Settings Goals for a Life and Career You Love as a Therapist
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Settings Goals for a Life and Career You Love as a Therapist
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby is a licensed psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, board-certified coach, AAMFT clinical supervisor, host of the Love, Happiness, and Success Podcast and founder of Growing Self.
Therapists, Are You Forgetting About Your Goals? Let’s Fix That.
Hey there, felNeed inspiration? Check out my episode low therapists. Let’s get real for a moment: when was the last time you thought about your own goals? I don’t mean the goals you help your clients achieve every day (you rockstar, you). I’m talking about your personal, professional, and financial success as a therapist. If you just blinked and thought, “Wait, do I even have any?” then this is for you.
On my recent episode of Love, Happiness, and Success for Therapists, I dove deep into the one thing many of us are guilty of neglecting: ourselves. Yep, we’re flipping the script and putting the spotlight on you—your dreams, your goals, and how to create a career and life you absolutely love. Let’s talk about how to take care of the most important client you’ll ever have: you. After all, therapists need to grow too.
The Problem: Giving Until You’re Running on Empty
Let’s start with some tough love. Our profession is a beautiful one. It’s meaningful, inspiring, and deeply rewarding. But here’s the rub: we’re so good at pouring ourselves into our clients’ transformations that we sometimes forget to ask, “How am I doing?” Sound familiar?
Here’s the thing—burnout isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a real threat to our field. Research shows that therapist burnout can lead to emotional exhaustion, detachment, and even leaving the profession altogether. And let’s be honest, it’s hard to serve others when you’re running on fumes.
So, how do we fix this? By making goals—not just any goals, but meaningful, value-based ones that align with your personal and professional life.
Step 1: Conduct a Personal and Professional Inventory
I’m a huge fan of taking stock of where you are at least once a year. Think of it as an annual checkup for your soul. Here are a few prompts to get you started:
- How am I doing emotionally and physically? Are you sleeping, eating, and moving your body enough?
- What’s the soundtrack of my internal world? Are your thoughts hopeful and positive, or are they leaning toward the negative and draining?
- How’s my work-life balance? Are you spending your weekends glued to your email or enjoying quality time with loved ones?
If this resonates, I have a free tool to help you dive even deeper: Flourish and Thrive Quiz. It’s a quick, insightful quiz to help you identify the areas of your life that need a little extra love so you can achieve your goals and prevent therapist burnout.
Step 2: Set Specific, Measurable Goals
Now that you’ve got some clarity, it’s time to take action. Here’s the deal: vague intentions won’t get you far. Instead of saying, “I want to feel less burned out,” try this:
“I’ll take 30 minutes every morning to journal and meditate, starting tomorrow.”
Or, “I’ll complete an advanced trauma-focused CBT training by December 31.”
The more specific and time-bound your goals are, the easier it is to stay on track. Make sure you break big goals into bite-sized pieces so they feel manageable. Trust me, small steps lead to big changes when it comes to setting and achieving goals.
Step 3: Build Your Dream Career
What lights you up as a therapist? Maybe you love working with couples, exploring coaching psychology, or diving deep into trauma work. Whatever it is, lean into it. Specializing can help you feel more fulfilled and stand out in your field.
Need inspiration? Check out my episode on finding your niche as a therapist. We also talked about this in the podcast episode about breaking free from the medical model which is perfect for anyone looking to shift their practice toward value-based, client-centered care.
Step 4: Stay Connected and Celebrate Wins
Remember, you don’t have to go it alone. Building relationships with other therapists can be a game-changer. Whether it’s joining a consultation group or simply having a “therapist friend” you can call when you’re overwhelmed, community matters.
And don’t forget to celebrate your progress! Even small wins—like sticking to your goal of journaling for a week—deserve recognition. Why? Because celebrating reminds us that we’re moving forward, and that’s what matters most.
Ready to Flourish and Thrive?
If this resonated with you, let’s keep the momentum going. Take my Flourish and Thrive Quiz to uncover actionable insights that will help you grow both personally and professionally.
I’d also love to connect with you on LinkedIn! Let’s be part of each other’s professional network. You can find me here.
Xoxo
Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby
P.S. Think of a fellow therapist who could use a little extra inspiration? Share this article with them or in your professional community. Let’s lift each other up—because we’re all in this together.
Resources:
Yang, Y., & Hayes, J. A. (2020). Causes and consequences of burnout among mental health professionals: A practice-oriented review of recent empirical literature. Psychotherapy, 57(3), 426.https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2020-36553-001.html
Locke, E. A., Shaw, K. N., Saari, L. M., & Latham, G. P. (1981). Goal setting and task performance: 1969–1980. Psychological bulletin, 90(1), 125.https://psycnet.apa.org/journals/bul/90/1/125/
Chandrasekaran, A., Currano, R., Batool, V., Chen, K., Murnane, E. L., Sirkin, D., & Mauriello, M. L. (2024). Therapy for Therapists: Design Opportunities to Support the Psychological Well-being of Mental Health Workers. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 8(CSCW2), 1-34.https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3686957
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