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

About this episode

Dr. Jen Blanchette discusses the multifaceted nature of burnout, particularly for therapists, and shares her personal recovery journey.

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 aliveness Why leaving private practice didn’t “fix” burnout the way I expected Jumping straight into school psychology without a real break — and what that brought up The existential “midlife stuckness” many therapists experience Why the question “What else can I do?” is a doorway, not a failure Using memories of past aliveness as a bridge back to yourself Glimmers, play, and small pockets of aliveness in daily life How ambition has softened — and why the “arrival” point doesn’t actually exist Why burnout seemed to have a moment in 2025 What it means to work toward enough instead of more If you’re feeling stuck… If you’re burned out and trying to figure out what’s next, I invite you to start…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Jen Blanchette

Topics covered

• burnout recovery
• therapist experiences
• existential stuckness
• aliveness
• ambition
• sustainability

Keywords

• burnout
• therapists
• mental health
• recovery
• aliveness
• ambition
• sustainability

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

• 108: Burnout isn't inevitable? · May 21, 2026 · 18 min
• 107: Can I create guardrails for burnout as a therapist? · May 4, 2026 · 25 min
• 106: Imposter Phenomenon and Therapist Burnout 2.0 · April 20, 2026 · 17 min
• 105: Should I get a certification as a therapist? · April 6, 2026 · 51 min
• Signs of Therapist Burnout You're Probably Ignoring · March 12, 2026 · 50 min
• 104. Overbooked and Overwhelmed: Therapist Burnout Edition · February 19, 2026 · 20 min