Explore every episode of the podcast Therapist Burnout Podcast: Mental Health, Business, and Career Tips for Therapists, Counselors, & Psychologists
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burned Out, Dysregulated, and Still Showing Up: How to Find Safety (Replay) | 17 Nov 2025 | 00:44:29 | |
Join the Therapist Pen-Pal List for weekly reflections and burnout recovery tips:https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb After 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:
Mentioned 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:
Quote 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 | |||
| 95. Our Weird Role: The Worth Gap and The Great Nothing | 11 Nov 2025 | 01:02:51 | |
Therapy is profoundly weird. It forces us into a messy middle ground—a hybrid existence that few outside the profession understand. As Matt Hussey shared, the more "unprofessional" we were in discussing these realities, the more it resonated. Get more therapist real talk on the newsletter for podcast updates, offerings, and my upcoming circles in 2026: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb The Financial & Emotional ContradictionWe're trapped in a constant battle between our identity as a healer and our role as a business owner:The Worth Gap: We are socialized in training to provide free or low-cost service, creating therapists who are "terrible at following" the healthy boundaries we preach. This leads to profound financial anxiety. As Matt put it, "You can be a really good business person, but a terrible therapist... some of the best therapists I've ever met can barely ask to charge money for their work."The Business Trap: We spend Herculean effort achieving licensure only to be dumped into "the great nothing" (Matt Hussey)—where we must fend for ourselves, performing all administrative, marketing, and accounting tasks while simultaneously holding immense emotional space. The math often "is not math-ing," leading to total burnout.The Double Life and Clinical Grief 🎭The job requires us to exist in two versions of ourselves, creating an isolation that is unique to our field:The Asymmetry: We have so much emotional depth with clients, yet we are "not known though to them deeply and we can't be." This necessary emotional containment means that when clients leave or pass away, we experience clinical grief in a way that is "unnatural" and not socially prescribed.Borrowing Tools: Our skills become a coping mechanism. We can find ourselves "slipping into that role" in personal life, using our therapeutic tools "to cover for shyness or some sort of like social awkwardness" (Matt Hussey), which can feel "isolating and othering" to those closest to us.Emotional Numbing: The demand to suppress our own physical symptoms of fatigue—an interoception failure—means we give until we are "literally on fire." This often results in a protective emotional numbing, reducing our range of feeling because we're scared to "drop into therapist mode and help them get out of whatever they're in" in our off-hours.This work is difficult, nuanced, and requires deep courage to acknowledge the messy contradictions that define our role.More from Matt: https://www.thebrink.me/author/matt/ | |||
| 94. Career Pivots: What Job Can I Do Besides Therapy? | 04 Nov 2025 | 00:51:26 | |
If you’ve ever thought, “I just can’t do this work anymore, but I don’t know what else I could do,” this episode is for you. Host Jen Blanchette sits down with career coach and recruiter Alki Thompson to talk about the real-life process of career transition—especially for therapists and helpers who feel stuck, depleted, or unsure of what comes next. Together they unpack:
Alki shares his own pivot story—from nonprofit work to recruiting—and how one simple conversation at a professional meeting led to a completely new path. If you’ve been spinning on “what else could I even do?” this conversation gives you both permission and practical first steps to start exploring what’s next. 🔗 Connect with Alki
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| 93. When You Know You’re Done, But You Can’t Leave Yet | 27 Oct 2025 | 00:26:22 | |
What happens when you know you’re done with therapy work—but you still can’t leave? In this episode of The Therapist Burnout Podcast, Jen continues the Private Practice Closure Series with an honest look at the in-between season: when your mind, body, and heart are saying “enough,” but your circumstances don’t yet allow for a full exit. Jen shares her personal experience of sitting in this space—knowing she was finished with 1:1 work long before she actually closed her practice—and what she’s learned from supporting other therapists in that same tension. You don’t need a sign or a playbook to know you’re done. You already know. But there are small, sustainable ways to make your work more tolerable while you prepare to leave. 💬 In this episode, Jen covers:
You may not be able to leave yet—and that’s okay. The work right now is making things as tolerable as possible while you prepare for what’s next. Small shifts create space for the bigger decisions. 🔗 Resources Mentioned:
What is your body trying to tell you about your work right now—and where might you need to listen more closely? | |||
| 92. The Grief No One Talks About When You Close Your Practice | 20 Oct 2025 | 00:20:13 | |
📥 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:
🔗 Practice Closure Guide: Your First 30 Days 👀 Next week’s episode: The logistics of ethically and practically closing your practice Therapist 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. | |||
| 91. The Path of the Quiet Builder: What Comes After Private Practice | 13 Oct 2025 | 00:48:56 | |
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:
If 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. | |||
| 90. Is Private Practice a dream or a scam? | 06 Oct 2025 | 00:22:08 | |
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:
Private 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 episode
If 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. | |||
| 89. Work-Life Balance is BS—what to do instead | 29 Sep 2025 | 00:21:04 | |
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:
This 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. | |||
| 88. What Is Therapist Burnout? Understanding the Layers | 22 Sep 2025 | 00:30:14 | |
👉 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/drjenb Episode 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:
Like 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 week
If 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. | |||
| 87. Therapist Burnout Story: Real Burnout Talk with Dr. Jason Branch | 15 Sep 2025 | 00:51:20 | |
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:
If 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 Branch ✨ Resources for Therapists
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| 86. Quiet Cracking? Burnout 3.0 | 08 Sep 2025 | 00:33:01 | |
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 Episode
When 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 Mentioned
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| 85. A Letter About Rest | 01 Sep 2025 | 00:09:43 | |
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:
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 | |||
| 84. Should You Start a Podcast as a Therapist? What I’ve Learned in 4 Years | 25 Aug 2025 | 00:42:11 | |
Links & Resources Mentioned
Have 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 Episode
Podcasting 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. | |||
| 83. 5 Questions to Ask Yourself if you Want to Quit Something | 18 Aug 2025 | 00:26:49 | |
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:
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| 82. When You are Navigating a Hard Season as a Therapist | 11 Aug 2025 | 00:19:39 | |
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 Episode
Listener Spotlight I 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 Mentioned
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| 81. When Summer Feels Like Another Thing You Failed | 04 Aug 2025 | 00:19:33 | |
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:
Resources Mentioned:
Join the conversation: Subscribe to the Pen Pal List to receive reflections, tools, and podcast updates directly in your inbox. | |||
| 80. Can you be recovered from burnout? Structured Rest for Burnout Recovery | 28 Jul 2025 | 00:22:25 | |
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:
1. Release → Let go of what’s too heavy. This includes:
2. Regulate → Support your nervous system in real, sustainable ways:
3. Return to Rhythm → Create sabbatical structures that honor your life:
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:
👉 Join the pen-pal list here: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb | |||
| 79. The Death of the Sabbatical: Therapist Burnout and the Need for Real Rest | 21 Jul 2025 | 00:32:47 | |
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/podcast IntroductionWe 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 Looking for support beyond the episode? | |||
| 78. What Do I Even Enjoy Anymore? | 14 Jul 2025 | 00:26:48 | |
🔗 Links & Resources
In 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:
“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. | |||
| 77. Clinical Caseload Auditing for Burnout (and life) | 07 Jul 2025 | 00:35:11 | |
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:
This episode is for you. In this episode, we’ll explore:
I 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:
✨ Resources Mentioned:
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. | |||
| 76. Calendar Rehab for Therapists | 30 Jun 2025 | 00:40:40 | |
💌 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/drjenb About 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 hypervigilance Reflection 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 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. | |||
| 75. Cognitive Burnout: Therapist Edition (structured rest series) | 23 Jun 2025 | 00:34:36 | |
💌 Join the Therapist Burnout Pen-Pal List Get 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/drjenb Is 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:
→ 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:
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. | |||
| 74. Burned Out, Dysregulated, and Still Showing Up: How to Find Safety | 16 Jun 2025 | 00:43:12 | |
Episode 74 | Creating Safety for Your Own System: Why Structured Rest Matters Join the Therapist Pen-Pal List for weekly reflections and burnout recovery tips:https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb After 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:
Mentioned 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:
Quote 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 | |||
| Perfectionism and Burnout: A Therapist Burnout Archives | 09 Jun 2025 | 00:26:01 | |
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.
Links to my stuff: https://linktr.ee/drjenblanchette | |||
| What other jobs can therapists do other than therapy? Rerelease Episode | 02 Jun 2025 | 00:23:45 | |
Jump on the Pen-Pal List: My list for burned out therapists who are looking for support and a change:https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb Nearly half of therapists will end up leaving community mental health. Some are leaving entirely. So what else can we do for work?! The conversation covers three main categories: using clinical skills in a different way, utilizing therapy skills in non-clinical roles, and completely departing from the field of therapy. The host provides examples and suggestions for each category, including assessment work, working in a school setting, teaching adjunct courses, working in human resources, and exploring sales or marketing roles. The conversation emphasizes the importance of considering transferable skills and finding a job that aligns with personal interests and strengths. Keywords therapists, burnout, careers, quitting, therapy, transition, clinical skills, non-clinical roles, transferable skills Takeaways
Titles
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Grab my free money guide: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/tshwticuti | |||
| 73. Therapist, Your Mental Health Matters Too | 26 May 2025 | 00:21:37 | |
Subscribe to the Therapist Pen-Pal List: 💌 Get honest, therapist-to-therapist emails from me—and yes, I write back. 👉 https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb Episode Summary: In this final episode of my Mental Health Awareness Month series, I’m wrapping things up with some honest reflections—from what the data (and lack of data) says about therapist mental health, to what I’ve been feeling in my own nervous system lately. We’re talking about more than just burnout—this is about depression, anxiety, moral injury, compassion fatigue, and those moments where even your “easy” clients feel hard. If you’ve ever said, “I’m in therapy, but I still feel awful,” this episode is for you. In this episode, I share:
Resources Mentioned:
What’s Next: I’ll be taking a short podcast break (1–2 weeks) to prep for the Structured Rest series, launching in June. I’ll also be opening enrollment soon for my fall group for therapists in burnout who are ready to quit something—whether it’s your job, your role, or just the story you’re stuck in. | |||
| 72. When a client dies: Clinical Grief, Burnout, and Therapist Mental Health | 19 May 2025 | 00:26:43 | |
💌 Join my Pen Pal list: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb In this deeply personal episode, I share the story of losing two beloved clients during the early months of the pandemic—and the quiet, complicated grief that followed. One of them used to bring me lavender. I still think of her every Mother’s Day. As therapists, we’re often left to grieve in silence. Whether through a client’s death, ghosting, or a sudden termination, the losses we experience rarely come with recognition, ritual, or closure. This episode explores:
If you’ve ever lost a client—and held that loss quietly—this episode is for you. 🖤 Resources Mentioned:
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| 71. Why We Wait Until We’re Burnt: Interoception, Burnout & Therapist Mental Health | 12 May 2025 | 00:27:33 | |
💌 Want A Burnout Pen-Pal? Join my pen-pal list for therapist burnout recovery tips & personal updates: 👉 https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb Why do therapists wait until they’re completely burnt out before seeking help? In this episode, I dive into the nervous system side of therapist burnout—starting with interoception, or how we notice (and ignore) internal signals like fatigue and tension. I share research-backed insights, cultural conditioning we don’t talk about enough, and real responses from therapists answering: “Why do we wait until it’s really bad to get help?” We cover:
🔗 Links to Studies & Resources
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| 70. Therapist Burnout or Depression? Let’s Get Granular | 05 May 2025 | 00:29:20 | |
📬 Get my burnout support letters in your inbox: Join the Therapist Burnout Pen-Pal List for monthly notes, voice memos, private podcast drops, and real-talk support from someone who’s been there. 👉 https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb Earlier this year, I thought I was burned out—again. I even joined a burnout group. But nothing shifted. Eventually, I had to face the truth: I wasn’t just burned out. I was depressed. In this episode, I’m unpacking why therapists often miss the signs of depression in themselves, how burnout gets misused as a catchall term, and why naming what’s really going on can change everything. What we cover:
🔎 Key idea: “What we call burnout is often a layered experience—and getting granular about it can help you find your way out.”🛠 Resources mentioned:
💡 Want more? You are not meant to live in a constant state of depletion. If you’re carrying something heavy, this episode is for you. | |||
| 69. Therapist Burnout Story: Why Burnout Isn’t a Personal Failure with David Politi | 28 Apr 2025 | 00:44:58 | |
🌟 Feeling isolated in burnout? Join my free Therapist Burnout Pen-Pal List for honest letters and support: Subscribe here: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb What if burnout isn’t a personal failure—or something you can hustle your way out of? Today I’m joined by David Politi, host of Empowered Through Compassion, for a real talk about burnout, therapist parts, and how we survive (and even find hope) inside broken systems. We dive into:
David also shares a sneak peek of his upcoming book IFS-Informed EMDR (out in 2025). If you’ve ever thought, "I’m too close to burnout again," this conversation is for you. Connect with David:
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| 68. Therapist Scams, Burnout Fog & Neurodiversity (Also... I Got a Puppy 🐶) | 21 Apr 2025 | 00:18:21 | |
We’re diving into a lot this week—tech drama, burnout brain fog, and a little puppy joy. If you missed last week’s episode with Shulamit, I highly recommend it. We talked burnout and what it means to be a "canary in the coal mine" when your nervous system just says nope. This week, I had planned to talk about money, but something came up in the therapy world that I couldn’t ignore… Here’s what we get into:
Plus, a pivot to something I’ve been sitting with lately: Burnout, brain fog, and why so many therapists feel like their brains just don’t work the same anymore. I talk about:
And finally... I got a puppy! She’s already teaching me a lot about noticing joy, slowing down, and why acorns are apparently fascinating. Resources mentioned:
If you’ve had any experiences with Seven Cups—good, bad, or weird—send me a message. I’m planning a follow-up and would love to include therapist voices. info@drjenblanchette.com | |||
| 67. Therapist Burnout Story: Group Practice, Money Scripts & the Weight Women Carry | 14 Apr 2025 | 00:46:12 | |
📬 Burned out and need a soft place to land? Join my pen-pal list for therapists who are over it, in it, or finding their way out. I send real letters—and I write back. 👉 https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb What happens when a thriving group practice becomes too much to hold? In this episode, I’m joined by Shulamit Baer Levtov—a therapist, entrepreneur, and burnout recovery coach—who shares her deeply personal story of walking away from a successful group practice because it no longer aligned with her values or her health. Together, we talk about the behind-the-scenes of therapist burnout, especially in leadership roles, and the tricky relationship many therapists have with money. Shulamit brings clarity and compassion to topics that so often carry shame: struggling in your business, feeling stuck in scarcity, and believing you’re failing when in fact the system was never set up for your wellness in the first place. In this episode, we explore:
Whether you’re a therapist on the edge of burnout, rebuilding after stepping away, or navigating the stress of entrepreneurship, this conversation is a reminder: you’re not broken, and you’re not alone. Resources & Links:
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| 66. AI is saving us from burnout: AI Hot takes | 07 Apr 2025 | 00:44:42 | |
✉️ Join the Therapist Pen-Pal List: A low-pressure way to stay connected, get podcast updates, and receive reflections that support your career and wellbeing. Sign up here (Insert your actual link above) Show Notes for Episode 66: The Problem with Therapy Chatbots Hey therapists—today we’re diving into a hot topic that’s been making waves: AI in the therapy world. Specifically, I’m breaking down the first randomized controlled trial of a therapy chatbot, recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The chatbot is called Therabot—and yep, it’s stirring up a lot of feelings. 👉 You can read the full study here: Artificial Intelligence–Delivered Psychosocial Intervention for Depression and Anxiety In this solo episode, I share my honest take on what the study actually shows, what it misses, and why I’m not ready to hand over the therapy chair to a bot—no matter how efficient it is. Here’s what we get into:
And I’m not just talking theory—I tested this myself. I told Wysa, a well-known therapy chatbot, that I was suicidal. It immediately offered a safety plan. But because it's anonymous, it had no way to follow up with me. No continuity, no real-time support, and no accountability. That moment sealed it for me: AI can be many things, but what it offers is artificial therapy. And it should never be labeled as the real thing. After reviewing the research, my position is this: AI has many potentials when it comes to therapy-adjacent tools. It’s an important distinction that it isn't human-delivered therapy. These chatbots can offer psychoeducation, summarize ideas, reflect back emotions, and even help people feel momentarily supported. But they parrot—not feel—human experience. That brings us to a big question: Is the human part of therapy actually the most important part? For me, the answer is yes. Therapy is the moment we feel seen, heard, and cared for by another human. AI may offer something useful, but it can’t replace that kind of connection. And in a time where technology has already made us more isolated, more depressed, and more disconnected—we have to be cautious about the kind of “help” we’re normalizing. Plus, I read some of your thoughtful comments from a recent LinkedIn post where this conversation really took off. Because clearly, I’m not the only one feeling this tension. Spoiler: AI isn't going anywhere. But calling a chatbot “therapy”? That’s where I draw the line. | |||
| 65. Overbooked & Overwhelmed: UnF#$k your Calandar | 31 Mar 2025 | 00:37:31 | |
If you opened your calendar right now, what would it tell you about your life? Catch the last installment of my alive series how to feel ALIVE this week: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb Your calendar is a reflection of your priorities, but sometimes, what’s on it doesn’t align with what actually fuels you. In this episode, we dive into how to identify energy drains in your daily life—both at work and at home. We explore the importance of assessing every task, even those that are supposed to be "good for you," and recognizing whether they truly restore or deplete your energy. If you’re feeling stuck in burnout, this episode will help you take small but meaningful steps toward reclaiming control. Key Takeaways:
Resources Mentioned:
Final Thoughts: Burnout can make it feel like everything is out of your control, but small shifts add up. What’s one thing you can delegate or say no to this week? And how will you prioritize one act of renewal? Let me know—I’d love to hear from you! | |||
| 64. Tips for Overwhelm for Therapists in Burnout | 24 Mar 2025 | 00:31:37 | |
Catch my alive series on the email list this month (ONE week left!) Join here: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb Ever feel like you’re sprinting through life with no chance to catch your breath? In this episode, I dive into the power of pacing—how to slow down and work at a human pace in a world that never stops. Drawing from my experience in neurorehabilitation, I break down the impact of cognitive fatigue, burnout, and why structured rest isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Plus, I’ll share practical ways to reduce information overload, manage digital consumption, and make small but powerful shifts to support your brain health and well-being. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Key Takeaways:
Resources Mentioned:
What’s one small change you can make today to support your brain? Let me know! Join the therapist pen-pal list above | |||
| 63. Therapist Burnout and the Brain: Why You Feel Stuck in Survival Mode | 17 Mar 2025 | 00:28:23 | |
This is the question I get all the time. Jen why is my brain is so confused, exhausted, and foggy? I dive into the neuroscience and the parrallels with the impacts of trauma neurologically. This month on the Newsletter, feel alive today: get my alive series and join the therapist pen-pal list: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb Believe me, you're not the only one. I hear repeatedly from other therapists that they just feel like, I can't think, I can't do my work. I have no idea which way to go. I feel like I'm spinning. And since it’s March, I want to touch base on Brain Injury Awareness Month. I am a certified brain injury specialist. Brain Injury Corner for the Month of March: Did you know that at least 64 million adults report having experienced at least one traumatic brain injury (TBI) in their lifetime? Or that there are at least 2.9 million TBI-related emergency department visits each year in the U.S.? Would it surprise you to learn that 81% of adults in the U.S. do not recognize concussions as traumatic brain injuries? This is a huge issue because a mild TBI—aka a concussion—is still a brain injury. I worked with folks who had a concussion and never fully recovered—losing jobs, relationships, and their sense of self. The emotional impact of brain injury is significant, and many people don’t get the follow-up care they need. If you suspect a concussion, the best thing you can do is get checked—ideally by a physical therapist specializing in concussion management. Outdated advice told people to avoid screens and stay in a dark room indefinitely, but we now know that moderate aerobic activity (like walking) is one of the best treatments for recovery. For therapists, I highly recommend taking a free training on concussion awareness, like the CDC’s Heads Up online courses. Having this knowledge is invaluable for referring clients and understanding the broader implications of brain health. Key Topics:
Why This Matters: If you’ve ever felt like you’re just going through the motions, struggling to connect with your work or your loved ones, this episode is for you. Burnout isn’t just a phase—it’s a neurological and emotional shift that affects every part of our lives. Understanding what’s happening in the brain can help us recognize the signs earlier and take steps toward real recovery. Resources:
Join the Conversation: Have you ever experienced burnout to the point of feeling disconnected from yourself? What helped you recover? Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with me on [LinkedIn]. | |||
| 62. Choosing a differnt path: Therapist Burnout Story with Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby | 10 Mar 2025 | 00:51:46 | |
What I've realized after nearly two years out of private practice is that the opposite of burnout isn't just taking a break—it's being truly alive. Actually being a human, seeing nature, being with your loved ones, and making memories. And sometimes, to find that aliveness, you have to take a radical leap. Jump on the therapist pen-pal list to get my feeling alive series on the newsletter--you get all the good stuff and I write back: The Burned Out Therapist Pen-Pal List That's exactly what my guest, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby, did. Forget the couch, she hit the open road in an Airstream. For a whole year! That's right, a year of trading in the traditional practice for the open road. Today, Dr. Bobby is sharing how that wild adventure led to a thriving practice and a life she truly loves. We're diving into her journey, from the depths of burnout to the freedom of the Airstream, and how she ultimately found a way to build a career that resonated with her soul. Key Takeaways:
Connect with Jen
Connect with Dr. Bobby Website: www.growingself.com | |||
| 61. Antidotes for Loneliness: Friendship and Therapist Burnout Part 2 | 03 Mar 2025 | 00:19:51 | |
Ever feel like friendships were easier when you were younger? You’re not imagining it. As adults—especially as therapists—life pulls us in different directions, making deep connections harder to maintain. Want to get my emails? My pen-pals get all the good stuff! https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb I write back :) In this episode, I’m breaking down why adult friendships take more effort, how loneliness intersects with burnout and depression, and what we can do to build meaningful relationships—even when it feels impossible. What You'll Learn in This Episode:
March Preview:
Key Takeaways:
Listener Engagement:
Join the conversation on LinkedIn or email Jen with your thoughts! Don’t forget to check out last week’s episode (Ep. 60) for more insights on adult friendships. Connect with Jen Blanchette:
Thank you for tuning in! If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a fellow therapist or leave a review. | |||
| 60. You need a friend | 24 Feb 2025 | 00:29:56 | |
Therapist, you spend your days holding space for others—but who’s holding space for you? Join the therapist pen-pal list! I write back: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: friendship, and why therapists need real, meaningful connections too. If you’ve been listening for a while, I hope you consider me a friend in some way, but let’s be real—no podcast can replace the power of in-person connection. Inspired by a recent conversation that left me rethinking everything I thought I knew about friendships, I was blown away by the research on how they directly impact our mental and physical health. Let’s talk about why friendship isn’t just a ‘nice to have’—it’s a necessity. I also discuss groundbreaking research, including Julianne Holt-Lunstad’s studies on social connectivity and mortality risk. Her research found that strong social bonds reduce the risk of death by 50%—a greater protective factor than even quitting smoking. In other words, friendships aren’t just nice to have; they are essential for our survival and well-being. I reflect on my own experiences of isolation as a therapist and how the nature of therapy work can make it difficult to build and maintain friendships. I also explore how modern life and technology have contributed to a loneliness epidemic. Inspired by Mel Robbins’ discussion of ‘The Great Scattering,’ I examine how friendships naturally decline as we move through different life stages, and why it takes intentional effort to maintain them as adults. Finally, I share a personal story about navigating rejection in friendships and how my perspective has shifted over time. If you’ve ever felt disconnected or struggled to maintain friendships while balancing the demands of being a therapist, this episode is for you. Key Topics Covered:
Resources Mentioned:
Join the Conversation: What has your experience been with friendships as a therapist? Do you find it hard to maintain connections outside of work? Let’s talk about it—DM me on LinkedIn and share your thoughts! | |||
| 59. Am I Depressed or Burned Out? | 17 Feb 2025 | 00:46:11 | |
Am I burned out, or am I actually depressed? That's the question I'm unpacking this week. It’s a tough one, and if you’ve ever felt completely depleted and disconnected from your work, you’re not alone. Let’s Connect:💌 Join my pen pal list for resources, updates, and support: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb What We Cover in This Episode:🔹 The blurred line between therapist burnout and depression 🔹 Understanding burnout: the role of exhaustion, cynicism, and compassion fatigue 🔹 How resentment can be a warning sign that you need support 🔹 When burnout becomes a safety issue for both you and your clients 🔹 The physiological aspects of depression, including hormonal changes 🔹 The power of connection and why strong relationships are essential for healing If you’ve been feeling stuck, exhausted, or questioning your next steps, this episode is for you. You deserve care, too. Resources Mentioned:📌 Practice Closure Guide – A free resource to help therapists navigate closing their practice:https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/closureguide 📌 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 for immediate support:https://988lifeline.org/ 📌 NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Professional Support Resources for therapists and front line workers: https://www.nami.org/your-journey/frontline-professionals/health-care-professionals/confidential-and-professional-support/ Let’s Connect:💌 Join my pen pal list for resources, updates, and support: info@drjenblanchette.com 🎙 Want to share your burnout story on the podcast? Reach out – you can even remain anonymous! Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts—send me a message or share with a fellow therapist who needs to hear this. | |||
| 58. Burnout and Termination: Part 2 | 10 Feb 2025 | 00:21:50 | |
In this episode of The Therapist Burnout Podcast, I dive into one of the most challenging aspects of our work—terminations. Whether you’re closing your entire practice, making the difficult decision to leave certain clients behind, or navigating the ethical complexities of unilateral terminations, these conversations are never easy. I reflect on Irvin Yalom’s insights about the therapist’s experience of termination, acknowledging that we, too, feel the weight of these goodbyes. Therapy is a space filled with anguish, conflict, fear—and undeniable beauty. Leaving it, in any form, carries grief. In this episode, I discuss:
If you’re facing terminations—planned or unexpected—know that it’s okay to struggle with these decisions. You’re not alone in this. 🔗 Download my free practice closure guide and join the pen-pal list! Click for step-by-step support in navigating this process: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/closureguide | |||
| 57. Burnout and Termination: Part 1 | 03 Feb 2025 | 00:21:25 | |
What’s Inside This Episode? 🔹 Burnout Recovery & Learning to Ski at 44 – How facing my fears on the mountain mirrors the journey of recovering from burnout. Am I cruising yet? Not quite, but I’m getting there. 🔹 Political Stress & Holding Space as a Therapist – If you’re feeling the weight of absorbing difficult conversations, especially in 2025, you’re not alone. Let’s talk about when it’s okay to say, I can’t hold this anymore. 🔹 Termination: The Ending We’re Supposed to Plan For – We’re trained to begin with the end in mind, but that doesn’t mean terminations are easy—for clients or for us. I cover:
🔹 Looking Ahead – Next week, I’ll dive into mass terminations—when you have to end with multiple clients at once, like when closing a practice or leaving a job. If termination has ever felt messy, emotional, or just plain confusing, this episode is for you. Resources Mentioned:
Let’s Connect! Join my therapist burnout pen-pal list: I write back, you aren't alone if your tired, hopeless, and can't do this work anymore: 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. That's how we grow this message! | |||
| 56. How do you tell your clients you are closing? | 26 Jan 2025 | 00:26:15 | |
In this episode, Jen dives deep into the realities of burnout recovery, practice closure, and how therapists can navigate career shifts without losing themselves in the process. She opens up about her own burnout journey, the need for meaningful rest, and the micro-moments that help signal safety to an overstressed nervous system. Jen also shares insights on ethical considerations for practice closure, balancing personal and professional ethics, and how to create space for career decisions while still in the thick of burnout. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Notable Quotes from Jen:
Resources Mentioned:
Jen’s Call to Action: If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or questioning your next steps, start by creating space to rest and reflect. Download the Practice Closure Guide if you’re contemplating closing your practice, and don’t hesitate to seek support for your burnout recovery. Connect with Jen:
Final Thought: You don’t have to figure it all out right now. Burnout recovery is a process, and small changes can lead to big shifts over time. You’ve got this! | |||
| 55. Ethical Private Practice Closure: The First Steps to Close due to retirement or burnout | 20 Jan 2025 | 00:17:17 | |
Hey, therapist! If you've been wondering about the logistics of closing your private practice or leaving a long-term group practice, this episode is for you. Dr. Jen Blanchette walks you through the first steps to take when planning your closure timeline. Whether you're retiring, transitioning out of private practice, or simply ready for a change, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you move forward. Dr. Jen also shares her thoughts on systemic issues contributing to therapist burnout, why self-care alone won’t solve the bigger problems, and the emotional weight of closing this chapter of your career. Plus, hear her insights on navigating the shame therapists often feel when advocating for fair compensation and better systems of support. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Resources Mentioned:
Key Quotes from the Episode:
Next Week’s Episode: Join Dr. Jen next week as she tackles the emotional side of closing your practice—how to navigate multiple client terminations while maintaining ethical care and compassion. | |||
| 54. Ask Jen: Should I Close my Practice? | 13 Jan 2025 | 00:20:28 | |
In this episode, host Jen Blanchette dives into the challenging decision therapists face when considering closing their practice or transitioning out of the field. Whether you're in private practice or agency work, the uncertainty of such a big shift is real—but you're not alone. Jen offers practical insights to help you evaluate if it's time to make a change and shares her personal experiences, including navigating burnout, financial considerations, and the emotional toll of solo practice. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Other Highlights from the Episode:
Resources Mentioned:
Stay Connected: | |||
| 53. Therapist Burnout Story: From Overwork to Reimagining your career with Melvin Varghese | 06 Jan 2025 | 00:30:56 | |
In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, host Dr. Jen Blanchette sits down with Dr. Melvin Varghese, psychologist and host of the renowned Selling the Couch podcast, to explore the emotional toll of burnout and the journey of reimagining success in the therapy profession. Together, they discuss the pressures of clinical work, the impact of systemic challenges, and how to embrace career pivots with curiosity and patience. Melvin shares pivotal moments from his own path, including the burnout that stemmed from his early career as psychologist in testing, to the realization that the traditional practice model wasn’t sustainable for him, and the careful steps he took to transition into podcasting and course creation. From starting with a $60 mic and an ironing board to building a top 0.5% global podcast, Melvin’s journey offers both inspiration and practical takeaways for therapists seeking to prioritize their well-being and explore new opportunities. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The Emotional Toll of Burnout and Self-Sacrifice: Melvin reflects on feeling the weight of being one of the few Indian male psychologists and the need to meet overwhelming demand. He vulnerably shares the physical and emotional toll of prioritizing others’ needs over his own—hair loss, insomnia, and emotional exhaustion—and emphasizes the importance of deep self-care: “We deserve the same level of care we give to others.” Signs It’s Time for a Change: Melvin and Jen share moments of clarity when they knew something had to shift. From dreading the workweek to questioning their ability to keep going, they discuss how the emotional labor of balancing clients’ needs with their own well-being made traditional therapy unsustainable. The Pivot to Podcasting and Courses: Melvin’s transition started with small, curious steps and years of consistent effort. He recounts key milestones:
The Realities of Building a Podcast and Course:Melvin shares the slow, steady growth of his podcast, now with 379 episodes, 1.1 million downloads, and a spot in the top 0.5% globally. His podcasting course has served 244 students and generated $323,000 over nine years, a testament to persistence and adaptability. Balancing Life and Business During COVID-19:The pandemic cemented Melvin’s decision to leave clinical work, as safety concerns for his family—including a premature daughter and a partner with severe asthma—made in-person therapy impractical. This challenge ultimately led to clarity and growth. Key Takeaways for Therapists Looking to Transition:
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Jen
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| 52. When Burnout Makes Change Feel Impossible (How to Start Anyway) | 30 Dec 2024 | 00:21:31 | |
Episode Summary: In this in-between time, as we transition from the holidays into the new year, we’re diving into how therapists can recharge, reflect, and prepare for meaningful change in 2025. Jen Blanchette recaps the December series on why it’s so hard to make changes as a therapist and shares actionable insights for overcoming fear, burnout, and those pesky “asshole stories” that keep us stuck. Plus, Jen gets personal about her own goals, challenges, and wins as she navigates this season of her career. Key Themes from the December Series1. Fear as a Barrier to Change (Episode 49)Fear is one of the biggest reasons therapists struggle to make changes, whether it’s closing a practice or stepping away from a role.
When you’re deeply tired, even small changes can feel impossible. Many therapists in end-stage burnout feel stuck and unable to recover fully, even with reduced workloads.
Our internal narratives often sabotage our progress. Jen discusses how exposure to trauma and years of caregiving shape the way we think about ourselves.
Jen challenges listeners to reflect on their needs as the new year approaches. Consider:
Jen highlights the importance of gentle, consistent changes in both professional and personal life:
The transition into a new year can be overwhelming, but it’s also an opportunity to reassess and realign. Whether you’re considering a major career change or just seeking more balance, Jen encourages you to take the first step toward the life you need and deserve. Resources Mentioned:
Let’s make 2025 the year you prioritize yourself. Tune in to future episodes as Jen continues to guide therapists toward thriving personally and professionally. | |||
| 51. A$#hole Stories: Reasons it's hard to make a change series | 23 Dec 2024 | 00:27:08 | |
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:
Resources Mentioned:
Actionable Takeaways:
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: Next 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. | |||
| 50. You're Tired AF: Reasons It's Hard to Make a Change Series | 16 Dec 2024 | 00:25:39 | |
🎄 Finding Rest in the Holiday Hustle:
🛑 Rest as a Priority (Not a Luxury):
✨ Energy Audits and Letting Go:
🌿 Making Space to Be Human:
❄️ Leaning Into Winter:
💡 Practical Takeaways:
Free Resource for You: Feeling overwhelmed and unsure what needs to change? Grab my free guide on burnout and depletion to pinpoint what’s holding you back and map out your next steps. | |||
| 49. Fear and Burnout: Reasons it's Hard to Make a Change Series | 09 Dec 2024 | 00:26:51 | |
In this episode, host Dr. Jen Blanchette takes you behind the scenes of her podcast journey, including a technical hiccup that led her to re-record this episode. But the silver lining? It gave her a chance to dive deeper into the topic of fear—specifically, how fear holds therapists back from making necessary changes in their careers and lives. Jen shares her own story of hitting peak burnout in 2021, navigating the challenges of balancing parenting, a private practice, and the financial frustrations of dealing with insurance panels. She discusses the two biggest fears therapists face when contemplating change:
Throughout the episode, Jen highlights the importance of giving yourself permission to rest, recognizing your limits, and trusting that change doesn’t mean failure—it’s a step toward sustainability. Key Takeaways:
Resources Mentioned:
Let’s Connect:
Final Reflection: Fear often shows up when we’re on the brink of transformation. If you’ve been feeling stuck or scared to make a change, know that you’re not alone. You have options, and your next step doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be yours. | |||