99. Soft Starts: Rejecting January Reinvention

99. Soft Starts: Rejecting January Reinvention

From Therapist Burnout Podcast: Mental Health, Business, and Career Tips for Therapists, Counselors, & Psychologists by Dr. Jen Blanchette

January 6, 2026 · 26 min

About this episode

In this episode, Dr. Jen Blanchette discusses the concept of a 'soft start' for the new year, rejecting the pressure to reinvent oneself in January.

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 cover Why January can feel like a flood for therapists—not a clean slate The thesis: you don’t need a January reinvention—after 2025, we need a soft start A 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…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Jen Blanchette

Topics covered

  • therapist burnout
  • soft start
  • new year resolutions
  • nervous system
  • gentle re-entry
  • self-care

Keywords

  • therapist
  • burnout
  • January
  • reinvention
  • nervous system
  • self-care
  • resolutions
  • gentle re-entry

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