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. 1D AGO

    107: Can I create guardrails for burnout as a therapist?

    Can you prevent burnout as a therapist? This episode explores the balance between work life and personal life, the importance of boundaries, and how to navigate systemic challenges in the therapy field. Main Topics: The concept of guardrails in therapy and personal lifePractical boundary-setting techniques for work-life separationThe impact of systemic issues and environment on burnoutPersonal stories of systemic injustice and boundary violationsHow to implement small guardrails in daily routinesThe importance of saying no and adjusting workloadsReflections on burnout prevention strategies and the limits of individual effortsThe role of self-awareness and systemic change in therapist wellnessResources & Links: Oliver Berkman - 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for MortalsCal Newport - Deep WorkMary 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 WebsiteConnect with Therapist Colleague: WebsiteLinkedIn

    25 min

  2. APR 20

    106: Imposter Phenomenon and Therapist Burnout 2.0

    Subscribe to the Leaving the Chair Newsletter: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb 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

    17 min

  3. APR 6

    105: Should I get a certification as a therapist?

    📬 THE LEAVING THE CHAIR NEWSLETTER For therapists done with burnout, overwhelm, and overscheduling — whether or not you're leaving the chair. Published twice monthly, free, and practical. 👉 Sign up here: 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 optionsThe training gap from grad school — lots of CBT, almost no trauma treatment, and EMDR had a "voodoo" reputationHer EMDR journey from PESI training to full EMDRIA certification — and where she actually started to feel competentThe "MLM ladder" in therapy training: training → advanced training → consultation hours → certification → consultant → trainer — and who's making money at each rungThe 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 outcomesWhy burnout makes training feel like the answer — and why it usually isn'tA 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 issueResearch 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/s10879-025-09712-7Simpson et al. (2025) — EMDR clinical and cost-effectiveness review, British Journal of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.70005Wampold's contextual model — therapeutic alliance, empathy, positive regard, and therapist responsiveness drive outcomes more than modalityU.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs — trauma prevalence statisticsLinks: 📬 Leaving the Chair Newsletter (twice monthly, free): https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenbEMDRIA: https://www.emdria.orgDBT-Linehan Board of Certification: https://dbt-lbc.orgMaine Association of School Psychologists: https://www.masp.org

    51 min

  4. MAR 12 ·  BONUS

    Signs of Therapist Burnout You're Probably Ignoring

    ✨ New: The Leaving the Chair Newsletter 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 yourselfHow high achievers and helpers learn to sacrifice themselves and call it dedicationWhy self-gaslighting keeps us stuck, and what burnout recovery actually looks likeAn update on Leaving the Chair and what's being developed for the communityLinks: 📩 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.comNew episode from Dr. Jen in two weeks!

    50 min

  5. FEB 19

    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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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?

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