Therapist Burnout: When Helping Others Starts to Hurt You

Therapist Burnout: When Helping Others Starts to Hurt You

Therapists, if you’ve ever found yourself Googling “jobs for people with therapy degrees that aren’t therapy,” you’re not alone. Therapist burnout is real, it’s sneaky, and it’s something we don’t talk about nearly enough in our field. It is vital that we all get a handle on it, because if we don’t… this becomes an unsustainable career path for us. And the world needs us to stay in the ring!

That’s why I dedicated a recent episode of Love, Happiness, and Success for Therapists to this exact topic, featuring none other than Dr. Jen Blanchette, a psychologist who specializes in helping therapists thrive in their personal and professional lives and recover from burnout.

The Weight We Carry as Therapists

During our conversation, Dr. Jen and I explored how the unique challenges of being a therapist can slowly wear us down. Between managing clients’ traumas, navigating the business side of private practice, and maintaining our own personal lives, it’s easy to feel stretched to the breaking point.

Dr. Jen shared her own story of burnout, which began long before she was even a psychologist. Starting as a caseworker, she experienced compassion fatigue—a concept she later wrote her dissertation on. Her tale took a turn in 2020 (a year we all remember too vividly), when she found herself managing a private practice, homeschooling her kids, and grieving the loss of two beloved clients. It was then that she hit what she called “end-stage burnout,” an experience she described as “all hands on deck.”

What Does Therapist Burnout Look Like?

Dr. Jen’s story might sound familiar because therapist burnout often creeps in quietly. Here are some of the hallmark signs she mentioned:

1. Physical exhaustion: Feeling tired even after reducing your client load.
2. Emotional depletion: Resentment creeping into your sessions and a reduced ability to empathize.
3. Professional self-doubt: Questioning your competency despite years of experience.
4. Clinical grief: Experiencing profound sadness after sessions, a client’s death, or vicarious trauma as a therapist without the typical social support available in personal relationships.

If you’re nodding along, take a moment to breathe. This isn’t a failing on your part; it’s the natural result of being in a deeply demanding profession.

What to Do About It

Recovering from therapist burnout isn’t about slapping on a temporary fix like a spa day or a yoga class, although those things can help in the moment. True recovery requires a deeper commitment to changing the way you care for yourself and approach your work. Dr. Jen Blanchette shared some powerful insights on how to do just that. Here’s how you can take meaningful steps toward healing:

1. Become an Expert on Rest

Rest isn’t just a luxury—it’s a skill, and one many of us need to relearn. It’s not about zoning out on your phone or crashing on the couch after a long day. True rest means intentionally stepping away to recharge your body and mind.

Start small. Can you carve out 10 minutes between sessions to step outside, breathe deeply, and feel the sun on your face? These micro-rests can make a world of difference. Then, think about the bigger picture. When was the last time you truly unplugged?

Giving yourself permission to rest deeply and without guilt is vital. You’re not just recharging; you’re protecting your ability to show up fully for yourself and your clients.

2. Build Community

Burnout thrives in isolation, and as therapists, it’s all too easy to feel alone in our work. Whether you’re in private practice or an agency, the weight of your clients’ stories and struggles can feel like yours to carry alone. But here’s the thing: you weren’t meant to do this by yourself.

Seek out others who understand what you’re going through. Join a peer consultation group or an online community of therapists. If you don’t already have one, find a therapist who can hold space for you to process your own challenges. Building community can go a long way in preventing therapist burnout.

And don’t forget to nurture friendships outside of work. Spending time with people who remind you of who you are beyond your professional role can be incredibly grounding.

3. Focus on Brain Health

Think of your brain like the engine of your car—it can’t run on fumes forever. The basics matter: Are you getting enough high-quality sleep? Are you eating meals that sustain your energy instead of just getting you through the next session? Regular movement—whether it’s a yoga class, a quick walk, or dancing in your living room—keeps your body and mind connected.

And let’s not forget mindfulness. It can be as simple as pausing to notice how you’re feeling or focusing on your breath for a few moments. These small selfcare practices for therapists add up and can help reset your nervous system when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

4. Reflect on Your “Why”

When was the last time you paused to ask yourself why you became a therapist? For most of us, it wasn’t about the money or prestige—it was about making a difference, connecting deeply with others, and helping to heal. But over time, it’s easy for those original motivations to get buried under the demands of the job.

Take some time to reconnect with your purpose. What aspects of your work still bring you joy? Are there parts that drain you more than they should? Maybe it’s time to shift gears—whether that means changing your focus, setting firmer boundaries, or even exploring a new career path that aligns more closely with your values and energy. Give yourself permission to evolve.

Pivoting vs. Persevering

One of the most profound parts of our conversation was when Dr. Jen said, “If it’s not working, you can’t just patchwork your way out of it. You need to ask yourself: What is the cost of staying?”

For some therapists, the answer to therapist burnout isn’t to quit entirely but to pivot. This could mean reducing your caseload, specializing in a different population, or even transitioning into coaching or consulting. These options allow you to use your skills in new ways while making your work more sustainable.

For others, leaving the field is the right choice, and that’s okay too. It’s not failure—it’s growth. Your therapy skills translate beautifully into other careers, like leadership coaching, HR, or even starting a new business. Leaving doesn’t erase the impact you’ve made; it honors your need for a fulfilling life.

Resources to Help You Thrive

If anything we’ve talked about today hits close to home, I want you to know that you don’t have to figure this out alone. Truly, there are steps you can take to start feeling better and moving forward—and I’m here to help.

First, I want to share something that could truly transform your career as a therapist. You know how hard you work to support your clients, but let’s be real—traditional therapy tools alone don’t always cut it. And the frustrating part? Untrained “coaches” are out there stepping into spaces that you’re more than qualified to own.

But here’s the good news: You can do something about it.