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

Dr. Jen Blanchette
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Are you a Therapist, Counselor, Coach, Psychologist, or Trauma Professional dealing with burnout or compassion fatigue? Do you own your private practice and it's full and you're miserable? Are you working with too many clients in an agency or group practice? Are you considering quitting the profession all together? If so, you've found the right podcast, we will answer the following questions: Am I suffering from burnout? What are the symptoms of therapist burnout? What other things can I do besides therapy or working 1:1 with clients? What other roles or jobs could I do after my career as a therapist or helper? What other business ideas can I explore besides private practice or agency work?

  1. 15H AGO

    104. Overbooked and Overwhelmed: Therapist Burnout Edition

    Join my Therapist Pen Pal list (free): 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 eraThe concept of a “polycrisis” and why therapists have been bracing for yearsWhy 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 + experimentingThe burnout reckoning: “When can I function like I used to?” (and why that question can keep you stuck)The practical starting point:Notice depletionIdentify what’s non-negotiable vs. optionalPrune what you canThe “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 lessCognitive overload + sensory input (especially your phone), and how to titrate it down without going cold turkeyConcrete examples of pruning:fewer evening sessionsdropping one non-essential obligationsimplifying meals/snacks so you’re not running on fumesdelegating home tasks (yes, even feeding the dog)pausing trainings/certifications when you have no bandwidthA 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 episodeDoing 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 connectedTherapist Pen Pal list: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenbEmail: info@drjenblanchette.comLinkedIn: Find me at Dr. Jen Blanchette

    20 min

  2. FEB 4

    103. When Everyone Around You Is Burned Out: A Burnout Story with dbtkiki

    Burnout Story: Today, I’m joined by Dr. Kiki Fehling (aka @dbtkiki), a psychologist, author, and DBT expert (Linehan board-certified). Kiki shares the burnout story that started in grad school and became impossible to ignore after an unexpected heart attack at 29 during internship. 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 changeDBT’s “life worth living” question (and what it reveals)The therapist burnout elephant we name but don’t unpackIdentity shifts: quitting, not quitting, and letting it evolveSocial media ethics + boundaries for cliniciansLinks & resources: Dr. Kiki Fehling: https://www.kikifehling.com/Follow Kiki: @dbtkikiAPA social media guidelines (PDF): https://www.apa.org/about/policy/guidelines-optimal-use-social-media.pdfJoin my Therapist Pen Pal list: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

    46 min

  3. JAN 28

    102. Burnout, Pivots, and Why You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

    Join Leaving the Chair (registration closes Sat, Jan 31 at midnight): 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 coverWhat came up on the webinarWhy the questions weren’t casual — they were vulnerable and realThe 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 itMy biggest takeawaysBurnout makes decision-making feel impossible When you’re fried, your brain treats everything like danger — and it’s hard to trust yourself.“What job should I do?” isn’t the real question There are infinite options — the deeper work is learning what your body and life can hold right now.Your pivot doesn’t have to be dramatic A slower move can be more sustainable (unless your body is forcing an emergency exit).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)Identity grief is real Untethering from “I am a therapist” can bring grief, confusion, and shame.Termination and closure always come to the table Client reactions, ethical goodbyes, and the emotional load of wrapping up.The biggest problem is doing it alone This is hard work — and isolation makes it heavier.Join me inside Leaving the ChairLeaving the Chair is a 12-week group experience for therapists who want support making a pivot — without panic decisions. Starts: Friday, February 6Meets: Fridays at 2:00 PM EasternInvestment: $950Includes: 12 group sessions + 4 guided workshops + supportive circles focused on space, feedback, and decision support (not content overload)Spots available: 5Registration 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 outEmail: info@drjenblanchette.comLinkedIn: @drjenblanchette (DM me — I’ll reply)Closing noteIf 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.

    16 min

  4. JAN 20

    101. 5 Therapist Burnout lessons in 3 years of podcasting

    After nearly three years of talking with therapists about burnout (and living my own recovery in real time), I wanted to pause and name what I keep seeing underneath the surface — especially for therapists who feel stuck, spinning, or quietly wondering if they can keep doing 1:1 work. In this episode:Burnout isn’t just exhaustion — it’s losing your alivenessTherapist burnout isn’t a personal failure — it’s a systems problemSpinning isn’t indecisiveness — it’s nervous system overloadYou don’t need a dramatic pivot to move forwardYou can be good at your job and still not be able to do it anymoreAlso mentioned:Burnout vs depression (and why real support matters)Menopause + mental healthCognitive burnout, digital overload, and modern lifeWhy doing less can be the most radical move in burnout recoveryLinks + ways to stay connectedTherapist 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

    26 min

  5. JAN 13

    100. What I've learned about Burnout (with Micah Freeman)

    Quick note: Enrollment is open for Love It or Leave It (Leaving the Chair). 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 episodeMicah 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 coverWhat 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 herselfCognitive burnout: screens, tabs, constant input, nervous system fatigueThe added layers for many therapists: caregiving, emotional labor, hormones/menopauseWhy Jen started studying burnout before becoming a psychologist (therapeutic foster care)Burnout vs depression and the overlap in symptomsTherapist isolation, clinical grief, and why support mattersCommunity, meaning, and the messy middle of spirituality/faithWhy listener emails and reviews matter more than you thinkA 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 questionsWhat 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)?GuestMicah Freeman Website: egostrength.net Podcast: the self-study lab

    38 min

  6. JAN 6

    99. Soft Starts: Rejecting January Reinvention

    Happy New Year, therapist. If you’re listening in real time, it’s 2026—and we made it through another year of “Earth school (thanks Liz Gilbert!)” in 2025.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 coverWhy January can feel like a flood for therapists—not a clean slateThe thesis: you don’t need a January reinvention—after 2025, we need a soft startA 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 predicamentThe 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.” Timestamps0:00 — “It’s January. The internet wants you to sprint.”1:40 — Thesis: a soft start for 2026 after a tough year4:26 — Window of tolerance + titrating your life5:16 — Fitness instructor story: don’t push past your range6:45 — History: resolutions started in spring, then moved to January9:08 — “The system is broken, not you” + the shame of burnout11:11 — Why winter goals can feel like punishment12:46 — Leonard Cohen quote + “stand guiltless” reflection16:00 — Sponsor break (me) + program invite18:34 — Minimum effective dose: movement, connection, nourishment27:00 — Soft pivots: small actions toward what you want30:03 — Episode 100 teaser: Micah Freeman interviews meSponsor (me): Love It or Leave ItIf 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 episodeEpisode 100 is next week—my friend Micah Freeman interviews me.

    26 min

  7. 12/22/2025

    98. Burnout isn't just Exhaustion (especially for Therapists)

    Join the therapist (Pen Pal List): https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb I write back! 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 alivenessWhy leaving private practice didn’t “fix” burnout the way I expectedJumping straight into school psychology without a real break — and what that brought upThe existential “midlife stuckness” many therapists experienceWhy the question “What else can I do?” is a doorway, not a failureUsing memories of past aliveness as a bridge back to yourselfGlimmers, play, and small pockets of aliveness in daily lifeHow ambition has softened — and why the “arrival” point doesn’t actually existWhy burnout seemed to have a moment in 2025What it means to work toward enough instead of moreIf 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 nextI share a bit about where the podcast is heading in the new year, including: moving toward a more sustainable rhythminviting more guestscontinuing to talk honestly about burnout, identity, and recoveryPen Pal List: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

    23 min

  8. 12/09/2025

    Why are Terminations (and endings) are so Hard as a Therapist? (Episode 35 replay)

    Ending a therapeutic relationship is never easy, whether it’s because you're closing your practice, changing your career path, or setting necessary boundaries to protect your own well-being. In this episode, I share my personal experiences and challenges with therapy terminations, especially when they’re not planned or mutual. We dive deep into the fears therapists often have about letting clients down and the emotional toll that comes with the decision to prioritize your own mental health. Join me as I discuss the importance of setting boundaries, handling the complex emotions that arise during terminations, and finding ways to ensure both you and your clients feel supported through the transition. In This Episode, You'll Learn: The common fears therapists experience when deciding to end therapeutic relationships, such as the fear of letting clients down.My personal journey with therapy terminations and the impact of these decisions on my practice and personal well-being.Strategies for effectively communicating terminations to clients in a way that acknowledges their feelings while setting clear boundaries.How to recognize when it's time to make changes in your practice or career for your own mental health and sustainability.The importance of self-compassion and self-care during the process of ending therapeutic relationships.Key Takeaways: Recognize Your Limits: Understanding and acknowledging your own boundaries is crucial for long-term sustainability as a therapist.Clear Communication: Honest, empathetic communication can help ease the transition for both you and your clients.Emotional Resilience: Allow yourself to feel the emotions that come with terminations, and seek support when needed.Prioritize Clinician Wellbeing in Therapy: Taking care of yourself is not just beneficial for you; it's essential for providing the best care to your clients.Resources Mentioned: Episode 12: Secret Grief when a client dies: 012: Secret Grief: Attending to the Loss of Therapists | Dr. Jen Blanchette (drjenblanchette.com)Insights into how to handle complex emotions and fears around ending therapeutic relationships.APA Guide on Termination: https://www.apaservices.org/practice/good-practice/discontinuing-treatment-issues.pdf Let's connect! Are you thinking of quitting your role as a therapist (or drastically reducing 1:1)? Be the first to hear about podcast updates, resources, and ways to work with me by joining my list. I call it the therapist pen-pal letter. I write back! It's a love letter to you. Sign up here: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

    36 min
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About

Are you a Therapist, Counselor, Coach, Psychologist, or Trauma Professional dealing with burnout or compassion fatigue? Do you own your private practice and it's full and you're miserable? Are you working with too many clients in an agency or group practice? Are you considering quitting the profession all together? If so, you've found the right podcast, we will answer the following questions: Am I suffering from burnout? What are the symptoms of therapist burnout? What other things can I do besides therapy or working 1:1 with clients? What other roles or jobs could I do after my career as a therapist or helper? What other business ideas can I explore besides private practice or agency work?

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Jen Blanchette
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    109
  • Rating
    Explicit

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