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

📥 Download the Free Practice Closure Guide: Your First 30 Days 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 practiceWhy burnout is about emotional weight, not just hours workedHow grief, fear, shame, and relief show up in the closure processWhat no one prepares you for when you stop holding space for othersThe quiet, scary, and freeing in-between moments post-closureWhy 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 practiceTherapist 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.

What if closing your practice wasn’t the end — but the beginning of a quieter, more intentional way of building?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 sustainableHow to listen for your next chapter after private practice burnoutBuilding work that fits your nervous system and your season of lifeLetting go of the idea that more output equals more impactHow Melvin rebuilt his business around family, creativity, and energyIf 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.

If you’ve ever thought, “I left my agency job to have more freedom, but now I’m more exhausted than ever,” — this episode is for you.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 therapistsWhat I discovered when my highest-earning year still brought in only $50K take-homeWhy so many therapists feel like they’re failing when the system itself is brokenThe emotional cost of “freedom” — no PTO, no supervision, and a lot of isolationHow insurance rates, under-earning, and compassion fatigue quietly drive burnoutWhy it’s okay to consider closing your practice — or changing how you work — without shame🧭 Key takeawayPrivate 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 episodeEntrepreneurial Poverty (Mike Michalowicz) — why “more clients” doesn’t equal successThe upcoming Practice Closure Guide: Your First 30 Days to ClosureNext week’s guest: Melvin Varghese, host of Selling the Couch, on pivots and permission💌 Connect & Learn MoreIf 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

Work-life balance is a myth—and it’s keeping therapists stuck in burnout.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 failureHow caregiving bleeds into every part of our lives—therapy sessions, parenting, household labor, emotional holdingWhy women therapists are disproportionately impacted by rising caregiving demandsThe connection between cognitive overload, caregiving, and therapist burnoutHow counterbalance—not balance—can help restore your capacity to carePractical ways to recognize when your caring quotient is maxed out and what renewal can look likeThis 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.

👉 First things first: Join my Therapist Pen-Pal List Get my weekly notes, practical prompts, and updates on ways to work with me. Subscribe: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenbEpisode snapshotAfter 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 cliniciansWhy vacations alone don’t fix therapist burnoutThe layered experience of exhaustion, resentment, “I don’t care,” clinical grief, vicarious trauma, moral injury, body symptoms, and shameSmall moves to create safety and margin before “doing the trauma work” on yourselfThe Lasagna Layers of Therapist Burnout (because therapists need a good metaphor)Noodles: Exhaustion as the base You’re doing too much. First step: do less. Fewer clients, fewer tasks, more margin.Sauce: Anger and resentment Irritability that leaks into everything. Paperwork, payers, tough sessions, home life.Cheese through everything: “I don’t care” Scary to admit. Often a nervous system survival response, not a character flaw.Hidden filling: Clinical grief Losses without ritual or witnessing. Client death, sudden endings, ghosting.Spicy layer: Vicarious trauma Intrusions, hypervigilance, worldview shifts from the work itself.Bitter bite: Moral injury When systems force choices that betray your values. It hits identity and ethics.Burnt edges: Body symptoms Headaches, GI issues, tight chest, sleep disruption—your body waving a red flag.Top layer: Shame The whisper that says “You’re a bad therapist.” It seals the whole dish and keeps you stuck.A body-based reframeLike 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 weekCreate 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 episodeEp. 70: Burnout doesn’t stay at work — how it spills into life and what to do next.Share + stay connectedIf 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.

What happens when therapists get honest about their burnout stories? Connection. Relief. And sometimes, the reminder that you’re not alone.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 lifeThe importance of story in moving through grief, fatigue, and compassion wearinessConnection as an antidote to isolation, and how finding “your people” can change the recovery processResilience redefined—why it’s less about “pushing through” and more about pacing, honesty, and supportIf 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 BranchListen to The Three Parallels PodcastVisit Jason’s Website✨ Resources for TherapistsJoin the Pen Pal List for real conversations and burnout reflectionsExplore more episodes of the Therapist Burnout Podcast www.drjenblanchette.comConnect with me on LinkedIn

In this episode, I dive into the newest burnout buzzword making its way across the workplace: quiet cracking. Unlike quiet quitting, which is a conscious decision to pull back, quiet cracking describes the inner unraveling behind a professional mask. You may look fine, you may even be excelling, but inside you’re falling apart.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 EpisodeWhat “quiet cracking” means and why it resonates right nowThe difference between quiet quitting and quiet crackingWhy therapists and helpers often still “show up” while quietly falling apartHow interoception—the ability to sense what your body is telling you—can signal cracks before collapseHow burnout overlaps with depression and anxiety, and why that granularity matters for careThe unique layers of therapist burnout: compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, moral injury, and clinical griefWhy women experience higher rates of burnout, and how structural inequities add to the loadWhy Gen Z may be the “burnout canary in the coal mine” and what older generations can learnWhy corporate fixes like wellness apps and new assignments won’t address the root of burnoutWhat systemic and clinical solutions could actually make a differenceEpisode HighlightsQuiet 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 SegmentWhen 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 MentionedEpisode 70: Burnout or Depression? Let’s Get GranularEpisode 74: Burned Out, Dysregulated, Still Showing UpWHO ICD-11 burnout definition: Read hereBMJ Open systematic review on organizational burnout interventions: Read hereFortune article on quiet cracking and workplace cost: Read hereCrisis Resources988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.): 988lifeline.orgTalk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 or talksuicide.caInternational directory: findahelpline.comNAMI Frontline Wellness: Support for healthcare and mental health workersStay ConnectedPen-Pal List for Therapists: Weekly reflections and resources Sign up hereLinkedIn: Dr. Jen Blanchette

As therapists, we know rest is essential—yet it often feels out of reach. In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Jen Blanchette reflects on the meaning of Labor Day, the hidden labor therapists carry, and what it means to reclaim rest in a world that never stops buzzing.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 cultureHow therapists are experiencing a new kind of labor crisis in the digital ageThe pressure to always be available—and why radical boundaries matterA letter from unconditional love to anyone who’s tired of holding it allWhy 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

Links & Resources MentionedJoin the Therapist Pen Pal List – ask me questions for future AMA episodesPodcasting Business School with Adam SchaeubleThe Podcast Launch Journal by John Lee DumasHave 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 EpisodeWhy my first podcast felt like a “failure” (and how I see it differently now)The difference between podcasting as self-expression vs. marketing toolHow 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 goodThe 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 podcastersPractical tips on choosing a niche, naming your show, and setting realistic expectationsEpisode TakeawayPodcasting 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.

Are you stuck in a job, practice, or even a hobby that no longer brings you joy? In this episode, I share my own story of letting go of teaching a fitness class — something that began as joy but slowly turned into striving and burnout.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 MentionedElizabeth Gilbert on Hobby, Job, Career & Vocation (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g7ARarFNnwBig 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

In this Ask Me Anything episode, I answer a listener’s heartfelt question:“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 EpisodeThe 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 SpotlightI 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 MentionedJoin 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/drjenbIf 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.

Episode Summary: 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 liveHow therapists often fill lulls with productivity to escape scarcityThe emotional toll of “cherished outcomes” and unmet expectationsA personal story of summer parenting and small moments that actually matteredA powerful Celtic prayer that reframes presence, hope, and disappointmentWhat it means to bring an undefended heart into friendship, work, and life after therapyResources Mentioned:The Celtic Prayer of ApproachPodcast featuring Elizabeth Gilbert (via a share from a biz bestie—thank you, Micah!)Upcoming fall episodes on practice closure, seasonal rhythms, and rebuilding differentlyJoin the conversation: Subscribe to the Pen Pal List to receive reflections, tools, and podcast updates directly in your inbox.

Therapist burnout recovery isn’t a one-time fix. 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 helpsThe nervous system science behind long-term burnout and shutdownA reframe of recovery that mirrors substance recovery: it’s active, it’s ongoingThe full 3-part Structured Rest Framework:🔁 The Framework: Release, Regulate, Return to Rhythm1. Release → Let go of what’s too heavy. This includes:Delegating, delaying, deletingWeekly and daily brain dumpsCaseload pruningDigital detoxing and minimizing cognitive burnout (especially phone use)2. Regulate → Support your nervous system in real, sustainable ways:Sleep, nourishment, and gentle movementConnection 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 friend3. Return to Rhythm → Create sabbatical structures that honor your life:Daily pauses like unplugged meals and movementWeekly rituals for rest, not just recoverySeasonal time off and reflectionLet 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 womenThe “phone foyer method” I learned from Cal NewportWhy the phrase “burnout to breakthrough” makes me want to gagAnd 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 yearRetreat details, journal prompts, and more👉 Join the pen-pal list here: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb

Why burned out therapists need rest rhythms—not just time off📬 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/podcastIntroductionWe 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 LuxuryLooking for support beyond the episode? 🤝 Explore coaching options for burned out therapists

🔗 Links & Resources📨 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 SummaryIn 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 timeA float-back practice to reconnect with your younger, joyful selfThe Atomic Habits lens on rebuilding: every small action is a vote for who you want to becomeReal talk on friendship loss, depleted joy, and the paradox of needing rest but feeling guilty for taking itEncouragement to start tiny: one text, one walk, one joyful moment✨ Weekly Prompt“What kind of rest or pleasure have I been denying myself?”💡 Tiny PracticeChoose one thing to add back this week—something nourishing, connective, playful, or restful. Then, protect the space for it with ferocity.

In this episode, I’m inviting you into a raw, honest conversation about your caseload—not just from a productivity lens, but from the reality of what your nervous system is holding.If you’ve been:Bracing yourself before certain sessionsStuck in client relationships that feel more obligatory than impactfulWondering 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 overfunctioningThe hidden weight of “drift clients” and how sessions become habit instead of intentionWhat alignment actually looks like in therapy (hint: it’s not about ease, it’s about purpose)How guilt, training, and scarcity shape unsustainable caseloadsA quiet caseload audit to help you reflect without judgmentWhen it’s time to consult, refer, or ethically discharge—and how to make those decisions without shameI 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 themWant to make space in their schedule, but feel guilty letting go of certain clientsAre curious about leaving, pausing, or reimagining their therapy practiceNeed 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.

💌 Want honest, grounded support in your inbox?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/drjenbAbout 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 hypervigilanceReflection 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.

💌 Join the Therapist Burnout Pen-Pal ListGet 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/drjenbIs 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 overloadA gentle reframe from Jen’s work in brain injury: your brain needs support, not pressureThe Delete–Delay–Delegate framework for reducing mental loadA real-time example of Jen’s weekly brain dumpHow to make it a practice, not a one-time fixA 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 BrainEp. 64 – Tips for OverwhelmEp. 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.

Episode 74 | Creating Safety for Your Own System: Why Structured Rest MattersJoin the Therapist Pen-Pal List for weekly reflections and burnout recovery tips:https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenbAfter 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 recoveryWhat it means to actually create safety in your bodyHow 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 saladsHow nervous system regulation and honoring capacity became my new foundationMentioned 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 dumpThe Delete, Delay, Delegate method for managing your calendarAnchoring your week with movement, connection, rest, and moreBuilding nervous system capacity gently, without shameQuote 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

All things therapist burnout and how "good therapist" conditioning shows up. Dr. Jen Blanchette discusses the concept of 'good therapist conditioning' and how it affects therapists in their careers. The host identifies five reasons why this conditioning shows up (and how they are burnout traps): perfectionism, fear of disapproval, sense of responsibility, cultural expectations and societal norms, and identity attachment. The conversation explores how these factors can lead to self-doubt, reluctance to make changes, and a sense of loss when considering alternative career paths. The host encourages therapists to break free from these pitfalls and prioritize their own needs and happiness. TakeawaysGood 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