Dr. Jen's new newsletter for therapists who are ready to stop white-knuckling their careers and start building something that actually feels like theirs.

Sign up here: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

Show Notes — Bonus Episode: Dr. Jen on the Emotionally Wealthy Podcast

In this bonus episode, Dr. Jen shares a recent guest appearance on the Emotionally Wealthy podcast with Karen Conlon — licensed psychotherapist, coach, and relationship expert. Karen's show explores how childhood conditioning, emotional patterns, and unexamined beliefs quietly shape the way high-achieving adults show up in love, work, and life.

The conversation between Dr. Jen and Karen hits close to home for many therapists: the quiet burnout that doesn't look dramatic, the way we gaslight ourselves into pushing through, and what it actually means to stop over-functioning and start recovering. It's exactly the kind of question that lives at the heart of Dr. Jen's work — what are we even doing here?

Dr. Jen also shares an update on Leaving the Chair, her community for therapists navigating burnout recovery. The content being built there is focused, practical, and designed to help you reclaim clarity and direction — not another overwhelming program, but exactly what's needed.

What you'll hear in this episode:

• The quieter face of burnout — numbness, resentment, and the slow loss of yourself
• How high achievers and helpers learn to sacrifice themselves and call it dedication
• Why self-gaslighting keeps us stuck, and what burnout recovery actually looks like
• An update on Leaving the Chair and what's being developed for the community

Links:

• 📩 Join the Leaving the Chair Newsletter: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb
• 🎙️ Emotionally Wealthy with Karen Conlon on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emotionally-wealthy/id1814244500
• 🎙️ The episode featuring Dr. Jen — The Burnout You Don't Recognize: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-burnout-you-dont-recognize-how-over-functioning/id1814244500?i=1000752849777
• 🌐 Karen Conlon's website: https://karenconlon.com

New episode from Dr. Jen in two weeks!

Episode Highlights:

• Phase 1: Love It or Leave It - Reflecting on your current practice setting and making the pivotal decision to stay or seek a new path.
• Phase 2: Career Refresh - Evaluating your contentment, exploring new avenues within or outside your role as a therapist (or with 1:1), and finding job roles that fit with your life.
• Phase 3: Accountability and Renewal - Embracing lasting change through support, mentoring, and tracking progress for a fulfilling career.

As a therapist who's been there, I understand the toll of burnout. Discover how to make the tough decisions, rekindle your professional flame, and embrace the transformation that's possible. For in-depth insights, show notes, transcripts, and a free alignment guide, visit www.drjenblanchette.com.  Link to your free guide if you want to quit therapy and updates for the podcast here!

Don't miss this episode and the chance to rediscover hope, passion, and purpose in your therapy career. Subscribe, leave a review, and share with fellow therapists seeking renewal and transformation.

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].

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

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!

If you missed last week’s episode with Shulamit, I highly recommend it. We talked burnout and what it means to be a "canary in the coal mine" when your nervous system just says nope.

This week, I had planned to talk about money, but something came up in the therapy world that I couldn’t ignore…

Here’s what we get into:

• My very personal reaction to the Seven Cups directory drama (yes, the founder was my clinical supervisor—wild).
• Why this situation is more than just an oversight—it’s about consent, ethics, and muddying the waters between therapy and tech.
• The deeper issue of our distrust in tech platforms that profit from therapist labor—without transparency or therapist input.
• What it means when platforms offer peer support under the guise of “therapy” and the ethical concerns that follow.
• My call to action: Google yourself + "Seven Cups" and check if your info is listed without your consent.

Plus, a pivot to something I’ve been sitting with lately: Burnout, brain fog, and why so many therapists feel like their brains just don’t work the same anymore. I talk about:

• Cognitive symptoms of burnout (you're not imagining it, it is real)
• How trauma and vicarious trauma can literally change the brain
• Why some of us may be navigating undiagnosed neurodiversity, and how that intersects with the mental load of being a therapist
• My own reflections on being a "mover" and how traditional therapy work never quite fit how my brain and body want to operate

And finally... I got a puppy! She’s already teaching me a lot about noticing joy, slowing down, and why acorns are apparently fascinating.

Resources mentioned:

• Pen Pal list signup — join the email community where I send updates and reply to your notes
• NAMI Warmline (as an example of ethical, supportive peer support resources)

If you’ve had any experiences with Seven Cups—good, bad, or weird—send me a message. I’m planning a follow-up and would love to include therapist voices. info@drjenblanchette.com

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

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

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: info@drjenblanchette.com

• Good therapist conditioning can lead to perfectionism and a fear of making mistakes as well as burnout.
• Therapists often feel a strong sense of responsibility for their clients' well-being.
• Cultural expectations and societal norms can reinforce traditional gender roles and influence therapists' perception of themselves and their careers.
• Attachment to the identity of being a therapist can make it difficult to consider alternative career paths.
• Therapists should prioritize their own needs and happiness and not be afraid to make changes.

Links to my stuff: https://linktr.ee/drjenblanchette

Susannah reflects on her beliefs around money and how she overcame scarcity mindset to increase her fees and create a more sustainable practice. She also explores the role of rest and play in finding abundance and shares her experience of shifting to offering intensives as a therapeutic approach. Susanna emphasizes the importance of collaboration and connection with other therapists and the need for a collective shift in the field of therapy.

 She shares her passion for supporting young parents in STEM who are dealing with chronic illness or health anxiety. Susanna also introduces her coaching program for introverted therapists who struggle with  networking and offers insights into somatic regulation as a tool for building relationships and referral bases.

More from Susannah: https://www.susannahhorwitz.com/

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

Closes January 30 (at the time of recording).

Join Love It or Leave It (Open Enrollment):

https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/jhvxnbroxe

Book a consult call (limited availability):

https://calendar.app.google/JBkK3aUPXyvxr46F7

About this episode

Micah Freeman interviews Jen for Episode 100.

We talk about milestones, burnout (in real life), cognitive overload, and why so many therapists are done with 1:1 as it’s currently structured.

What we cover

• What 100 episodes actually feels like (and why “arrival” doesn’t land the way we expect)
• The arrival fallacy and the “have done list”
• Jen’s current relationship with burnout and learning to be gentler with herself
• Cognitive burnout: screens, tabs, constant input, nervous system fatigue
• The added layers for many therapists: caregiving, emotional labor, hormones/menopause
• Why Jen started studying burnout before becoming a psychologist (therapeutic foster care)
• Burnout vs depression and the overlap in symptoms
• Therapist isolation, clinical grief, and why support matters
• Community, meaning, and the messy middle of spirituality/faith
• Why listener emails and reviews matter more than you think

A few lines that stuck

• “Earth School is very hard.”
• “There are only so many times you can walk through fire and not get burned.”
• “I wanted to give it the breadth of time. 100 felt like doing that.”

Reflection questions

• What am I waiting to achieve so I can finally feel okay?
• What would be on my “have done list” this year?
• What’s burning me out most: work, life load, cognitive overload, or all of it?
• What would a sustainable next step look like (not a dramatic pivot)?

Guest

Micah Freeman

Website: egostrength.net

Podcast: the self-study lab

Get Support:

• Are you ready to leave therapy? 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/
• Join the list: I send weekly burnout tips and stories to my list. I write back :)

Karen's website: https://expressivetalks.com/

We delve into the controversial ideas presented in Cal Newport's book, "So Good They Can't Ignore You," and explore why the common advice to "follow your passion" might actually be leading us astray. If you're a therapist thinking about quitting your role or significantly changing your career, this discussion is especially for you.

Key Takeaways:

1. Passion vs. Skills:
   • Cal Newport argues that following your passion is not the key to career satisfaction.
   • Most people do not have pre-existing passions related to work.
   • Developing skills and career capital is more important for job satisfaction.
2. The Reality of Burnout:
   • Burnout is a significant issue in the therapy profession, often exacerbated by the pressure to follow one's passion.
   • Therapists may find themselves paralyzed by too many ideas and directions, leading to burnout.
3. The Passion Hypothesis:
   • The assumption that everyone has a pre-existing passion waiting to be discovered is flawed.
   • Passions are often unrelated to work or education and tend to be hobby-like interests.
4. Steve Jobs’ Misinterpreted Advice:
   • While Steve Jobs advised to "do what you love," his own path to founding Apple was not driven by passion but by opportunity and skill development.
5. Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness:
   • According to Self-Determination Theory, these three factors are essential for intrinsic motivation at work.
   • Therapists need to consider these elements to find fulfillment, especially in private practice where relatedness can be challenging.
6. Career Capital:
   • Building valuable skills and expertise in your field (career capital) is crucial.
   • Passion can develop from becoming skilled and achieving mastery in your work.
7. The Privilege of Choice:
   • The ability to follow one’s passion is a privilege not everyone has.
   • A more practical approach is to focus on developing skills that make you valuable in your career.

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: "So Good They Can't Ignore You" by Cal Newport
• Self-Determination Theory (SDT)

Episode Quote: “Follow your passion might just be terrible advice. Focus on developing valuable skills and career capital to find true job satisfaction.”

Send me an email I'd love to connect: info@drjenblanchette.com

Links to my freebie and connect with a free consult call to Un*uck Your Practice: https://linktr.ee/drjenblanchette

Dr. Blanchette shares her own experiences with burnout and the journey towards finding joy and purpose again. She encourages listeners to take stock of their wins, losses, and disappointments, and consider the lessons they've learned. Sometimes we have to learn to take an L (loss).

Looking ahead to 2024, she explores themes of enoughness, playfulness, and rest, highlighting the importance of self-care and wellbeing amidst the demands of the profession.

Links to all my stuff free and paid: linktr.ee/drjenblanchette

I share what this term reveals—and what it misses—about the lived reality of burnout, depression, anxiety, compassion fatigue, moral injury, and clinical grief. I talk about my own experiences of quietly cracking during the pandemic, why interoception is key to recognizing early signs, and how we keep pushing until the cracks explode.

We’ll also look at why women burn out more, what Gen Z is teaching us about burnout, and why business solutions that stop at wellness apps or “new tasks” are missing the point. Real talk: when you’re depressed, the last thing you need is more to do.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• What “quiet cracking” means and why it resonates right now
• The difference between quiet quitting and quiet cracking
• Why therapists and helpers often still “show up” while quietly falling apart
• How interoception—the ability to sense what your body is telling you—can signal cracks before collapse
• How burnout overlaps with depression and anxiety, and why that granularity matters for care
• The unique layers of therapist burnout: compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, moral injury, and clinical grief
• Why women experience higher rates of burnout, and how structural inequities add to the load
• Why Gen Z may be the “burnout canary in the coal mine” and what older generations can learn
• Why corporate fixes like wellness apps and new assignments won’t address the root of burnout
• What systemic and clinical solutions could actually make a difference

Episode Highlights

• Quiet cracking defined: The silent unraveling masked by productivity and professionalism.
• Still showing up: Therapists (and many helpers) keep going until they literally cannot get out of the car.
• The soda can metaphor: Repressing stress until it bursts, often in dramatic and uncontrollable ways.
• Women and burnout: Research shows women experience higher rates of burnout than men, especially in caregiving roles.
• Coco Gauff at the US Open: A moment of visible emotion in elite sports and what it teaches us about pressure, performance, and mental health.
• Brain injury work parallel: Patients told “it’s just anxiety” when trauma was driving their symptoms—mirroring how burnout gets flattened and misdiagnosed.
• My pandemic experience: I thought I was burned out, but I was also deeply depressed, having panic attacks, and living with anxiety. Even as a licensed psychologist, I missed it at first.
• Granularity matters: Burnout can look like depression, and depression can look like burnout. Compassion fatigue, moral injury, and trauma complicate the picture.
• Gen Z and screen time: Rates of depression and anxiety have skyrocketed since smartphones became central to adolescence. Gen Z is speaking the truth older generations have hidden.
• The cost of quiet cracking: A recent Fortune article reported it’s costing companies $438 billion in lost productivity. On paper, the job market looks stable, but 60–80 percent of workers are burned out.
• Business solutions fall short: Assigning new tasks to someone who is depressed or burned out isn’t just ineffective—it’s cruel. A culture fix without systemic and clinical backbone is a band-aid on a crack in a dam.

Real Talk Segment

When you’re depressed, the last thing you need is more tasks. Business keeps trying to treat burnout like a morale problem instead of a health problem. We need lighter workloads, peer support, real mental health care access, and fair pay for providers. Without that, no wellness app or gratitude journal will make burnout better.

Resources Mentioned

• Episode 70: Burnout or Depression? Let’s Get Granular
• Episode 74: Burned Out, Dysregulated, Still Showing Up
• WHO ICD-11 burnout definition: Read here
• BMJ Open systematic review on organizational burnout interventions: Read here
• Fortune article on quiet cracking and workplace cost: Read here

Crisis Resources

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.): 988lifeline.org
• Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 or talksuicide.ca
• International directory: findahelpline.com
• NAMI Frontline Wellness: Support for healthcare and mental health workers

Stay Connected

• Pen-Pal List for Therapists: Weekly reflections and resources Sign up here
• LinkedIn: Dr. Jen Blanchette

Takeaways

• Traveling with children can be challenging, but as they grow older, it becomes easier.
• The clinical responsibility of holding a caseload can be emotionally and mentally draining.
• Therapists should choose clients they can best serve and consider discharging clients who are not meeting treatment goals.
• Quitting is not a sign of weakness but a strategic decision that demonstrates strength and self-awareness.
• Therapists should reframe their perspective on quitting and make choices that align with their well-being and career goals.

Links to my free 20-minute consult, and the rest of my free stuff: 

Get personal reflections, nervous system healing practices, and soul-soothing songs that don’t make it to the podcast.

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

Is your brain full—but you can’t name half of what you’re holding?

This week in the first edition of Structured Rest Jen explores the cognitive load of therapist burnout—what it feels like, why it happens, and how to begin recovering. From forgotten notes to invisible mental tasks, many therapists feel like they’re failing when in reality, their brains are simply overloaded.

Drawing from her background in brain injury rehab, Jen introduces a practical way to start making space: the brain dump. She walks you through how to do it, what to do with what comes out, and how it fits into a bigger weekly rhythm of recovery.

This episode is equal parts practical and personal—complete with a live brain dump demo, reflections on parenting overload, invisible labor, and why so many of us struggle to hold it all.

🔍 In This Episode:

• What cognitive burnout looks like for therapists (and why it’s not your fault)
• Why memory, focus, and executive function suffer during chronic overload
• A gentle reframe from Jen’s work in brain injury: your brain needs support, not pressure
• The Delete–Delay–Delegate framework for reducing mental load
• A real-time example of Jen’s weekly brain dump
• How to make it a practice, not a one-time fix
• A preview of what’s next: calendar audits and energy drains

🧠 Key Quote:

“Most therapists are carrying a hundred tabs in their mind—and think they’re failing when they can’t hold them all.”

💡 Try This:

→ Set a 5-minute timer. Brain dump everything: clinical, personal, emotional, invisible.

→ Then review:

• What can be deleted?

• What can be delayed?

• What can be delegated?

→ Schedule the rest—or give it a home so your brain doesn’t have to hold it anymore.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• 📚 The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
• → Link to the book and research
• 📄 Atlantic Article: Why Parents Are Bringing Back Landlines
• → Read it here
• 🎶 Trevor Hall – “You Can’t Rush Your Healing”
• → Listen on Spotify
• 🔁 Previous episodes referenced:
  • Ep. 63 – Therapist Burnout and the Brain
  • Ep. 64 – Tips for Overwhelm
  • Ep. 65 – Overbooked and Overwhelmed

🔜 Coming Next Week:

Is It the Session or the Schedule?

A deep dive into your calendar and energy audit—how to identify emotional drain points and restructure your time to support recovery, not just survival.

What to Expect in This Episode:

• Navigating Burnout:
• I share the challenges of working through burnout without adequate recovery time and how my body reminded me to slow down.
• Impostor Syndrome Insights:
• Hear how I overcame doubts in my psychological assessment abilities and learned to appreciate the value I bring to my roles.
• Recognizing Transferable Skills:
• Discover how your expertise as a therapist can translate into new opportunities and help you thrive in unexpected ways.
• The Power of Reflection:
• I encourage you to write your 2024 story—focusing on facts, feelings, and the shifts you’ve experienced—to uncover areas for growth and self-compassion.
• Reframing Mindset and Expectations:
• Learn how to neutralize negative self-talk, manage unrealistic expectations, and view yourself with kindness, especially during burnout.

Resources Mentioned:

• Before You Quit Guide: A resource to help untangle your burnout and identify next steps for managing your career and well-being.
• Financial Systems with Rameet Sethi: Practical strategies to align your money with your values and goals.
• Episode 22 Money Scripts: https://drjenblanchette.com/podcast/022-therapist-money-scripts-how-therapists-can-move-from-money-shame-and-financial-burnout-to-awareness/

Actionable Takeaways:

• Reflect on Your Year:
• Write your 2024 story—beginning, middle, and end. Look for patterns of depletion, burnout, or sticky thoughts, and hold them with curiosity and compassion.
• Embrace Neutrality:
• Shift to a neutral perspective when it’s hard to see the positives. Ask yourself, “What’s the next best thought I can think about this?”
• Redesign Your Environment:
• Consider what environmental changes you need to feel supported—whether it’s delegating tasks, simplifying routines, or seeking help.

A Note from Jen:

Thank you for tuning in and for all the messages, DMs, and consult calls you’ve shared with me this year. Your stories inspire the direction of this podcast and the work I do with therapists like you. Remember, you don’t have to live the way you’re living now. Change is possible—it just takes time and intention.

Connect with Me:

• Grab the Before You Quit Guide
• Grab my Free Money Guide for therapists who want to quit

Next Week:

Tune in for a year-end recap and a look ahead to January, with exciting guests and burnout stories to inspire and support you in the new year.

Earlier this year, I thought I was burned out—again. I even joined a burnout group. But nothing shifted. Eventually, I had to face the truth: I wasn’t just burned out. I was depressed.

In this episode, I’m unpacking why therapists often miss the signs of depression in themselves, how burnout gets misused as a catchall term, and why naming what’s really going on can change everything.

What we cover:

• Burnout vs. depression — how to tell the difference
• The research behind burnout’s loose definition (142 of them!)
• Why therapist burnout often includes clinical grief, moral injury, and vicarious trauma
• What helped me through a depressive episode this year
• The nervous system toll of not stopping—and how I finally did
• How language shapes the support we seek
• A reframe: what’s underneath “I’m just so burned out”?

🔎 Key idea:

“What we call burnout is often a layered experience—and getting granular about it can help you find your way out.”

🛠 Resources mentioned:

• Rotenstein et al. (2018) meta-analysis on burnout definitions
• Guille & Sen (2024) on burnout vs. depression
• World Health Organization burnout definition
• My experience with postpartum and professional depression
• Clinical grief after losing clients
• Therapist-specific supports: NAMI Warmline and others

💡 Want more?

• Join the Pen-Pal List
• Follow me on LinkedIn
• Work with me – Coaching for Burned Out Therapists

You are not meant to live in a constant state of depletion. If you’re carrying something heavy, this episode is for you.

Check out my before you quit journal prompt guide for therapists who want to quit their practice or career:https://view.flodesk.com/pages/64c669fa7e6b513e5bacc64e

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

Here's the link to that study: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0104550

Picture this: chronic stress meets neural circuitry, and the results are mind-blowing. We're talking about more than just feeling tired. This discovery could flip the script on how we understand and tackle burnout, not just in our clients but in ourselves too. So, if you're up for some eye-opening insights and a dash of self-care wisdom, tune in – because balancing your well-being is about to get a whole lot more intriguing! 🧠🌈

Full show notes here: www.drjenblanchette.com

“How could a newer therapist — about one year into practice — navigate a trauma-heavy caseload while dealing with the grief of a parent being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer?”

We talk about what it means to hold space for others while you’re also going through a personal crisis — especially in the early years of your career when you may be more vulnerable to burnout. I share my own experiences navigating depletion during COVID, the vicarious trauma that caught me off guard early in my career, and the emotional output of early motherhood after my son’s traumatic birth.

This is a conversation about capacity, permission, and the small but essential ways you can create rhythms of rest in seasons where life feels unbearably heavy.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• The reality for early-career therapists:
  • The 2025 Moodle study showing younger and early-career therapists are statistically more prone to burnout.
  • Why newer therapists often get assigned the most acute, complex cases — and how that intersects with personal crises.
• The double impact of primary and secondary trauma:
  • How your own grief or crisis can combine with the emotional load of trauma work.
  • What happens to the nervous system when you stay in prolonged sympathetic dominance.
• My personal experiences in difficult seasons:
  • Developing panic attacks during COVID and not realizing my depletion until burnout hit.
  • Losing two clients during the pandemic and only later recognizing the emotional toll.
  • The vicarious trauma I experienced working with an infant loss case while pregnant — and what I wish I’d done differently.
  • The underestimated emotional output of early motherhood after my son’s traumatic birth, and launching a private practice when I hadn’t yet healed.
• Questions to ask yourself in a crisis season:
  • What is my true capacity for work right now?
  • Is there other income I can earn that is less emotionally demanding?
  • Is there financial wiggle room to take time off?
  • What can I put down, even temporarily?
• Rhythms of rest and restoration in busy, painful seasons:
  • Short walks between sessions, one work-free evening a week, connection with friends.
  • Rituals and spiritual practices to mark beginnings, middles, and ends.
  • Calling in favors and receiving help without guilt.
• A reminder for every therapist:
  • “Put the stones down. The river will carry them now.”
  • You are worthy of the same care you give others.

Listener Spotlight

I share a review from Alison in CA that truly made my day:

"Genuine, grounded, no hard sell (thank god!)… I feel like I’m getting coffee with an old friend who gets me and has great insight when I hear her. THANK YOU!!"

Resources & Links Mentioned

• Join my free Pen-Pal List for behind-the-scenes stories, resources, and a place to submit your own AMA question (direct submission): drjenblanchette.com/therapist-burnout-podcast or the pen-pal list: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb
• If you’ve been enjoying the show, I’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts — I read every one, and they mean so much.

Key Highlights from June

• Money Scripts: In episode 22, we discussed how therapists can overcome money shame and financial burnout. This sparked a lively discussion on LinkedIn—if you’re not connected with me there, come find me! I post a lot of content there, and I’d love to chat with you. Just look up Jennifer Blanchett, licensed psychologist, host of the Therapist Burnout podcast.
• Therapists Judging Each Other: We also talked about how tough it can be out there in the therapy community. I shared a story about raising my fees during the pandemic and the backlash that came from some fellow therapists. It’s a reminder that we need to support each other and not tear each other down, especially when it comes to financial decisions.
• Ethical Principles: We touched on the ethical principles of social workers and psychologists, emphasizing that while we should strive to help others, there’s no enforceable rule that says we must take low fees or accept insurance. It’s about finding a balance that allows us to provide some pro bono services while also making a living.

Upcoming in July

• Therapist Burnout Deep Dive: I’m excited (and a little nervous) to finally tackle a mega episode on therapist burnout. This has been on my mind for a while, and I want to break it down into three key points to avoid overwhelming you. We’ll look at why so many therapists are burning out, with a focus on administrative burdens and other contributing factors.
• LinkedIn Conversations: Our discussions on LinkedIn have been so rich and engaging. We’ve talked about the undervaluation of mental health work, the financial challenges therapists face, and the sacrifices we make early in our careers. If you haven’t joined the conversation, now’s the time!

Looking Ahead to August

• Self-Care: In August, we’ll dive into the concept of self-care, backed by research. I’m also planning to discuss the idea of “weaponized self-care”—the notion that if we just take more bubble baths or breaks, we can avoid burnout. Spoiler: it’s not that simple. We’ll explore realistic, research-backed ways to care for ourselves and prevent burnout.

Stay Connected

• LinkedIn: I’m very active on LinkedIn, and it’s a great place to continue the conversation. Find me under Jennifer Blanchett, with two t’s and an e.
• Consult Calls: If you’re feeling stuck in your career, whether you’re considering starting a private practice, need help with burnout, or are thinking of leaving therapy for a while, I’m here to support you. Book your Career Refresh consult call to figure out the first steps in making a change here

Email me: info@drjenblanchette.com

https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/jhvxnbroxe

In this quick episode, I’m recapping the live webinar I just hosted on burnout and pivots — and what surprised me most wasn’t the content… it was the honesty in the questions.

A lot of therapists who showed up were already in motion: closing their practice, leaving a job, or standing right on the edge of a big change. And it reminded me how common this really is — and how heavy it feels when you’re trying to figure it out alone.

I also share why I’m opening my 12-week group experience, Leaving the Chair, and how it’s designed to be supportive (not content-heavy) for therapists who are trying to make real decisions in the middle of burnout.

In this episode, I cover

What came up on the webinar

• Why the questions weren’t casual — they were vulnerable and real
• The themes I keep attracting: practice closure, leaving therapy, and “I can’t do this anymore”
• How much life it gave me to hold space with therapists who get it

My biggest takeaways

1. Burnout makes decision-making feel impossible
2. When you’re fried, your brain treats everything like danger — and it’s hard to trust yourself.
3. “What job should I do?” isn’t the real question
4. There are infinite options — the deeper work is learning what your body and life can hold right now.
5. Your pivot doesn’t have to be dramatic
6. A slower move can be more sustainable (unless your body is forcing an emergency exit).
7. The Career Traffic Circle (broad strokes)
   • Stop / pause (sabbatical, medical leave, real break)
   • Slow down (reduce intensity, reduce clients, contract work)
   • Bridge (off-ramp immediate income or on-ramp training)
   • Full pivot (usually later — after stabilization)
8. Identity grief is real
9. Untethering from “I am a therapist” can bring grief, confusion, and shame.
10. Termination and closure always come to the table
11. Client reactions, ethical goodbyes, and the emotional load of wrapping up.
12. The biggest problem is doing it alone
13. This is hard work — and isolation makes it heavier.

Join me inside Leaving the Chair

Leaving the Chair is a 12-week group experience for therapists who want support making a pivot — without panic decisions.

• Starts: Friday, February 6
• Meets: Fridays at 2:00 PM Eastern
• Investment: $950
• Includes: 12 group sessions + 4 guided workshops + supportive circles focused on space, feedback, and decision support (not content overload)
• Spots available: 5
• Registration closes: Saturday, January 31 at midnight

👉 Register here: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/jhvxnbroxe

Want my weekly notes on burnout + pivots?

Join my Pen Pal list here:

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

Questions? Reach out

• Email: info@drjenblanchette.com
• LinkedIn: @drjenblanchette (DM me — I’ll reply)

Closing note

If you’re in the “I can’t do this anymore” season, you’re not failing — you’re overloaded. And you don’t have to make these decisions by yourself.

🌟 Shifting Paths: Discover how Christa is transitioning from traditional therapy to coaching while overcoming burnout.

🌈 Community Connection: Learn about Christa's initiative to create a network of support for queer professionals and allies.

❤️ Personal Insights: Gain valuable takeaways for your own career and personal growth.

For the full show notes, transcripts, resources and links, visit www.drjenblanchette.com.

Link to my freebie here: Before you Quit: A guide for therapists

Stay inspired and empowered with this engaging coaching episode. Click follow in your podcast player for more transformative conversations!

It’s not about prevention.

And it’s definitely not about productivity.

It’s about returning to yourself—again and again—with care, rhythm, and nervous system awareness.

In this final episode of the Structured Rest series, I’m bringing it all together and walking you through the full framework that’s emerged from my own lived experience with burnout, my work as an EMDR therapist and neuropsychologist, and the patterns I’ve seen in so many other helping professionals.

You’ll hear how this framework centers on rhythm over rescue, and why most burnout advice misses the mark when it focuses on quick fixes instead of deep, cyclical recovery.

🔑 What I cover in this episode:

• Why I don’t believe in burnout prevention and what actually helps
• The nervous system science behind long-term burnout and shutdown
• A reframe of recovery that mirrors substance recovery: it’s active, it’s ongoing
• The full 3-part Structured Rest Framework:

🔁 The Framework: Release, Regulate, Return to Rhythm

1. Release

→ Let go of what’s too heavy.

This includes:

• Delegating, delaying, deleting
• Weekly and daily brain dumps
• Caseload pruning
• Digital detoxing and minimizing cognitive burnout (especially phone use)

2. Regulate

→ Support your nervous system in real, sustainable ways:

• Sleep, nourishment, and gentle movement
• Connection as a healing rhythm (planned, not just spontaneous)
• Creating margin—because you are terrible at estimating how long things take (we all are)
• Start with one thing: one meal, one walk, one friend

3. Return to Rhythm

→ Create sabbatical structures that honor your life:

• Daily pauses like unplugged meals and movement
• Weekly rituals for rest, not just recovery
• Seasonal time off and reflection
• Let rest be something you live by, not something you earn

🧠 Also inside this episode:

• The metaphor of my tiger lily garden (yes, really)
• Why phone addiction is tied to social connection, especially for women
• The “phone foyer method” I learned from Cal Newport
• Why the phrase “burnout to breakthrough” makes me want to gag
• And how I’m still recovering—and always will be

📆 What’s Next:

August can bring a strange kind of grief for therapists.

You didn’t rest like you hoped. You didn’t finish the thing. And now fall is coming.

In next week’s episode, I’ll explore the seasonal rhythm of private practice, and what to do when you feel caught between not rested and not ready.

💌 Want deeper support?

Join my Therapist Pen-Pal List for weekly reflections, behind-the-scenes updates, and early access to all my upcoming resources:

• [Practice Closure Plan] coming early fall
• [Burnout Recovery Group Program] launching later this year
• Retreat details, journal prompts, and more

👉 Join the pen-pal list here: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

📬 Join the Therapist Pen pal list for reflections on therapist burnout recovery, rest, and career shifts:https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

🌐 Explore more burnout recovery tools and podcast episodes: https://drjenblanchette.com/podcast

Introduction

We didn’t just lose sabbaticals—we replaced them with productivity apps, guilt, and back-to-back Zoom sessions.

In this episode, I explore how the structure of work has slowly pulled therapists away from any sustainable rhythm of rest. From the industrial revolution to the rise of smartphones and always-on culture, therapy work has been swept into a system built on output, not care. We talk about the deeper roots of therapist burnout and how I’ve started reclaiming small, intentional pauses—what I now call “mini sabbaticals.”

Because burned out therapists don’t need another self-care checklist.

They need permission to stop—and the structure to sustain it.

What we cover in this episode:

🌀 The historical loss of rest rhythms

We explore how sabbaticals and seasonal rest used to be woven into life, work, and healing—and how they were replaced by industrial and academic productivity models. Even the early roots of therapy included slower pacing and breaks.

📱 Smartphones and the rise of the “anxious generation”

I share insights from Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation, including the sharp rise in parenting time, the collapse of unsupervised play, and how that contributes to burnout—especially for therapists who are also parents.

🧠 Therapist burnout as cognitive and emotional overload

We’re not just tired—we’re wired. A 2025 Moodle survey shows that 66% of U.S. workers are burned out, especially younger generations. Therapists are managing caseloads, crisis response, admin, and emotional labor without structural support.

🌿 What “mini sabbaticals” look like in practice

I share how I’m building rhythms of rest into my days, weeks, and seasons—including daily tech-free moments, quarterly pauses, and longer breaks when possible. Not as a luxury—but as a foundation for healing.

Therapist burnout isn’t a personal failure—it’s a systems issue.

This episode is a call to step outside of those systems, even briefly. To name what’s no longer working. And to try something new, even if it’s just a single walk without your phone.

Referenced in this episode:

📘 The Anxious Generation – Jonathan Haidt

📊 Moodle 2025 Burnout Survey (66% of U.S. workers)

Related episodes on therapist burnout & rest:

– Episode 74: Structured Rest Planning

– Episode 76: Delete, Delay, Delegate

– Episode 77: Rest Is Not a Luxury

Looking for support beyond the episode?

🤝 Explore coaching options for burned out therapists

In this episode, I’m rejecting the hustle harder / reinvent yourself energy that shows up every January—especially when your nervous system is already fried. Instead, I’m making the case for a soft start: a gentle re-entry that’s doable, realistic, and rooted in your actual capacity.

If you’re stuck between “why even try?” and “I have to change everything right now,” this one’s for you.

Links

Join Love It or Leave It (Open Enrollment):

https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/jhvxnbroxe

Book a consult call (limited availability):

https://calendar.app.google/JBkK3aUPXyvxr46F7

In this episode, we cover

• Why January can feel like a flood for therapists—not a clean slate
• The thesis: you don’t need a January reinvention—after 2025, we need a soft start
• A nervous-system lens: window of tolerance + “titrating” your life (EMDR concept applied to real life)
• The origin of New Year’s resolutions (and why the timing is kind of absurd)
• The shame layer of burnout: “I failed… I should’ve known… I should be stronger”
• A quote (shared by Liz Gilbert) from Leonard Cohen: standing guiltless in the predicament
• The minimum effective dose approach to movement, connection, and nourishment
• “Addition vs. subtraction” with food (and why diet culture can create more stress than we realize)
• How to take small, doable steps toward change (not panic pivots)

Notable quote (Leonard Cohen)

“There is a feeling we have sometimes of betraying some mission that we were mandated to fulfill… and the deeper courage was to stand guiltless in the predicament in which you find yourself.”

Timestamps

• 0:00 — “It’s January. The internet wants you to sprint.”
• 1:40 — Thesis: a soft start for 2026 after a tough year
• 4:26 — Window of tolerance + titrating your life
• 5:16 — Fitness instructor story: don’t push past your range
• 6:45 — History: resolutions started in spring, then moved to January
• 9:08 — “The system is broken, not you” + the shame of burnout
• 11:11 — Why winter goals can feel like punishment
• 12:46 — Leonard Cohen quote + “stand guiltless” reflection
• 16:00 — Sponsor break (me) + program invite
• 18:34 — Minimum effective dose: movement, connection, nourishment
• 27:00 — Soft pivots: small actions toward what you want
• 30:03 — Episode 100 teaser: Micah Freeman interviews me

Sponsor (me): Love It or Leave It

If you’re a therapist who feels fried to a crisp—and you’re fantasizing about doing something else just to breathe again—I created Love It or Leave It, a small group coaching program for therapists who want to quit 1:1 therapy (or at least a lot less of it). We’ll do this softly—nervous-system friendly and practical, so you can make real moves.

Enrollment:

https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/jhvxnbroxe

Consult call:

https://calendar.app.google/JBkK3aUPXyvxr46F7

Next episode

Episode 100 is next week—my friend Micah Freeman interviews me.

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

From managing the anxiety of cancellations and income dips to navigating family boundaries that get pushed to the limit, today we are covering how to protect your energy this month. Plus, I have a confession: I’m seeing a therapy client again.

In this episode, we are having a real talk about how to handle the holidays—not just as a therapist holding space for others, but as a human being with your own family dynamics, exhaustion, and need for rest.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Soft Pivot Circle: I am officially launching a small, intimate group (6-8 people) for therapists who need to make a career change but feel stuck. We will focus on nervous system care and making decisions without urgency.
• Private Practice Isolation: A listener asks where to find support when you leave the built-in community of an agency. I share my experience and why you need to "know your container."
• The Holiday "Break" Reality: Why family gatherings often require more output than work, and how to manage the guilt of taking time for yourself to regulate.
• Grief Corner: Acknowledging the heavy grief therapists carry, especially regarding client loss and suicide, during the holiday season.
• December Financials: Practical tips for handling the stress of client cancellations and protecting your income during the seasonal dip.

Key Quotes:

"I think making decisions in the way that your nervous system can handle is the way to go, and changing your career in incremental shifts is the way to do it."

"You don't need to earn rest. You can just rest if you need it."

Resources Mentioned:

• The Soft Pivot Circle: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/kt57aq4o19
• Structured Rest Series: Check out our summer episodes for a deep dive into my framework for recalibrating a burned-out nervous system.
• https://drjenblanchette.com/podcast/74-burned-out-dysregulated-and-still-showing-up-how-to-find-safety/
• Join the Pen Pal List: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

Connect with Me: If you have a question or want to share how you are navigating this season, reply to my newsletter—seriously, it’s really me responding!

Rate & Review: If this episode supported you, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps other therapists find this community.

In this episode, I’m identifying The Top 5 A$$hole Stories that therapists tell themselves. These are the internal scripts that convince us we are "defective" when we are actually just depleted. They are the lies that keep us stuck in burnout, shame, and paralysis.

From the belief that you "should" be able to handle impossible caseloads, to the fear that you have "no transferable skills," we are breaking down these stories one by one. I also share a bit about my own journey, why "Earth School" is hard for all of us, and why you don't need a perfect plan—you just need a soft pivot.

Key Takeaways: The 5 A$$hole Stories

• A$$hole Story #1: "I should be able to handle this."
  • This is the therapist equivalent of self-gaslighting. We convince ourselves we aren't tough enough, rather than admitting we are working in a system set up for us to fail.
• A$$hole Story #2: "If I leave, I failed."
  • This story is entrenched in our identity. We talk about the grief of leaving and why changing careers isn't a failure—it's statistically normal!
• A$$hole Story #3: "I don't have any other skills."
  • The lie that we are only therapists. We discuss how to recognize your deep well of transferable expertise (like assessment and crisis management).
• A$$hole Story #4: "No one will hire me in this market."
  • The binary thinking that stops us cold. Your next role doesn't have to be a forever career; it can be a bridge or an on-ramp.
• A$$hole Story #5: "I need a perfect plan before I make a move."
  • The paralysis story. Why you don't need a 5-year plan to make a change, and why small, incremental shifts matter.

Resources & Links:

• The Soft Pivot Circle: I am building a small, intimate circle for 2026 for therapists who are lost and need a space to figure out their next micro-turn. Join the waitlist here: https://drjenblanchette.com/coaching/
• Book Recommendation: The No ******* Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't by Robert Sutton.

Memorable Quotes:

"I really think this is the therapist equivalent of self-gaslighting... telling ourselves we're drowning because we aren't tough enough, when we are actually trying to work within a system that's a setup for us to fail."

"Small pivots count. The small moves that I make count. I am not too late. There is hope for me, there is hope for you."

"You aren't behind for not having your life fully mapped out. Earth School is hard."

Get more therapist real talk on the newsletter for podcast updates, offerings, and my upcoming circles in 2026: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

The Financial & Emotional Contradiction

We're trapped in a constant battle between our identity as a healer and our role as a business owner:

The Worth Gap: We are socialized in training to provide free or low-cost service, creating therapists who are "terrible at following" the healthy boundaries we preach. This leads to profound financial anxiety. As Matt put it, "You can be a really good business person, but a terrible therapist... some of the best therapists I've ever met can barely ask to charge money for their work."

The Business Trap: We spend Herculean effort achieving licensure only to be dumped into "the great nothing" (Matt Hussey)—where we must fend for ourselves, performing all administrative, marketing, and accounting tasks while simultaneously holding immense emotional space. The math often "is not math-ing," leading to total burnout.

The Double Life and Clinical Grief 🎭

The job requires us to exist in two versions of ourselves, creating an isolation that is unique to our field:

The Asymmetry: We have so much emotional depth with clients, yet we are "not known though to them deeply and we can't be." This necessary emotional containment means that when clients leave or pass away, we experience clinical grief in a way that is "unnatural" and not socially prescribed.

Borrowing Tools: Our skills become a coping mechanism. We can find ourselves "slipping into that role" in personal life, using our therapeutic tools "to cover for shyness or some sort of like social awkwardness" (Matt Hussey), which can feel "isolating and othering" to those closest to us.

Emotional Numbing: The demand to suppress our own physical symptoms of fatigue—an interoception failure—means we give until we are "literally on fire." This often results in a protective emotional numbing, reducing our range of feeling because we're scared to "drop into therapist mode and help them get out of whatever they're in" in our off-hours.

This work is difficult, nuanced, and requires deep courage to acknowledge the messy contradictions that define our role.

More from Matt: https://www.thebrink.me/author/matt/

• 📨 Join the Pen Pal list https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb
• 📰 The Shift – Jen’s new LinkedIn newsletter
• → First issue: AI Won’t Solve Therapist Burnout
• 🎙️ Episode 60: Hey Therapist, You Need a Friend

🧠 Episode Summary

In this episode of The Therapist Burnout Podcast, we move beyond subtracting stressors and start focusing on what to add back in. If you’ve ever asked, “What do I even enjoy anymore?”—this one’s for you.

Jen shares her five pillars of restoration—connection, sleep, nourishment, movement, and play—and guides you in remembering what actually makes you feel like you.

You’ll hear:

• A powerful garden metaphor about tiger lilies and tending your time
• A float-back practice to reconnect with your younger, joyful self
• The Atomic Habits lens on rebuilding: every small action is a vote for who you want to become
• Real talk on friendship loss, depleted joy, and the paradox of needing rest but feeling guilty for taking it
• Encouragement to start tiny: one text, one walk, one joyful moment

✨ Weekly Prompt

“What kind of rest or pleasure have I been denying myself?”

💡 Tiny Practice

Choose one thing to add back this week—something nourishing, connective, playful, or restful.

Then, protect the space for it with ferocity.

If you’ve been:

• Bracing yourself before certain sessions
• Stuck in client relationships that feel more obligatory than impactful
• Wondering if you’re doing something wrong because you’re so exhausted after the work…

This episode is for you.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

• Why therapists often feel emotionally responsible for outcomes—and how that leads to overfunctioning
• The hidden weight of “drift clients” and how sessions become habit instead of intention
• What alignment actually looks like in therapy (hint: it’s not about ease, it’s about purpose)
• How guilt, training, and scarcity shape unsustainable caseloads
• A quiet caseload audit to help you reflect without judgment
• When it’s time to consult, refer, or ethically discharge—and how to make those decisions without shame

I also share a personal story of how scarcity, motherhood, and medical trauma led me to start a private practice before I was ready—and what I’ve learned since leaving it behind.

🎯 This episode is especially for therapists who:

• Are feeling stuck, depleted, or unsure if 1:1 therapy is still right for them
• Want to make space in their schedule, but feel guilty letting go of certain clients
• Are curious about leaving, pausing, or reimagining their therapy practice
• Need permission to put something down

✨ Resources Mentioned:

• Join the waitlist https://drjenblanchette.com/coaching/
• Practice Closure Plan-Coming Soon!

Next Up:

In the next episode of Structured Rest, we’ll talk about why rest still feels impossible even after you clear your schedule—and how to rebuild safety, pleasure, and connection in your week.

👋 Stay Connected:

If this episode resonated, I’d love for you to share it with a colleague, leave a review, or tag me on social with your reflections. You’re not alone in this work—and you don’t have to figure it out alone, either.

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!

• Takeaways
• Good therapist conditioning can lead to perfectionism and a fear of making mistakes as well as burnout.
• Therapists often feel a strong sense of responsibility for their clients' well-being.
• Cultural expectations and societal norms can reinforce traditional gender roles and influence therapists' perception of themselves and their careers.
• Attachment to the identity of being a therapist can make it difficult to consider alternative career paths.
• Therapists should prioritize their own needs and happiness and not be afraid to make changes.

Links to my stuff: https://linktr.ee/drjenblanchette

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.

Why do therapists wait until they’re completely burnt out before seeking help?

In this episode, I dive into the nervous system side of therapist burnout—starting with interoception, or how we notice (and ignore) internal signals like fatigue and tension. I share research-backed insights, cultural conditioning we don’t talk about enough, and real responses from therapists answering:

“Why do we wait until it’s really bad to get help?”

We cover:

• How therapist culture rewards disconnection from our bodies
• Why awareness doesn’t always lead to action
• What research says about burnout, interoception, and recovery
• Practical strategies to reconnect before you hit a wall

🔗 Links to Studies & Resources

• Halonen et al. (2024) – Therapist Interoception Study
• Ovalle (2023) – Interoceptive Awareness & Burnout
• Duquette (2017) – Emotional Suppression in Therapy Work
• Price & Hooven (2018) – MABT for Regulation

What if burnout isn’t a personal failure—or something you can hustle your way out of?

Today I’m joined by David Politi, host of Empowered Through Compassion, for a real talk about burnout, therapist parts, and how we survive (and even find hope) inside broken systems.

We dive into:

• Why burnout is often a lifelong spectrum, not a one-time event
• How Internal Family Systems (IFS) and EMDR offer new ways to sustain this work
• The therapist parts that show up when we’re exhausted, discouraged, or ready to run
• Why doing more trainings or certifications isn't always the answer (and sometimes it is)

David also shares a sneak peek of his upcoming book IFS-Informed EMDR (out in 2025).

If you’ve ever thought, "I’m too close to burnout again," this conversation is for you.

Connect with David:

• Website: EmpoweredThroughCompassion.com
• Podcast: Empowered Through Compassion

In this in-between time, as we transition from the holidays into the new year, we’re diving into how therapists can recharge, reflect, and prepare for meaningful change in 2025. Jen Blanchette recaps the December series on why it’s so hard to make changes as a therapist and shares actionable insights for overcoming fear, burnout, and those pesky “asshole stories” that keep us stuck. Plus, Jen gets personal about her own goals, challenges, and wins as she navigates this season of her career.

Key Themes from the December Series

1. Fear as a Barrier to Change (Episode 49)

Fear is one of the biggest reasons therapists struggle to make changes, whether it’s closing a practice or stepping away from a role.

• Common fears include:
  • Not knowing what comes next.
  • Letting clients down or worrying about their reactions.
• Jen explores ways to work through fear and shift focus from what might go wrong to what’s possible.

2. Burnout and Chronic Depletion (Episode 50)

When you’re deeply tired, even small changes can feel impossible. Many therapists in end-stage burnout feel stuck and unable to recover fully, even with reduced workloads.

• Key takeaways:
  • Rest is essential to recovery—become an “expert” on rest.
  • Address chronic depletion by prioritizing joy and rediscovering what renews you.
  • Avoid jumping into drastic changes like new coaching programs or group models without first replenishing yourself.

3. Negative Self-Talk and “Asshole Stories” (Episode 51)

Our internal narratives often sabotage our progress. Jen discusses how exposure to trauma and years of caregiving shape the way we think about ourselves.

• Tips for managing self-talk:
  • Recognize how vicarious trauma impacts your emotional experience.
  • Use tools like journaling or thought reframing to neutralize negative self-talk.
  • Ask yourself questions like, “How can I make this easier?” or “How can I be kinder to myself?”

Reflection: What Do You Need in 2025?

Jen challenges listeners to reflect on their needs as the new year approaches. Consider:

• What is depleting you in your work or personal life?
• What brings you renewal?
• Are you holding onto fear, exhaustion, or negative stories about yourself?
• Sketch out your ideal week and note where your energy is drained or renewed.
• Make intentional changes, even small ones, to shift the balance toward renewal.

Building Sustainable Habits

Jen highlights the importance of gentle, consistent changes in both professional and personal life:

• Incorporate small, achievable habits like regular walks, yoga nidra, or weightlifting.
• Avoid perfectionism and focus on consistency.
• Resources mentioned: Atomic Habits by James Clear and the Full Focus Planner.

Closing Thoughts

The transition into a new year can be overwhelming, but it’s also an opportunity to reassess and realign. Whether you’re considering a major career change or just seeking more balance, Jen encourages you to take the first step toward the life you need and deserve.

Resources Mentioned:

• Join my pen-pal list! I write back: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb
• My email: info@drjenblanchette.com

Let’s make 2025 the year you prioritize yourself. Tune in to future episodes as Jen continues to guide therapists toward thriving personally and professionally.

🔹 Burnout Recovery & Learning to Ski at 44 – How facing my fears on the mountain mirrors the journey of recovering from burnout. Am I cruising yet? Not quite, but I’m getting there.

🔹 Political Stress & Holding Space as a Therapist – If you’re feeling the weight of absorbing difficult conversations, especially in 2025, you’re not alone. Let’s talk about when it’s okay to say, I can’t hold this anymore.

🔹 Termination: The Ending We’re Supposed to Plan For – We’re trained to begin with the end in mind, but that doesn’t mean terminations are easy—for clients or for us. I cover:

• Why termination gets rusty for mid-career therapists
• The fear of abandoning clients vs. the reality of ethical endings
• A refresher on APA guidelines for termination
• When therapy has become stagnant and how to navigate those tough calls

🔹 Looking Ahead – Next week, I’ll dive into mass terminations—when you have to end with multiple clients at once, like when closing a practice or leaving a job.

If termination has ever felt messy, emotional, or just plain confusing, this episode is for you.

Resources Mentioned:

• My free practice closure guide for therapists: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/closureguide
• APA article: When Therapy Comes to an End: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/07/career-therapy-conclusion

Let’s Connect!

Join my therapist burnout pen-pal list: I write back, you aren't alone if your tired, hopeless, and can't do this work anymore: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

Thanks for listening! If this episode resonated with you, share it with a therapist friend who needs to hear it. That's how we grow this message!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Burnout Recovery Essentials:
   • Why recovering from chronic stress takes time and how simple, small steps—like micro-breaks and rest—can make a difference.
   • Jen's mantra for 2025: Working at a human pace.
2. Navigating Career Decisions in Burnout:
   • Why it’s not the time for long-term decisions when you’re in survival mode.
   • How Jen is making space to figure out her next steps by adjusting her workload and setting boundaries.
3. Practice Closure 101:
   • Ethical considerations for closing a practice or leaving a job, including timelines, client communication, and referrals.
   • Step-by-step guidance from Jen’s free Practice Closure Guide.
4. Personal Reflections on Burnout and Seasons:
   • Jen’s experience managing burnout alongside depression and navigating seasonal challenges in Maine’s cold winters.
   • Her humorous (but serious) pitch for speaking gigs in Australia during the winter months to escape the cold and attend the Australian Open.

Notable Quotes from Jen:

• "Burnout recovery looks like deep self-care—caring for ourselves in a way that our nervous system knows we are safe."
• "If you’re asking, 'What’s next?' the answer might be to let go of something first."
• "Work doesn’t have to take our whole being anymore."

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Practice Closure Guide: Get Jen’s step-by-step resource for therapists considering closing their practices. https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/closureguide
• Kate Donovan’s Fry the Burnout Podcast: A shoutout to Kate for reminding us about the importance of simple self-care, like peeing when we need to!

Jen’s Call to Action:

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or questioning your next steps, start by creating space to rest and reflect. Download the Practice Closure Guide if you’re contemplating closing your practice, and don’t hesitate to seek support for your burnout recovery.

Connect with Jen:

• Website: www.drjenblanchette.com

Final Thought:

You don’t have to figure it all out right now. Burnout recovery is a process, and small changes can lead to big shifts over time. You’ve got this!

• Why December can feel like both a magical and overwhelming season.
• Jen's personal strategy for embracing rest during the holidays (spoiler: leftover Christmas dinner and lots of nothing!).
• The importance of communicating your needs and planning ahead to avoid burnout during festive chaos.

🛑 Rest as a Priority (Not a Luxury):

• What it means to be an "expert in rest" and why it’s a goal worth striving for.
• Breaking the cycle of constant push: Jen’s candid reflection on working through the weekend and her plan to make rest intentional.
• Rethinking support: Hiring help at home or in your practice to lighten the load.

✨ Energy Audits and Letting Go:

• Identifying your most depleting tasks or client sessions.
• How to evaluate your caseload and make ethical, compassionate discharges when needed.
• The emotional and professional benefits of “letting go” when it’s time.

🌿 Making Space to Be Human:

• Strategies to build in more space for boredom, play, and joy in your week.
• Why Jen values activities like tennis, fitness instruction, and even the possibility of learning drums!
• The power of recognizing when schedules or habits no longer serve you—and making changes to reclaim time for yourself.

❄️ Leaning Into Winter:

• How to embrace the coziness of the season, even if you’re not a fan of the cold.
• Exploring the beauty of winter routines like sunrises, snowfall, and the Scandinavian art of making the most of long nights.

💡 Practical Takeaways:

1. Be an Expert on Rest: Give yourself permission to stop and re-evaluate what’s depleting you.
2. Audit Your Energy: Identify what’s draining your time and energy—and let it go.
3. Create Space for Joy: Make room in your life for human moments, hobbies, and fun.

Free Resource for You:

Feeling overwhelmed and unsure what needs to change? Grab my free guide on burnout and depletion to pinpoint what’s holding you back and map out your next steps.

In this solo episode of The Therapist Burnout Podcast, Jen Blanchette dives into the topic of moral injury among therapists. Reflecting on the recent conversation with Dr. Jenny Byrne in Episode 43, Jen expands on how the concept of moral injury applies to therapists, sharing insights on current events, systemic challenges, and her own personal experiences. She also touches on a recent strike involving mental health workers, highlighting ongoing issues of workload, reimbursement, and the emotional toll of the profession.

Takeaways

• Therapists are feeling overwhelmed by high caseloads and inadequate support.
• The concept of moral injury is crucial for understanding therapist burnout.
• Many therapists wish for a union to advocate for better conditions.
• Moral injury can stem from systemic issues within the healthcare system.
• Personal experiences of moral injury can shape a therapist's career.
• Burnout, moral distress, and moral injury are interconnected but distinct.
• Therapists often feel like cogs in a machine, losing their sense of self.
• The healthcare system profits from the labor of therapists without adequate compensation.
• Taking breaks and managing stress is essential for therapists' well-being.
• The holiday season can exacerbate stress for both therapists and their clients.

Sound Bites

"Therapists are humans too."

"Moral injury can be helpful in seeing systemic issues."

"We need to increase our pay and support."

More from Jen:

www.drjenblanchette.com

The therapist pen-pal list write back": https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

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

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

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

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

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

Links to my stuff: https://linktr.ee/drjenblanchette

Takeaways

• Therapists often lack education on running a business and managing their finances, which can lead to financial pitfalls.
• Transitioning from being self-employed to owning a business is crucial for therapists to create long-term wealth.
• Creating financial systems and shifting income towards long-term savings and investments is essential for financial security.
• Therapists need to clearly understand their financial goals and make conscious spending decisions. Set big goals and think beyond the traditional mindset of therapists.
• Be more business-minded and assertive in order to succeed
• Explore different ways to generate income, such as group sessions, retreats, coaching, and online courses
• Find a fee-only financial planner who acts in your best interest
• Take time for personal joy and hobbies

More from Ryan: https://thinkingcapfinancial.com/incometowealth

More from Jen: Grab my free guide for therapists who are done with 1:1 therapy here!

Hey therapists, welcome back to the podcast! As we step into 2024, let's talk about the challenges therapists face during busy seasons and the impact of burnout. Here are three key takeaways:

1️⃣ Deductible Season Awareness: It's not just busy season, but also deductible season. Many clients have deductibles to meet, so as a therapist, make sure you're collecting the whole session fee. Learn from my experience of starting solo in private practice without knowing the importance of checking deductibles.

2️⃣ Recognizing Depletion: January through April can be tough. Seasonal affective disorder, post-holiday stress, and personal depletion can affect both therapists and clients. Acknowledge your own depletion and prioritize deep rest between therapeutic days to maintain emotional resources.

3️⃣ Empowering Change: Therapists often face burnout due to low pay and high stress. Consider advocating for change – whether it's increasing fees, working with insurance companies strategically, or exploring alternative sources of income. Take steps to reduce caseload temporarily if needed and embrace a personalized approach to therapy.

Remember, 2024 is an opportunity for positive change in your practice and life. You have the power to rewrite the script and create a fulfilling and sustainable career. Wishing you a transformative year ahead! Links to all my stuff free and paid: linktr.ee/drjenblanchette

• Pay attention to the breaking point and signs of burnout in order to prevent a complete physical and emotional breakdown.
• Listen to your body's signals and make time for self-care, even in small ways, to avoid staying stuck in a state of chronic stress.
• Model self-care in therapy sessions to help clients regulate their own nervous systems and enhance the therapeutic process.
• Engaging in personal healing work can improve your effectiveness as a therapist and bring more fulfillment to your work.
• Finding joy in receiving and allowing yourself to rest and receive support from others can lead to greater well-being and connection.

More from Monica: www.businessofthriving.com

More from Jen: www.drjenblanchette.com 

Links to my freebies: https://linktr.ee/drjenblanchette

As a therapist myself, I understand the toll that the work can take on one's mental and emotional health. The pressures of the job, coupled with the stress of everyday life, can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue, and even vicarious trauma. It's a tough road to navigate, and many therapists struggle with finding the support they need to continue doing the work they love.

In this podcast episode, I share my personal experiences with burnout and how I overcame it. I've been in your shoes, and I understand how challenging it can be to find the right path forward. Whether you're just starting your career or have been in the field for years, my story can help you find the support and resources you need to overcome burnout and continue doing the work you love.

By listening to this podcast, you'll learn practical strategies to help you manage burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma. You'll hear about the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and finding support. I'll also discuss how to recognize the signs of burnout and what steps you can take to prevent it.

If you're considering leaving the profession because of burnout, I urge you to listen to this podcast before making any decisions. Burnout is a serious issue, and it's not something you should ignore. With the right support and resources, you can overcome burnout and find joy in your work again. I'm living proof of that.

So, join me on the "Finding Joy After Burnout" podcast, and let's work together to find a way to continue doing the work we love without sacrificing our mental and emotional well-being. 

Link to my website: www.drjenblanchette.com

Guess what? You're not alone in this. If you're a therapist considering a career transition, listening to this conversation can give you a sense of relief and validation. You'll realize that many therapists share the same concerns and struggles as you do. It's reassuring to know that you're not alone in this journey.

This discussion will encourage you to take a closer look at your own motivations for staying in or leaving the therapy field. It's essential to explore your aspirations and personal growth to ensure that they align with your chosen profession.

Ever heard of sunk cost fallacy? We're breaking it down in a big way. Consider it a friendly push to break free from that trap and make decisions based on what's right for you now. Dr. Jen and Annie talk a lot about finding that balance and happiness in your work. 

Now, let's talk takeaways. Here are three gems you'll snag from this episode

• You're Not Alone: This conversation is like a reminder that you're part of a community. Other therapists are going through the same thought process. It's comforting to know you're in good company.

• Reflect and Align: Dr. Jen and Annie will inspire you to dig deep into your motivations. Take a moment to reflect on your journey and see if your career is still aligned with where you want to go.

• Break Free and Prioritize: The sunk cost fallacy is a tough one, but hearing stories of others who've moved past it is empowering. Plus, the emphasis on your well-being isn't just advice – it's a reality check.

More from jen:www.drjenblanchette.com

More from Annie: www.rebeltherapist.me

Episode Summary:

 In this final episode of my Mental Health Awareness Month series, I’m wrapping things up with some honest reflections—from what the data (and lack of data) says about therapist mental health, to what I’ve been feeling in my own nervous system lately.

We’re talking about more than just burnout—this is about depression, anxiety, moral injury, compassion fatigue, and those moments where even your “easy” clients feel hard. If you’ve ever said, “I’m in therapy, but I still feel awful,” this episode is for you.

In this episode, I share:

• Why so little data exists on therapist mental health
• What we do know from global research on therapist depression, anxiety, and vicarious trauma
• Why burnout in therapists often includes moral injury, identity confusion, and nervous system shutdown
• The difference between having a 24 oz mug and a 4 oz espresso cup of capacity
• Why I always start with the permission to quit: overworking, overscheduling, self-doubt, poor boundaries
• My dream vision for therapist mental health support—and why we can’t rely on unpaid labor to get there
• A preview of my upcoming Structured Rest summer series

Resources Mentioned:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.): https://988lifeline.org
• NAMI Frontline Wellness for Healthcare Workers: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Frontline-Professionals
• My email list for therapists (Pen-Pal List): https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

What’s Next:

I’ll be taking a short podcast break (1–2 weeks) to prep for the Structured Rest series, launching in June. I’ll also be opening enrollment soon for my fall group for therapists in burnout who are ready to quit something—whether it’s your job, your role, or just the story you’re stuck in.

Join the Therapist Pen-Pal List for weekly reflections and burnout recovery tips:https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

After a difficult meeting left me dysregulated and questioning everything (again), I knew it was time to return to this series: Structured Rest.

In this personal and practical episode, I talk about:

• Why traditional rest isn't enough in burnout recovery
• What it means to actually create safety in your body
• How I’m listening to the parts of me that say, “I can’t keep doing this”
• The real-life commitments I’m making—like yoga as a student, taking real lunch breaks, and ditching sad salads
• How nervous system regulation and honoring capacity became my new foundation

Mentioned episodes:

Ep 65 – Overbooked & Overwhelmed: UnF@#k Your Calendar:https://drjenblanchette.com/podcast/065-overbooked-overwhelmed-unfk-your-calandar/

Ep 70 – Is It Burnout or Depression?https://drjenblanchette.com/podcast/070-therapist-burnout-or-depression-lets-get-granular/

Ep 71 – Why We Wait Until We're Burned Out: https://drjenblanchette.com/podcast/071-why-we-wait-until-were-burnt-interoception-burnout-therapist-mental-health/

Coming up in the Structured Rest Series:

• How to clear mental clutter with a weekly brain dump
• The Delete, Delay, Delegate method for managing your calendar
• Anchoring your week with movement, connection, rest, and more
• Building nervous system capacity gently, without shame

Quote to carry with you:

Structured rest is what gives you the capacity to come back to yourself—to listen, to rest, and maybe, eventually, to build what’s next.

Subscribe & follow for the rest of the series.

Pen-Pal List: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

Key Takeaways to Fuel Your Journey:

1️⃣ Financial Literacy: Get cozy with your finances. Dr. Blanchette's journey becomes a guide for understanding your financial needs, unlocking a path to joy and stability.

2️⃣ Toolbox Essentials: Explore the wisdom of financial guru Ramit Sethi's 'I Will Teach You to Be Rich' and the MIT living wage calculator. These tools are your companions to demystify your financial situation.

3️⃣ Curiosity in Action: Dr. Blanchette ignites curiosity. Discover alternative paths to enhance your income. It's not just a job – it's a journey, and curiosity is your guide. 🚀💖

Crafting Your Path to Joy: Dr. Blanchette isn't just sharing insights – she's a guide to action! Craft a six-month income plan, take practical steps, and transform your financial landscape. Joy is within reach – seize it! 🎉💰

Grab the free money guide HERE!

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

This self-fulfilling prophecy can seriously hold me back. In my latest podcast, I dive into the money scripts that keep therapists like me from building wealth.

I explore the impact of money scripts on my financial success and highlight three key money scripts that commonly affect therapists. I also share strategies for overcoming them. I emphasize how societal messages around women and marginalized populations, the undervaluation of mental health professionals, and the stigma around financial success play a role in my financial struggles. By challenging these money scripts and reframing my beliefs about money, I can find empowerment and achieve greater financial stability and success.

Grab my guide here

Keywords therapists, burnout, careers, quitting, therapy, transition, clinical skills, non-clinical roles, transferable skills

Takeaways

• Therapists often experience financial strain and burnout, leading to high turnover rates in the field.
• There are various career options for therapists looking to transition out of therapy, including using clinical skills in different ways, utilizing therapy skills in non-clinical roles, and completely departing from the field.
• Examples of using clinical skills in different ways include assessment work, working in a school setting, and providing supervision or consultation.
• Examples of utilizing therapy skills in non-clinical roles include teaching adjunct courses, working in human resources, and exploring sales or marketing roles.
• Completely departing from the field of therapy can involve leveraging transferable skills in other industries, such as project management, real estate, or sales.
• It is important for therapists to consider their interests, strengths, and desired work-life balance when exploring career options outside of therapy.

Titles

• Exploring Career Options for Therapists: Using Clinical Skills in Different Ways
• Utilizing Therapy Skills in Non-Clinical Roles: Teaching, Human Resources, and More

Sound Bites

• "Nearly half of therapists are leaving their jobs, it's the system's problem, not your own problem."
• "If you are in the throes of burnout, we need to find more ways for you to rest and replenish."
• "Career options for therapists: using clinical skills, therapy-adjacent roles, and complete departures."

Grab my free money guide: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/tshwticuti

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

(Insert your actual link above)

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.

Together, we dive into how burnout impacts our sense of self and how to rebuild trust in our intuition when it feels like we’ve lost our way. Dr. Lisa shares her journey through burnout and self-doubt, offering insight into why so many high-achieving women feel stuck when it's time for a change. We explore the pivotal moments that helped us pivot and the practical strategies anyone can use to take the next best step forward.

Whether you’re in the thick of burnout or wondering if it’s time for a major pivot, this episode will help you recognize your resilience and take the first step forward.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How burnout mimics depression and impacts decision-making.
• The stories burnout tells us—and why they aren’t true.
• How to stop overthinking “the right decision” and focus on the best choice for you right now.
• Why intuition doesn’t disappear during burnout—it’s just buried.
• Practical strategies to rebuild self-trust and take action.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Dr. Lisa’s advice for high-achieving women navigating self-doubt and career pivots.
• The advice that shifted my mindset: “Don’t worry about the ‘right’ decision. Make the best decision for you right now.”
• How burnout influenced my decision to close my private practice and take a leap in my career.

About Dr. Lisa Herbert:

Dr. Lisa is a healthcare leader, speaker, and coach who helps women in healthcare balance career success with personal fulfillment. Through her programs, she empowers women to reclaim their confidence and pursue their purpose with clarity and courage.

Resources for You:

• Connect with Dr. Lisa Herbert

Let’s Connect:

• www.drjenblanchette.com
• My Pen-Pal List--I write back!
• If this episode resonated, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it!

Burnout isn’t just exhaustion — it’s the loss of feeling alive.

In this final episode of the year, I’m sharing what burnout recovery has actually looked like for me: the slow parts, the stuck parts, the softening of ambition, and the small pockets of aliveness that are bringing me back to myself.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why burnout isn’t just about depletion, but about losing a sense of aliveness
• Why leaving private practice didn’t “fix” burnout the way I expected
• Jumping straight into school psychology without a real break — and what that brought up
• The existential “midlife stuckness” many therapists experience
• Why the question “What else can I do?” is a doorway, not a failure
• Using memories of past aliveness as a bridge back to yourself
• Glimmers, play, and small pockets of aliveness in daily life
• How ambition has softened — and why the “arrival” point doesn’t actually exist
• Why burnout seemed to have a moment in 2025
• What it means to work toward enough instead of more

If you’re feeling stuck…

If you’re burned out and trying to figure out what’s next, I invite you to start here:

come back to yourself first.

Figure out what you need as a human — not just as a therapist.

That’s the path out of burnout.

That’s the path toward something more sustainable.

What’s coming next

I share a bit about where the podcast is heading in the new year, including:

• moving toward a more sustainable rhythm
• inviting more guests
• continuing to talk honestly about burnout, identity, and recovery

Pen Pal List:

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

In this episode:

• Burnout isn’t just exhaustion — it’s losing your aliveness
• Therapist burnout isn’t a personal failure — it’s a systems problem
• Spinning isn’t indecisiveness — it’s nervous system overload
• You don’t need a dramatic pivot to move forward
• You can be good at your job and still not be able to do it anymore

Also mentioned:

• Burnout vs depression (and why real support matters)
• Menopause + mental health
• Cognitive burnout, digital overload, and modern life
• Why doing less can be the most radical move in burnout recovery

Links + ways to stay connected

Therapist Pen Pal List:

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

Free Pivot Call (Mon Jan 26 @ 2pm ET) — replay available:

https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/hidsgfobza

Submit a question for the Pivot Call (anonymous option):

https://forms.gle/Hs5GYYKFFMP45xmn9

Leaving the Chair (Group Program) — starts Feb 6 | Fridays at 2pm ET:

https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/jhvxnbroxe

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.

In this episode, I discuss:

• 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

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.

Let’s Connect:

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

What We Cover in This Episode:

🔹 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.

Resources Mentioned:

📌 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/

Let’s Connect:

💌 Join my pen pal list for resources, updates, and support: info@drjenblanchette.com

🎙 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.

This week, I’m joined by Dr. Jason Branch, host of The Three Parallels Podcast. Our conversation went deep into what it really looks like to live through burnout as a therapist—and how sharing these stories helps break down the isolation so many of us carry.

Jason and I talk about:

• The realities of therapist burnout—what it feels like, what gets hidden, and how it shows up in daily life
• The importance of story in moving through grief, fatigue, and compassion weariness
• Connection as an antidote to isolation, and how finding “your people” can change the recovery process
• Resilience redefined—why it’s less about “pushing through” and more about pacing, honesty, and support

If you’ve ever wondered whether your burnout story matters, or felt like no one would understand what you’re going through, this episode is for you.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Jason Branch

• Listen to The Three Parallels Podcast
• Visit Jason’s Website

✨ Resources for Therapists

• Join the Pen Pal List for real conversations and burnout reflections
• Explore more episodes of the Therapist Burnout Podcast www.drjenblanchette.com
• Connect with me on LinkedIn

After a difficult meeting left me dysregulated and questioning everything (again), I knew it was time to return to this series: Structured Rest.

In this personal and practical episode, I talk about:

• Why traditional rest isn't enough in burnout recovery
• What it means to actually create safety in your body
• How I’m listening to the parts of me that say, “I can’t keep doing this”
• The real-life commitments I’m making—like yoga as a student, taking real lunch breaks, and ditching sad salads
• How nervous system regulation and honoring capacity became my new foundation

Mentioned episodes:

Ep 65 – Overbooked & Overwhelmed: UnF@#k Your Calendar:https://drjenblanchette.com/podcast/065-overbooked-overwhelmed-unfk-your-calandar/

Ep 70 – Is It Burnout or Depression?https://drjenblanchette.com/podcast/070-therapist-burnout-or-depression-lets-get-granular/

Ep 71 – Why We Wait Until We're Burned Out: https://drjenblanchette.com/podcast/071-why-we-wait-until-were-burnt-interoception-burnout-therapist-mental-health/

Coming up in the Structured Rest Series:

• How to clear mental clutter with a weekly brain dump
• The Delete, Delay, Delegate method for managing your calendar
• Anchoring your week with movement, connection, rest, and more
• Building nervous system capacity gently, without shame

Quote to carry with you:

Structured rest is what gives you the capacity to come back to yourself—to listen, to rest, and maybe, eventually, to build what’s next.

Subscribe & follow for the rest of the series.

Pen-Pal List: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Evaluating Financial Viability:
  • How to assess whether your practice is financially sustainable.
  • The importance of understanding your personal finance needs and setting clear income goals.
  • Tools and resources, including Rameet Sethi’s Conscious Spending Plan, to help calculate your financial situation.
• Recognizing Burnout Symptoms:
  • The key burnout signs defined by the World Health Organization, including emotional exhaustion, increased cynicism, and reduced professional efficacy.
  • How these symptoms might show up in your practice and what they could mean for your future.
• Combatting Loneliness in Solo Practice:
  • Why isolation can be a hidden challenge for therapists in private practice.
  • Jen’s reflections on the value of workplace camaraderie and how leaving solo practice revealed what was missing.

Other Highlights from the Episode:

• Reflections on deductible season and navigating the financial logistics of private practice in January.
• Jen’s personal journey with seasonal depression and menopause while managing a therapy practice.
• How starting a practice during the pandemic added unique challenges for many therapists.

Resources Mentioned:

• Selling the Couch Podcast: Jen’s recent guest appearance where she shares more about her story.
• Conscious Spending Plan by Rameet Sethi: A tool to help you evaluate your financial priorities. Link to the tool here.
• Episode 15: Navigating Busy Season as a Therapist: Tips for handling the January surge in client demand.

Stay Connected:

• Sign up for Jen’s newsletter for burnout tips, personal insights, and links to her latest podcast episodes.

In this episode, Judy shares her story of therapist burnout and how she transitioned to becoming a boundary coach. She also discusses the importance of boundary coaching for therapists and clients alike, and offers tips for preventing and healing from burnout.

**Key takeaways:**

* Set boundaries with your clients, your work, and your personal life.

* Take care of yourself physically and emotionally.

* Find a supportive community of other therapists or healers.

* Seek professional help if needed.

**Boundary coaching and it’s application to helpers:**

Boundary coaching can help therapists to:

* Set and enforce boundaries with clients, paperwork, and other demands on their time and energy.

* Identify and challenge their own limiting beliefs about boundaries.

* Develop a self-care routine that is sustainable and effective.

* Create a work-life balance that is healthy and fulfilling.

**Boundary coaching for clients:**

Boundary coaching can help clients to:

Identify and understand their own boundaries.

• Set and enforce boundaries with others, including family, friends, and coworkers.
• *Communicate their needs and expectations clearly.
• Say no without guilt or shame.
• Protect themselves from emotional and physical harm.

More from Judy: https://judyhucounseling.com/

More from Jen: www.drjenblanchette.com

My freebie: Before you Quit: A guide for therapists 

Host Jen Blanchette sits down with career coach and recruiter Alki Thompson to talk about the real-life process of career transition—especially for therapists and helpers who feel stuck, depleted, or unsure of what comes next.

Together they unpack:

• What burnout, instability, and under-compensation can teach you about your next move
• The importance of knowing your why before you leap
• How to identify transferable strengths beyond your credentials
• Small, low-risk ways to start exploring new paths (without “burning the ships”)
• Why stabilizing income and recovering from depletion come before big decisions
• The difference between “a job” and “your next career chapter”

Alki shares his own pivot story—from nonprofit work to recruiting—and how one simple conversation at a professional meeting led to a completely new path.

If you’ve been spinning on “what else could I even do?” this conversation gives you both permission and practical first steps to start exploring what’s next.

🔗 Connect with Alki

• Website: https://smithdeale.com/about-us
• LinkedIn: Alki Thompson

💬 Mentioned in this episode

• Jen’s free Practice Closure Quick Start Guide: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/closureguide

In Episode 90 of the Therapist Burnout Podcast, I’m asking a bold question:

Is private practice a scam?

When I left my agency job, I was told that private practice would mean freedom — flexibility, financial ease, and time for my life. But a decade later, I see a harder truth: many therapists are burning out under the weight of a system that was never designed to sustain them.

This episode kicks off a new Practice Closure Series where I unpack what happens when private practice stops working — emotionally, financially, and ethically — and how to know when it’s time to make a change.

💬 In this episode, I talk about:

• The myth of private practice as the “dream job” for therapists
• What I discovered when my highest-earning year still brought in only $50K take-home
• Why so many therapists feel like they’re failing when the system itself is broken
• The emotional cost of “freedom” — no PTO, no supervision, and a lot of isolation
• How insurance rates, under-earning, and compassion fatigue quietly drive burnout
• Why it’s okay to consider closing your practice — or changing how you work — without shame

🧭 Key takeaway

Private practice isn’t always the scam itself — but the promise that it will fix everything often is.

It’s okay to admit when the numbers, energy, and emotional math just don’t add up anymore.

🌱 Mentioned in this episode

• Entrepreneurial Poverty (Mike Michalowicz) — why “more clients” doesn’t equal success
• The upcoming Practice Closure Guide: Your First 30 Days to Closure
• Next week’s guest: Melvin Varghese, host of Selling the Couch, on pivots and permission

💌 Connect & Learn More

If this conversation resonated, join my Therapist Pen Pal List — you’ll get the first look at my new Practice Closure Guide and honest conversations about burnout, career pivots, and what comes next when therapy no longer fits.

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

In this episode of The Therapist Burnout Podcast, Jen reflects on the strange in-between season of late summer—a time that often feels like it should be restful, but rarely delivers. She opens up about the grief of an "unlived summer," the scarcity-driven urge to fill downtime with productivity, and the pressure to make the season mean something.

Inspired by a Celtic prayer shared by Elizabeth Gilbert, Jen explores what it means to release cherished outcomes and bring an undefended heart into the transition ahead. For therapists bracing for the fall rush or wondering why summer didn’t restore them, this episode offers a gentle reframe and a deeply human invitation to soften.

In this episode, Jen shares:

• The mismatch between the summer we imagine and the one we live
• How therapists often fill lulls with productivity to escape scarcity
• The emotional toll of “cherished outcomes” and unmet expectations
• A personal story of summer parenting and small moments that actually mattered
• A powerful Celtic prayer that reframes presence, hope, and disappointment
• What it means to bring an undefended heart into friendship, work, and life after therapy

Resources Mentioned:

• The Celtic Prayer of Approach
• Podcast featuring Elizabeth Gilbert (via a share from a biz bestie—thank you, Micah!)
• Upcoming fall episodes on practice closure, seasonal rhythms, and rebuilding differently

Join the conversation:

Subscribe to the Pen Pal List to receive reflections, tools, and podcast updates directly in your inbox.

Adjusting to one's current season of life is also highlighted, as it may require redefining holiday plans and finding a balance between clinical work and personal life. Dr. Blanchette emphasizes the necessity of recovery time after the holidays and offers strategies for managing stress. Furthermore, she encourages therapists to challenge idealized holiday expectations and create their own traditions that bring genuine joy. The episode concludes with a reflective exercise to visualize a happy and grounded future self during the holiday season.

Links to all my stuff including a free 20-minute Career Refresh Consult Call for therapists who are done with 1:1 Therapy. Book Here Today! https://linktr.ee/drjenblanchette

Inspired by a prompt from Liz Gilbert’s Letters from Love, Jen shares a moving letter she wrote to herself—a love note to the part of her that’s tired, overwhelmed, and trying to keep up.

This episode is a reminder:

✨ Rest isn’t something you earn. It’s something you’re allowed.

✨ Burnout doesn’t always come with a crash—it’s the slow erosion of presence, joy, and space.

✨ Even in seasons of struggle, rest can still find you—if you let it.

Whether you’re on the verge of burnout or simply longing for more breathing room in your practice and life, this episode offers space to exhale.

🔑 In This Episode:

• The surprising historical roots of Labor Day—and how they mirror today’s burnout culture
• How therapists are experiencing a new kind of labor crisis in the digital age
• The pressure to always be available—and why radical boundaries matter
• A letter from unconditional love to anyone who’s tired of holding it all
• Why reclaiming rest is not selfish, but sacred

📬 Want more reflections like this?

Join the Therapist Pen Pal list to receive personal letters, insights, and first access to new offerings from Jen.

🔗 [Link in show notes]

💬 Connect with Jen:

LinkedIn: @drjenblanchette

Newsletter: The Shift on LinkedIn

Website: www.drjenblanchette.com

In this deeply personal episode, I share the story of losing two beloved clients during the early months of the pandemic—and the quiet, complicated grief that followed.

One of them used to bring me lavender. I still think of her every Mother’s Day.

As therapists, we’re often left to grieve in silence. Whether through a client’s death, ghosting, or a sudden termination, the losses we experience rarely come with recognition, ritual, or closure.

This episode explores:

• What clinical grief and ambiguous loss look like for therapists
• How unprocessed grief can be mistaken for burnout
• Why therapists may disconnect from their work, not from lack of care—but from overload and pain
• The role of ritual, time off, and peer support in metabolizing loss
• Why honoring your grief is essential for therapist mental health

If you’ve ever lost a client—and held that loss quietly—this episode is for you.

🖤 Resources Mentioned:

• Center for Prolonged Grief – Columbia University
• (includes a self-assessment and therapist directory for grief treatment)
• https://www.cliniciansurvivor.org/about
• My free Pen Pal List and reflection guide:
• https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

• Recognize the signs of burnout and the need for change in your career as a therapist.
• Reflect on your accomplishments and disappointments from the past year to gain perspective.
• Deal with mind drama and negative thoughts that may hinder your decision-making process.
• Take time to appreciate the positive experiences and wins in your role as a therapist.

Links all my stuff free and paid stuff including my free 20- minute consult for therapist who are done with doing so much 1:1 therapy: linktr.ee/drjenblanchette

Dr. Jen also shares her thoughts on systemic issues contributing to therapist burnout, why self-care alone won’t solve the bigger problems, and the emotional weight of closing this chapter of your career. Plus, hear her insights on navigating the shame therapists often feel when advocating for fair compensation and better systems of support.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why planning a 90-day timeline is often ideal—and when shorter timelines might work.
• Key steps: reviewing contracts, contacting liability insurance carriers, and setting closure dates.
• The importance of creating a transition plan that supports your clients and yourself.
• How systemic issues, not individual failings, are the root cause of therapist burnout.
• Dr. Jen’s response to criticism around therapists advocating for fair pay.

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Practice Closure Guide: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/gwk8pcfmpb

Key Quotes from the Episode:

• "While self-care can help, it won’t fix a system that underpays and overworks mental health professionals."
• "If you’re here, you’ve likely already made the decision. You can do this, and you can do it well."
• "The shame train needs to stop—advocating for fair compensation is not a failing, it’s survival."

Next Week’s Episode:

Join Dr. Jen next week as she tackles the emotional side of closing your practice—how to navigate multiple client terminations while maintaining ethical care and compassion.

Nearly half of therapists will end up leaving community mental health. Some are leaving entirely. So what else can we do for work?! The conversation covers three main categories: using clinical skills in a different way, utilizing therapy skills in non-clinical roles, and completely departing from the field of therapy. The host provides examples and suggestions for each category, including assessment work, working in a school setting, teaching adjunct courses, working in human resources, and exploring sales or marketing roles. The conversation emphasizes the importance of considering transferable skills and finding a job that aligns with personal interests and strengths.

Keywords therapists, burnout, careers, quitting, therapy, transition, clinical skills, non-clinical roles, transferable skills

Takeaways

• Therapists often experience financial strain and burnout, leading to high turnover rates in the field.
• There are various career options for therapists looking to transition out of therapy, including using clinical skills in different ways, utilizing therapy skills in non-clinical roles, and completely departing from the field.
• Examples of using clinical skills in different ways include assessment work, working in a school setting, and providing supervision or consultation.
• Examples of utilizing therapy skills in non-clinical roles include teaching adjunct courses, working in human resources, and exploring sales or marketing roles.
• Completely departing from the field of therapy can involve leveraging transferable skills in other industries, such as project management, real estate, or sales.
• It is important for therapists to consider their interests, strengths, and desired work-life balance when exploring career options outside of therapy.

Titles

• Exploring Career Options for Therapists: Using Clinical Skills in Different Ways
• Utilizing Therapy Skills in Non-Clinical Roles: Teaching, Human Resources, and More

Sound Bites

• "Nearly half of therapists are leaving their jobs, it's the system's problem, not your own problem."
• "If you are in the throes of burnout, we need to find more ways for you to rest and replenish."
• "Career options for therapists: using clinical skills, therapy-adjacent roles, and complete departures."

Grab my free money guide: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/tshwticuti

We talk about what happens when your body forces a reckoning, why therapists normalize burnout so hard, and how Kiki ultimately built a career teaching DBT skills outside the therapy room through writing, speaking, and content creation. We also get into the reality of being a clinician “in these internet streets” — ethical gray areas, overwhelm, and why content creation isn’t a quick burnout escape hatch.

In this episode:

• Medical trauma as a catalyst for change
• DBT’s “life worth living” question (and what it reveals)
• The therapist burnout elephant we name but don’t unpack
• Identity shifts: quitting, not quitting, and letting it evolve
• Social media ethics + boundaries for clinicians

Links & resources:

• Dr. Kiki Fehling: https://www.kikifehling.com/
• Follow Kiki: @dbtkiki
• APA social media guidelines (PDF): https://www.apa.org/about/policy/guidelines-optimal-use-social-media.pdf
• Join my Therapist Pen Pal list: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

Join my PenPal list where I share behind-the-scenes stories, podcast updates, and real talk on making therapist life sustainable.👉 https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

About this episode:

Your calendar might look fine—but it’s lying to you.

In the second episode of the Structured Rest series, I walk through what I call calendar rehab—an honest look at how therapist schedules often ignore emotional labor, fragment our attention, and push us toward depletion.

This isn’t about productivity. It’s about nervous system care.

In this episode:

• Why “light days” can still be exhausting

• What your calendar leaves out (and why it matters)

• Emotional weight from client work, consults, billing, and late-night emails

• How even your renewing time gets hijacked by time confetti

• A deeper, more honest way to track depletion

• My story of how one email can spin me into hypervigilance

Reflection prompt:

“What’s on my calendar that leaves me feeling wired, tired, or stealing my joy?”

Referenced:

• Ashley Whillans on “Time Confetti” → Behavioral Scientist article

• Ep 75: Cognitive Burnout

• Ep 77 (coming next): Clinical Pruning—How to Stop Carrying What’s Too Heavy

🎙 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

If this resonated, send it to a therapist friend or leave a quick review—it helps more than you know.

If you’re considering leaving therapy or closing your private practice, this guide gives you the emotional and logistical support you need during those first 30 days.

🛑 What no one tells you about leaving the field of therapy?

It can feel like grieving a version of yourself.

In today’s episode of The Therapist Burnout Podcast, we’re not just talking about the decision to close your private practice—we’re talking about what it does to you emotionally. Because stepping away from therapy work isn’t just a professional change… it’s an identity shift.

🔍 In This Episode:

• What it really feels like to close your therapy practice
• Why burnout is about emotional weight, not just hours worked
• How grief, fear, shame, and relief show up in the closure process
• What no one prepares you for when you stop holding space for others
• The quiet, scary, and freeing in-between moments post-closure
• Why nervous system support is a non-negotiable part of this transition

💬 Real Talk from This Episode:

• “I wasn’t broken—I was buried under what I had been holding for years.”
• “Grief isn’t just sadness. It’s numbness, rage, confusion, and letting go of who you thought you'd be.”
• “There’s something else on the other side—but it might not look like what you expected.”

📌 Mentioned in This Episode:

🔗 Practice Closure Guide: Your First 30 Days

👀 Next week’s episode: The logistics of ethically and practically closing your practice

Therapist burnout, closing private practice, emotional fatigue therapist, grief therapist identity, practice closure tips, vicarious trauma therapist, therapist mental health, compassion fatigue, therapist career change, therapy business exit plan, therapy practice transition, nervous system healing therapist

💌 Stay Connected:

If you’re holding big feelings about leaving the field—you’re not alone.

Subscribe to The Therapist Burnout Podcast for more honest episodes about the realities of therapy work, career transitions, and what healing looks like after burnout.

And don’t forget to share this episode with a therapist friend who may need to hear this.

In this episode, I talk with Melvin Varghese, psychologist, creator of The Quiet Builder, and host of Selling the Couch. Melvin and I explore what it looks like to build a life and business rooted in peace, integrity, and enoughness — rather than urgency, comparison, or constant growth.

We talk about the evolution many therapists face after private practice burnout — when you realize that the way you’ve been working is no longer sustainable, but you’re not sure what comes next. Melvin shares how his own journey from therapy to podcasting to online education unfolded slowly and quietly, through self-trust and paying attention to what felt aligned, not what looked impressive.

Together, we dig into:

• What it truly means to be a quiet builder — and why slow, steady growth is often the most sustainable
• How to listen for your next chapter after private practice burnout
• Building work that fits your nervous system and your season of life
• Letting go of the idea that more output equals more impact
• How Melvin rebuilt his business around family, creativity, and energy

If you’re at a point where you know something has to change — but you’re unsure where to start — this episode will help you imagine a softer, more sustainable path forward.

And if you’re ready to begin your own transition, I created a free guide to help you start.

👉 The 30-Day Quick Start Guide for Practice Closure walks you through the first steps of closing your practice with clarity, structure, and less overwhelm.

Listen to Episode 91 of The Therapist Burnout Podcast and rediscover what it means to build quietly, intentionally, and on your own terms.

• Join the Therapist Pen Pal List – ask me questions for future AMA episodes
• Podcasting Business School with Adam Schaeuble
• The Podcast Launch Journal by John Lee Dumas

Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to start a podcast as a therapist?

In this Ask Me Anything episode, I answer a listener’s question: “How has the process of podcasting gone for you, and what has the response been like?”

I’ve now been podcasting for four years total—two with my first show, The TBI Therapist Podcast, and two with The Therapist Burnout Podcast. In this episode, I share what I’ve learned across both experiences: the mistakes I made, the surprising opportunities that came out of it, and why my “why” for podcasting has shifted over time.

If you’re considering launching your own podcast, this episode will give you a real look at what it takes, how to hold it lightly, and why clarity on your purpose matters more than fancy equipment or perfect marketing.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why my first podcast felt like a “failure” (and how I see it differently now)
• The difference between podcasting as self-expression vs. marketing tool
• How podcasts can evolve into unexpected opportunities (like my work helping therapists close practices)
• Why you won’t get a huge response at first—and why that’s actually good
• The time commitment and labor behind a weekly show (and why I set a 100-episode commitment for myself)
• How therapists’ unique skills (empathy, interviewing, deep listening) make us great podcasters
• Practical tips on choosing a niche, naming your show, and setting realistic expectations

Episode Takeaway

Podcasting is both labor and love. It can be a tool for visibility, a creative outlet, or a way to connect more deeply with your audience. But most importantly—it doesn’t have to be forever. Hold it lightly, let it evolve, and notice whether it feels like something you can’t not do.

We’ll talk about Liz Gilbert’s four categories of work (hobby, job, career, vocation), Cal Newport’s Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You, and how easy it is to confuse passion with vocation. You’ll also hear how diet culture, striving for certifications, and perfectionism sneak into both therapy and fitness — and how to recognize when something that once brought joy now drains your energy.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s time to stop doing something that no longer fits, this episode will give you a framework of 5 powerful questions to guide your decision.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why “follow your passion” isn’t always the best career advice (thanks, Cal Newport).
• Liz Gilbert’s framework of hobby, job, career, and vocation — and why not everything in your life should be all four.
• How I realized teaching my Monday night lifting class was more depleting than renewing.
• The role diet culture, perfectionism, and certifications play in therapist burnout.
• 5 Questions to help you decide if it’s time to let something go in your work or hobbies.
• How to reclaim joy, creativity, and pleasure now — even in midlife.

Resources Mentioned

• Elizabeth Gilbert on Hobby, Job, Career & Vocation (YouTube):
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g7ARarFNnw
• Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert (Barnes & Noble):
• https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/books/big-magic/
• So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love by Cal Newport: https://calnewport.com/writing/
• Email Love from me--yes, you're pen-pal Dr. Jen: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

Takeaways

• Fear of change is normal, but it shouldn't prevent therapists from making necessary career changes.
• Therapy is not the only calling, and it's okay to explore other interests and passions.
• Setting boundaries and making changes in your practice or career is not letting clients down; it's prioritizing your own well-being.
• It's important to identify what brings you joy and fulfillment in your work and seek opportunities that align with those experiences.
• Building a support team and seeking professional help is crucial for preventing and healing from burnout.
• Taking action sooner rather than later can prevent further mental and physical health issues and save time and money in the long run.

More from Jen: https://drjenblanchette.com/love-it-or-leave-it-coaching/

My Free Guide for therapists who are done with 1:1

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

• The first mistake discussed is the failure to recoup earned income, such as not charging for no-shows or unpaid bills. Dr. Blanchette emphasizes the importance of implementing clear cancellation policies and effectively communicating them to clients.
• The second mistake revolves around undercharging for services, often driven by imposter syndrome and the fear of losing clients. Dr. Blanchette advises therapists to conduct market research, understand their value, and gradually increase their fees.
• The final mistake centers on therapists' failure to calculate their financial numbers accurately, resulting in stress and financial instability. Dr. Blanchette recommends creating a budget, setting clear financial goals, and regularly reviewing progress. By addressing these money mistakes, therapists can achieve financial success and find joy in their private practices.

Grab the money guide here with all the links discussed in the podcast!

Takeaways

• Setting strong boundaries with clients is crucial for avoiding burnout in the therapy field.
• Therapists often face unrealistic expectations to always be available and unaffected by abuse or rudeness.
• Prioritizing personal well-being does not make one a bad therapist; it is essential for sustainable and effective therapy.
• The therapy field needs to shift towards a more supportive and compassionate approach, challenging the hazing mentality and promoting self-care. The taboo of discussing finances in therapy perpetuates the undervaluing and exploitation of therapists' labor.
• Therapists, especially women, often face low pay and gendered expectations in the field.
• The healthcare system and tech companies play a significant role in artificially lowering therapists' fees.
• Therapists need support and resources to navigate financial sustainability in private practice.
• Prioritizing self-care and finding joy in personal connections are essential for therapists' well-being.

More from Felicia: https://www.thebadtherapist.coach/

More from Jen: www.drjenblanchette.com

Joe shares his personal burnout story, which involved working long hours, dealing with medical emergencies, and reassessing his career goals.

He delves into the challenges he faced as a therapist and the decisions he made to transition out of therapy and embrace new opportunities. The conversation highlights the importance of self-reflection, setting boundaries, and exploring alternative paths to find fulfillment in a changing professional landscape.

More From Joe: https://practiceofthepractice.com/

More From Jen: Are you beyond burnout and need to know how to get out of so much 1:1 therapy? Sign up for a career refresh consult call. In this 20 min call, we'll identify the need for changes in your career and learn more about how my services can help you feel a greater sense of calm and direction Click Here to Book!

Top Three Takeaways:

1. Financial Realities: Private practice earnings can be deceptive due to overhead costs, insurance battles, and admin work. Recognizing the gap between projected earnings and take-home pay is crucial.

2. Balancing Emotions: The pandemic magnified the emotional toll of being a therapist. The struggle to juggle clients, family, and practice responsibilities took a toll on my mental and physical health.

3. Evolving Desires and Identity: As therapists, our identity can be tied to our career. However, it's okay to evolve and desire something different. Overcoming the sunk cost fallacy is important to embrace new paths.

Remember, your journey and insights can help others navigate their own career decisions in the therapy field. Your experience serves as a reminder to prioritize financial stability, emotional well-being, and personal growth.

More from me: www.drjenblanchette.com

In this episode, Judy shares her story of therapist burnout and how she transitioned to becoming a boundary coach. She also discusses the importance of boundary coaching for therapists and clients alike, and offers tips for preventing and healing from burnout.

**Key takeaways:**

* Set boundaries with your clients, your work, and your personal life.

* Take care of yourself physically and emotionally.

* Find a supportive community of other therapists or healers.

* Seek professional help if needed.

**Boundary coaching and it’s application to helpers:**

Boundary coaching can help therapists to:

* Set and enforce boundaries with clients, paperwork, and other demands on their time and energy.

* Identify and challenge their own limiting beliefs about boundaries.

* Develop a self-care routine that is sustainable and effective.

* Create a work-life balance that is healthy and fulfilling.

**Boundary coaching for clients:**

Boundary coaching can help clients to:

Identify and understand their own boundaries.

• Set and enforce boundaries with others, including family, friends, and coworkers.
• *Communicate their needs and expectations clearly.
• Say no without guilt or shame.
• Protect themselves from emotional and physical harm.

More from Judy: https://judyhucounseling.com/

More from Jen: www.drjenblanchette.com

My freebie: Before you Quit: A guide for therapists 

I talk about some of the regrets I felt in 2020, a year marked by intense political and social divides. I discuss how challenging it was to sit with clients whose values didn’t always align with my own, and how I wish I had approached certain conversations differently—especially when I felt compelled to stay neutral, even as clients voiced polarizing or prejudiced views. If you’re feeling a mix of frustration and empathy in these situations, you’re not alone.

What to Expect:

• Reflection on Boundaries: Why therapists often feel pressured to listen without inserting their own views, and how to manage those boundaries more intentionally.
• Navigating Difficult Conversations: Practical ways to respond when clients’ political beliefs clash with your values, including prompts that encourage clients to self-reflect without escalating tension.
• Self-Care During Election Season: Tips for self-reflection, self-care, and minimizing political overload both before and after sessions.
• Building Self-Awareness: Why reflecting on your own political beliefs can actually strengthen your therapeutic work and help you approach challenging conversations with confidence.
• Practical Strategies for Support: Steps to take if you’re feeling especially triggered, including adjusting your schedule, limiting news exposure, and seeking supervision or training for support.

Why Listen?

Whether you’re a seasoned therapist who has weathered multiple election cycles or a newer therapist facing this for the first time, this episode offers insights on balancing professional obligations with personal beliefs. Learn how to manage your emotional load while maintaining an empathetic stance—even when it feels tough.

Resources Mentioned:

• American Psychological Association article on navigating authority topics in therapy: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/03/career-navigating-therapy

More from Jen:

www.drjenblanchette.com

The therapist pen-pal list write back": https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

We’re told to strive for balance, to neatly separate our professional and personal lives, as if caregiving, therapy, parenting, and invisible household labor can be tucked into separate boxes. But the truth? For therapists and other caregivers, life doesn’t work that way.

In this episode, I introduce a new concept I’m calling the Caring Quotient: the total emotional, physical, and mental energy you spend on caregiving—inside and outside the therapy room. When your caring quotient is maxed out, burnout is inevitable.

I share stories from my Nana’s fried chicken, my own journey into motherhood after my son’s heart surgery, and years of working with brain injury survivors and their partners who were drowning in care. These stories reveal a deeper truth: burnout isn’t about poor self-care—it’s about the weight of unmeasured caregiving.

You’ll learn:

• Why “work-life balance” sets therapists up for failure
• How caregiving bleeds into every part of our lives—therapy sessions, parenting, household labor, emotional holding
• Why women therapists are disproportionately impacted by rising caregiving demands
• The connection between cognitive overload, caregiving, and therapist burnout
• How counterbalance—not balance—can help restore your capacity to care
• Practical ways to recognize when your caring quotient is maxed out and what renewal can look like

This episode is for therapists who feel like they’ve hit the wall—emotionally, mentally, and physically. If you’ve ever wondered why your burnout feels different from other jobs, the caring quotient may be the missing piece.

I’ll leave you with this reflection: What is your caring quotient right now? Are you maxed out, or do you have space for renewal?

👉 Coming in October: A full series on practice closure—how to know when it’s time, how to honor endings, and how to create space for what’s next.

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

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

Overbooked & Overwhelmed (again): How to Prune What You Can When Your Calendar Feels Impossible

In this episode, I’m revisiting a topic I first talked about last year: what to do when you look at your calendar and genuinely can’t see how you’re going to make it through the week.

I’m naming the backdrop we’re all living inside of (what some people are calling a “polycrisis”) and why it matters that we stop pretending our overwhelm exists in a vacuum. Then I take you into a simple (not easy) starting point: notice what’s depleting you, and prune what you can—without needing a perfect plan or a five-step system.

In this episode, we talk about:

• A quick 2020 story (my cancelled “Cinderella’s castle” 40th birthday moment) and why the 2020s have felt like a relentless era
• The concept of a “polycrisis” and why therapists have been bracing for years
• Why you can’t live in nervous system dysregulation forever (your body has a limit)
• What brain injury recovery taught me about burnout recovery: it’s rarely “one fix”—it’s ongoing listening + experimenting
• The burnout reckoning: “When can I function like I used to?” (and why that question can keep you stuck)
• The practical starting point:
  • Notice depletion
  • Identify what’s non-negotiable vs. optional
  • Prune what you can
• The “come to Jesus” questions:
  • What is this pace doing to your body in 6 months?
  • What is it doing to your patients, your partner, your kids, your life?
• How resentment shows up internally (and why it’s human)—and when you’re past “just do more consultation”
• Why “doing less” does not mean you care less
• Cognitive overload + sensory input (especially your phone), and how to titrate it down without going cold turkey
• Concrete examples of pruning:
  • fewer evening sessions
  • dropping one non-essential obligation
  • simplifying meals/snacks so you’re not running on fumes
  • delegating home tasks (yes, even feeding the dog)
  • pausing trainings/certifications when you have no bandwidth

A gentle prompt to try (from the episode)

If you can (and not while driving):

Look at your calendar and just sit with it for a minute. Then ask:

• What do I dread every week?
• What is the cost of continuing to do it like this?
• What’s truly non-negotiable… and what’s optional even if it doesn’t feel optional?
• What’s one small thing I can prune this week?

Key line from this episode

Doing less does not mean you care less.

It may be the exact thing that helps you care more—because it protects your capacity.

Mentioned / referenced

• “Polycrisis” (the idea that multiple crises are happening at once and compounding)
• Cognitive burnout + constant input (especially phone use / scrolling)

Stay connected

• Therapist Pen Pal list: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb
• Email: info@drjenblanchette.com
• LinkedIn: Find me at Dr. Jen Blanchette

Jen shares her personal experience of sitting in this space—knowing she was finished with 1:1 work long before she actually closed her practice—and what she’s learned from supporting other therapists in that same tension.

You don’t need a sign or a playbook to know you’re done. You already know. But there are small, sustainable ways to make your work more tolerable while you prepare to leave.

💬 In this episode, Jen covers:

• Why therapists often stay in their practices far longer than is healthy
• The clinical, emotional, and practical fears that keep us stuck
• How our bodies sound the alarm through anxiety, health issues, and shutdown
• The myth of “failing” if you leave your practice or the therapy field
• How to listen to your body’s cues and start pacing your exit
• Practical micro-moves:
  • Reviewing your caseload for depletion vs. renewal
  • Reconnecting to treatment goals and considering ethical terminations
  • Discharging long-term clients who no longer meet goals
  • Reducing hours, enforcing cancellations, or outsourcing billing
• Why adding certifications or going private pay often isn’t the answer when you’re burned out
• Real talk about online business and coaching—why it’s not a quick fix
• How slowing down and nervous system recovery create the clarity you actually need

🧭 If you’re in this stage...

You may not be able to leave yet—and that’s okay. The work right now is making things as tolerable as possible while you prepare for what’s next.

Small shifts create space for the bigger decisions.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• Private Practice Closure Guide https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/closureguide your step-by-step playbook for the logistics of closing your practice
• Previous episodes in the Private Practice Closure Series (listen to episodes 91–92 for context)

💡 Reflection Prompt:

What is your body trying to tell you about your work right now—and where might you need to listen more closely?

Get my weekly notes, practical prompts, and updates on ways to work with me.

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

Episode snapshot

After nearly two years of talking with hundreds of therapists about burnout (and living my own), I’m revisiting the core question: What is therapist burnout—really? I share a body-based story from a back injury, then map burnout using a memorable lasagna metaphor so you can name what you’re feeling and choose a first small step.

You’ll hear about:

• Why the ICD-11 frame only scratches the surface for clinicians
• Why vacations alone don’t fix therapist burnout
• The layered experience of exhaustion, resentment, “I don’t care,” clinical grief, vicarious trauma, moral injury, body symptoms, and shame
• Small moves to create safety and margin before “doing the trauma work” on yourself

The Lasagna Layers of Therapist Burnout (because therapists need a good metaphor)

1. Noodles: Exhaustion as the base You’re doing too much. First step: do less. Fewer clients, fewer tasks, more margin.
2. Sauce: Anger and resentment Irritability that leaks into everything. Paperwork, payers, tough sessions, home life.
3. Cheese through everything: “I don’t care” Scary to admit. Often a nervous system survival response, not a character flaw.
4. Hidden filling: Clinical grief Losses without ritual or witnessing. Client death, sudden endings, ghosting.
5. Spicy layer: Vicarious trauma Intrusions, hypervigilance, worldview shifts from the work itself.
6. Bitter bite: Moral injury When systems force choices that betray your values. It hits identity and ethics.
7. Burnt edges: Body symptoms Headaches, GI issues, tight chest, sleep disruption—your body waving a red flag.
8. Top layer: Shame The whisper that says “You’re a bad therapist.” It seals the whole dish and keeps you stuck.

A body-based reframe

Like my back flare, burnout involves multiple systems at once. It’s not about you “mismanaging stress.” It’s about adjusting inputs, removing aggravators, and rebuilding capacity step by step.

Try one small move this week

• Create margin: Remove one task or one client block.
• Add safety: Choose one nervous-system support (sleep, movement, gentle connection).
• Get care: Loop in your therapist, PCP, or a trusted peer for assessment and support.

Related episode

• Ep. 70: Burnout doesn’t stay at work — how it spills into life and what to do next.

Share + stay connected

If this helped, share it with a therapist friend. That’s how this message grows.

Join the Therapist Pen-Pal List: weekly notes, gentle prompts, behind-the-scenes updates, and first dibs on offers.

👉 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

Melvin shares pivotal moments from his own path, including the burnout that stemmed from his early career as psychologist in testing, to the realization that the traditional practice model wasn’t sustainable for him, and the careful steps he took to transition into podcasting and course creation. From starting with a $60 mic and an ironing board to building a top 0.5% global podcast, Melvin’s journey offers both inspiration and practical takeaways for therapists seeking to prioritize their well-being and explore new opportunities.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

The Emotional Toll of Burnout and Self-Sacrifice: Melvin reflects on feeling the weight of being one of the few Indian male psychologists and the need to meet overwhelming demand. He vulnerably shares the physical and emotional toll of prioritizing others’ needs over his own—hair loss, insomnia, and emotional exhaustion—and emphasizes the importance of deep self-care: “We deserve the same level of care we give to others.”

Signs It’s Time for a Change: Melvin and Jen share moments of clarity when they knew something had to shift. From dreading the workweek to questioning their ability to keep going, they discuss how the emotional labor of balancing clients’ needs with their own well-being made traditional therapy unsustainable.

The Pivot to Podcasting and Courses: Melvin’s transition started with small, curious steps and years of consistent effort. He recounts key milestones:

• • Launching Selling the Couch in 2015 as a side hustle.
  • Balancing early-morning recordings, full workdays, and late-night editing.
  • Transitioning to full-time entrepreneurship with careful planning.

The Realities of Building a Podcast and Course:Melvin shares the slow, steady growth of his podcast, now with 379 episodes, 1.1 million downloads, and a spot in the top 0.5% globally. His podcasting course has served 244 students and generated $323,000 over nine years, a testament to persistence and adaptability.

Balancing Life and Business During COVID-19:The pandemic cemented Melvin’s decision to leave clinical work, as safety concerns for his family—including a premature daughter and a partner with severe asthma—made in-person therapy impractical. This challenge ultimately led to clarity and growth.

Key Takeaways for Therapists Looking to Transition:

• You don’t have to sacrifice your well-being to meet others’ needs.
• Start small, be patient, and focus on creating something sustainable.
• Give yourself permission to pivot and evolve over time.

Resources Mentioned:

• Selling the Couch Podcast: https://sellingthecouch.com/stcpodcast/
• Melvin’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melvinvarghesephd

Connect with Jen

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

Jen shares her own story of hitting peak burnout in 2021, navigating the challenges of balancing parenting, a private practice, and the financial frustrations of dealing with insurance panels. She discusses the two biggest fears therapists face when contemplating change:

1. The Fear of No Options
   • When burnout hits, it can feel like there’s no way out. Jen reflects on her journey of discovering options beyond one-on-one therapy and encourages listeners to explore alternatives they may not have considered.
   • She also revisits episodes from her career series (episodes 25-28), offering a roadmap for therapists wondering what’s next.
2. The Fear of Letting People Down
   • From closing practices to discharging clients, the fear of disappointing or harming clients can be paralyzing. Jen normalizes these feelings and offers insights on navigating these transitions ethically and compassionately.

Throughout the episode, Jen highlights the importance of giving yourself permission to rest, recognizing your limits, and trusting that change doesn’t mean failure—it’s a step toward sustainability.

Key Takeaways:

• Burnout isn’t a personal failing; it’s often a sign that your current circumstances are unsustainable.
• Fear is natural, but it doesn’t have to hold you back. With reflection and support, you can find new paths that align with your needs.
• Rest and recovery aren’t just privileges—they’re essential for your longevity as a therapist.

Resources Mentioned:

• Career-focused episodes:
  • Episode 25: The Passion Paradox in Therapist Careers
  • Episode 26: What Other Jobs Could Therapists Do Besides Therapy?
  • Episode 27: Why Therapists Fantasize About Working at Target
  • Episode 28: Three Steps to Pivot Your Career Away from One-to-One Therapy
• Episode 35: Unspoken Endings—Navigating Unilateral Terminations

Let’s Connect:

• Find me on LinkedIn: Dr. Jen Blanchette
• Ready to explore your options? Check out my coaching offerings for therapists navigating burnout and career change. www.drjenblanchette.com

Final Reflection:

Fear often shows up when we’re on the brink of transformation. If you’ve been feeling stuck or scared to make a change, know that you’re not alone. You have options, and your next step doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be yours.

Key Themes in This Episode:

• Increased Client Needs & Emotional Labor: Supporting clients through their holiday stress without depleting yourself.
• Handling Cancellations: Practical strategies for clear policies and managing gaps in income during the holiday shuffle.
• Planning for Financial Dips: Tips to smooth out income fluctuations and plan ahead for slower months.
• Personal Holiday Stress: Why adjusting traditions and setting boundaries can help you reclaim joy in the season.
• Year-End Admin Burnout: Ways to tackle renewals, insurance headaches, and deductible resets without feeling overwhelmed.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Reframing Holiday Stress:
   • The drama in our minds about December is often a predictable cycle.
   • Recognizing the patterns (with clients and family) helps reduce overwhelm.
2. Boundaries and Planning:
   • Map out your holiday season. Where are the breaks?
   • Be intentional about setting limits with clients and family.
3. The Four Pillars of Brain Health:
   • Dr. Jen shares her pillars—movement, nutrition, sleep, and connection.
   • Simple ways to check in with yourself and get back to basics.
   • Why neglecting these needs during the holidays leads to burnout.
4. Celebrating Joy and Novelty:
   • Breaking free from the monotony of midlife with small, joyful experiences.
   • Building simple traditions or moments of joy that anchor the season.

Key Quote:

"If you feel burned out, stretched thin, or untethered this holiday season, pause and ask: What do I need? Spaciousness? Connection? Rest? When you listen to your body, you’ll find the answer."

Reflections on Burnout and Connection:

Dr. Jen opens up about how the pandemic disrupted her relationships and the sadness that comes with losing connections. She offers reassurance that rebuilding relationships, even small steps like sending a text, is possible and worth pursuing.

Dr. Jen’s Quick Brain Health Checklist for Therapists:

• Movement: Aim for joyful movement like walks, yoga, or a tennis match (that's me ya'll).
• Nutrition: Focus on adding nourishing foods like berries, leafy greens, and omega-rich choices.
• Sleep: Prioritize rest, even if it means adjusting routines or asking for help.
• Connection: Reconnect with loved ones, friends, or pets. Relationships are healing.

Practical Takeaways:

• Schedule mini breaks throughout December to recharge.
• Reflect on how you want to feel after the holidays and build habits to get there.
• Identify one or two non-negotiable moments of joy or novelty to make the season special.

Resources:

• Email Dr. Jen to join her Pen Pal list for updates: info@drjenblanchette.com
• Follow on LinkedIn for more therapist-specific insights: Dr. Jen Blanchette
• Pen Pal List: Sign up for Dr. Blanchette’s newsletter for podcast updates and exclusive insights.

Spread the Message:

Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a therapist friend or leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Let Dr. Jen know what you need most this holiday season by dropping her a message.

Episode Highlights:

• Opening Thoughts on Political Anxiety: Dr. Blanchette reflects on the unique challenges therapists face around election time, balancing personal reactions with professional responsibilities. She shares insights from recent LinkedIn conversations where therapists voiced the complexities of showing up during a politically fraught period.
• Why Neutrality Can Be a Challenge: Traditional training encourages therapists to remain neutral, but in today’s climate, neutrality may not always feel possible—or authentic. Dr. Blanchette discusses how identity factors and the needs of marginalized communities complicate neutrality, and the importance of practicing ethical transparency.
• APA’s 2024 Stress Survey Findings: This episode references new findings showing that 77% of U.S. adults report significant stress about the future of the nation, highlighting how political anxiety has become a chronic cultural stressor. Dr. Blanchette shares tips on how to bring psychoeducation into sessions, normalizing these feelings for clients.
• Refocusing on Clinical Goals Amid Political Discourse: Dr. Blanchette offers grounding strategies for therapists feeling inundated by political discussion. She discusses how using techniques like DBT’s Radical Acceptance and EMDR’s Calm Safe Place can help re-center sessions on therapeutic goals, rather than purely venting.
• Encouraging Healthy Connection: The episode suggests ways therapists can guide clients to reduce news consumption and increase meaningful social interactions. Borrowing from Cal Newport, Dr. Blanchette recommends prioritizing face-to-face connections over social media as a way to support deeper connection and reduce anxiety.
• Tools for Navigating Sessions this Week: Dr. Blanchette advises therapists to come prepared with a “frame” for sessions, using psychoeducation and therapeutic techniques to help clients (and themselves) manage political anxiety and maintain focus on mental health goals.
• The Reality of Therapist Burnout During Election Season: Dr. Blanchette shares candid insights on the emotional toll election season can take on therapists. She offers strategies to help therapists maintain their own well-being and avoid numbing out by reconnecting with personal supports and routines.

Episode Links:

• Episode 3: Navigating Burnout to Advocate with Krista Harrison – Insights on working with marginalized communities in politically charged climates.
• APA 2024 Stress Survey – Highlights current statistics on the mental health impact of U.S. political division.

Connect with Dr. Jen Blanchette

• Email: info@drjenblanchette.com for comments or feedback.
• Pen Pal List: Sign up for Dr. Blanchette’s newsletter for podcast updates and exclusive insights.
• Website: www.drjenblanchette.com

The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by healthcare professionals during the pandemic, including increased demand, virtual practice, and the loss of autonomy. Dr. Byrne emphasizes the importance of examining our ways of working and making intentional choices to prioritize self-care. The conversation explores the themes of burnout, feeling like a cog in a machine, shame, lack of collegiality, and the impact of technology on work-life balance. The guests discuss the need for better language to describe the experiences of therapists and clinicians, as well as the importance of setting boundaries and finding joy in one's work. They emphasize the need for peer support, self-awareness, and intentional self-care to address moral injury and prevent burnout.

Takeaways

• Moral injury is a deep wound to the soul that occurs when one's actions or experiences go against their internal values.
• Burnout, moral injury, and trauma are interconnected but distinct concepts that can affect healthcare professionals.
• The pandemic has exacerbated burnout and moral injury among healthcare professionals due to increased demand, virtual practice, and loss of autonomy.
• Examining and reevaluating our ways of working can help alleviate burnout and moral injury.
• Prioritizing self-care and setting boundaries are essential for maintaining mental and emotional well-being in the healthcare field. Burnout is a complex issue that can have different meanings for different individuals. It is important to go beyond the surface level and explore the specific experiences and emotions behind burnout.
• Many therapists and clinicians feel like cogs in a machine, disconnected from the collegiality and support they once experienced in their work. This industrial mindset can contribute to feelings of burnout and dissatisfaction.
• Shame and self-loathing are common experiences among those who are struggling with burnout or moral injury. It is important to create a safe space for open and honest conversations about these challenges.
• Setting boundaries and finding a work-life balance that aligns with individual needs and preferences is crucial for preventing burnout. This may involve utilizing technology to support boundaries and being intentional about self-care.
• Peer support and connection are essential for addressing moral injury and preventing burnout. Creating opportunities for meaningful conversations and support among colleagues can help alleviate feelings of isolation and provide a sense of community.
• Finding joy in one's work is a powerful antidote to burnout. Engaging in activities that bring personal fulfillment and reconnecting with passions and hobbies can help restore a sense of purpose and well-being.

About Dr. Jennie Byrne:

Dr. Jennie Byrne is a psychiatrist with years of experience in both private practice and larger healthcare systems. She is passionate about mental health care reform and shares her insights in her book, helping clinicians navigate the complexities of modern healthcare.

Resources:

• Dr. Jennie Byrne's website: https://drjenniebyrne.com/

More from Jen:

www.drjenblanchette.com

The therapist pen-pal list write back": https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

Dr. Blanchette explores the concept of secret grief and its impact on therapists' well-being, emphasizing the importance of support networks. She also provides resources for therapists grappling with secret grief, such as Facebook groups and support organizations. The episode concludes with advice for therapists facing secret grief, encouraging them to take breaks, seek therapy, and prioritize their own needs to navigate the emotional toll of their work.

🌈 Here are some key takeaways: 

1️⃣ The Unseen Grief: As therapists, we often don't hit pause to tend to our own grief. Balancing the needs of our families, other clients, and more, we keep moving forward. It's time to explore the importance of fully acknowledging and processing the loss of a client.

2️⃣ Stacked Losses: The emotional weight adds up — from clients who unexpectedly vanish to facing the reality of multiple client losses and the toll of vicarious trauma. Let's unpack how these losses can impact us and strategies for coping.

3️⃣ Rituals Denied: Unlike other professions, we can't always partake in traditional grief rituals like client memorial services.

Resources for therapists who have lost clients by suicide: https://www.cliniciansurvivor.org/

Sample practices for therapists who have suffered a loss of a client (by suicide but may be helpful for other deaths: https://sprc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Sample_Individual_Practitioner_Practices.pdf

Links all my stuff free and paid stuff including my free 20- minute consult for therapist who are done with doing so much 1:1 therapy: linktr.ee/drjenblanchette