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

In the final episode before her first summer break in three years, Jen Blanchette explores what it really means to relearn rest. Her thesis is simple but countercultural: we don't need to squeeze out summer. Instead of chasing a mythical future moment of low stress — or curating the "perfect" sabbatical — Jen makes the case for weaving rest into the lives we're living right now.Take aways:We over-project rest into the future. We tend to believe there's a coming time — after we close the practice, leave clinical work, launch the practice, or finish training, etc. That belief keeps us from resting now.Summer carries an unfair burden. The real task of summer isn't to maximize experiences — it's to ask what rest, play, leisure, and family time you actually need, and sketch a rough rhythm for the season.We have more leisure than we think. Jen cites research suggesting we have more leisure time than at any point in history a statistic that feels impossible given how time-starved everyone feels. Much of that fullness comes from choices we've made and can revisit.Change happens incrementally. Just as we'd never tell a client to revamp their entire life in a week, we shouldn't demand it of ourselves. Jen advocates reviewing your work life every year and making small, structural changes so you can rest a little more each time.Treat decisions as experiments. Jen frames her move to full-time work as an experiment not a final destination complete with a built-in two-year probationary window. Six months, one year, two years: each is a natural checkpoint to ask whether a role truly fits.Notice your own capacity. Jen names her tendency toward people-pleasing, saying yes to fill gaps, and "time blindness" taking things on and getting in over her head quickly. She connects this to how therapists will squeeze in one more client even without the emotional, physical, or scheduling capacity to do it.What Rest Looks Like for Jen This SummerFamily vacation to visit relatives; spending time in her garden and planting"We don't need to squeeze out summer.""I'm not busy, life is full.""Huge changes in your work life or in your personal life are not possible… let's just try one thing this week.""I will definitely keep that data going forward — that I don't have to do anything that I don't want to do.""There is always more to do… but at some point you have to say, actually, this is where I'm stopping.""What is it like for you right now to stop where you are — not have it be a perfect ending, not tie a bow on something?""All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast." — John GuntherResources & MentionsOliver Burkeman, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals — the book that shifted Jen's thinking on productivity and time pressure.Dr. Kevin Coakley — guest on a companion episode released around the same time, an expert on imposter syndrome ("impostoring"), with research areas including racialized stress and Black psychology. Worth a listen.John Gunther — source of the closing quote: "All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast."Jen's upcoming course — fully built out and planned for release in the fall.Jen is taking a summer break from the podcast. She hopes to drop a few favorite past episodes into the feed for summer listening. New episodes return in September.

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

💌 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.

In this episode, I get personal about the highs and lows of 2024, reflecting on burnout recovery, battling impostor syndrome, and redefining my career as a contractor and part-time school psychologist. Through my journey, I’ve learned to value my unique expertise, embrace writing as a strength, and hold space for others in transformative ways. If you’ve ever felt like your skills don’t transfer, or you’re doubting your ability to make a change, this episode is for you.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 GuideGrab my Free Money Guide for therapists who want to quitNext 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.

Let's go back in the way back machine. Jen Blanchette reflects on their career journey as a psychologist, sharing insights on what they would do differently if given a second chance. Discussing their transition from private practice to school psychology, the conversation touches on the importance of setting boundaries, managing emotions, and navigating the challenges of therapist burnout. The host also previews upcoming podcast topics, including the unique aspects of therapist burnout and the impact of election cycles on therapy sessions.

Ever felt that following your to become a therapist has led you to burning out and resenting your work? Or that you're not sure that becoming a therapist was the best choice for you. In today's episode, we're uncovering the truth behind the passion hypothesis and why your skills might trump your passion when it comes to finding career happiness.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: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.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.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.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.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.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.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 NewportSelf-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.comLinks to my freebie and connect with a free consult call to Un*uck Your Practice: https://linktr.ee/drjenblanchette

Winners never quit...spoiler alert, they do! In this episode, the host reflects on her recent vacation and the challenges of traveling with children. She discusses the clinical responsibility of holding a caseload and the difficulty of leaving work behind. The theme of quitting is explored, with the host emphasizing that quitting is not a sign of weakness but a testament to strength and self-awareness. She encourages therapists to make strategic decisions and offers support and coaching for those considering a change in their practice or career. 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: linktr.ee/drjenblanchette