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

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: * The realities of therapist burnout—what it feels like, what gets hidden, and how it shows up in daily life * The importance of story in moving through grief, fatigue, and compassion weariness * Connection as an antidote to isolation, and how finding “your people” can change the recovery process * Resilience redefined—why it’s less about “pushing through” and more about pacing, honesty, and support 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 * Listen to The Three Parallels Podcast [https://www.youtube.com/@3ParallelsPodcast] * Visit Jason’s Website [https://www.drjbranch.com/] ✨ Resources for Therapists * Join the Pen Pal List for real conversations and burnout reflections [https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb] * Explore more episodes of the Therapist Burnout Podcast www.drjenblanchette.com [www.drjenblanchette.com] * Connect with me on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjenblanchette]

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 * What “quiet cracking” means and why it resonates right now * The difference between quiet quitting and quiet cracking * Why therapists and helpers often still “show up” while quietly falling apart * How interoception—the ability to sense what your body is telling you—can signal cracks before collapse * How burnout overlaps with depression and anxiety, and why that granularity matters for care * The unique layers of therapist burnout: compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, moral injury, and clinical grief * Why women experience higher rates of burnout, and how structural inequities add to the load * Why Gen Z may be the “burnout canary in the coal mine” and what older generations can learn * Why corporate fixes like wellness apps and new assignments won’t address the root of burnout * What systemic and clinical solutions could actually make a difference EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS * Quiet cracking defined: The silent unraveling masked by productivity and professionalism. * Still showing up: Therapists (and many helpers) keep going until they literally cannot get out of the car. * The soda can metaphor: Repressing stress until it bursts, often in dramatic and uncontrollable ways. * Women and burnout: Research shows women experience higher rates of burnout than men, especially in caregiving roles. * Coco Gauff at the US Open: A moment of visible emotion in elite sports and what it teaches us about pressure, performance, and mental health. * Brain injury work parallel: Patients told “it’s just anxiety” when trauma was driving their symptoms—mirroring how burnout gets flattened and misdiagnosed. * My pandemic experience: I thought I was burned out, but I was also deeply depressed, having panic attacks, and living with anxiety. Even as a licensed psychologist, I missed it at first. * Granularity matters: Burnout can look like depression, and depression can look like burnout. Compassion fatigue, moral injury, and trauma complicate the picture. * Gen Z and screen time: Rates of depression and anxiety have skyrocketed since smartphones became central to adolescence. Gen Z is speaking the truth older generations have hidden. * The cost of quiet cracking: A recent Fortune article reported it’s costing companies $438 billion in lost productivity. On paper, the job market looks stable, but 60–80 percent of workers are burned out. * Business solutions fall short: Assigning new tasks to someone who is depressed or burned out isn’t just ineffective—it’s cruel. A culture fix without systemic and clinical backbone is a band-aid on a crack in a dam. REAL TALK SEGMENT 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 * Episode 70: Burnout or Depression? Let’s Get Granular [https://drjenblanchette.com/podcast/070-therapist-burnout-or-depression-lets-get-granular/] * Episode 74: Burned Out, Dysregulated, Still Showing Up [https://drjenblanchette.com/podcast/74-burned-out-dysregulated-and-still-showing-up-how-to-find-safety/] * WHO ICD-11 burnout definition: Read here [https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * BMJ Open systematic review on organizational burnout interventions: Read here [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10314589/pdf/bmjopen-2022-071203.pdf] * Fortune article on quiet cracking and workplace cost: Read here [https://fortune.com/2025/08/18/quiet-cracking-workplace-culture-employees-burnout-disengagement-mental-health-billions-business-loss-managers-ai-promotions/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] CRISIS RESOURCES * 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.): 988lifeline.org [https://988lifeline.org] * Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 or talksuicide.ca * International directory: findahelpline.com * NAMI Frontline Wellness: Support for healthcare and mental health workers [https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Frontline-Professionals] STAY CONNECTED * Pen-Pal List for Therapists: Weekly reflections and resources Sign up here [https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb] * LinkedIn: Dr. Jen Blanchette [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjenblanchette]

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: * The surprising historical roots of Labor Day—and how they mirror today’s burnout culture * How therapists are experiencing a new kind of labor crisis in the digital age * The pressure to always be available—and why radical boundaries matter * A letter from unconditional love to anyone who’s tired of holding it all * Why reclaiming rest is not selfish, but sacred * 📬 WANT MORE REFLECTIONS LIKE THIS? 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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjenblanchette?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Newsletter: The Shift [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7345788108862373891/] on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7345788108862373891/] Website: www.drjenblanchette.com

Links & Resources Mentioned * Join the Therapist Pen Pal List [https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb] – ask me questions for future AMA episodes * Podcasting Business School with Adam Schaeuble [https://www.podcastingbusiness.school/] * The Podcast Launch Journal by John Lee Dumas [https://thepodcastjournal.com/] * 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 * Why my first podcast felt like a “failure” (and how I see it differently now) * The difference between podcasting as self-expression vs. marketing tool * How podcasts can evolve into unexpected opportunities (like my work helping therapists close practices) * Why you won’t get a huge response at first—and why that’s actually good * The time commitment and labor behind a weekly show (and why I set a 100-episode commitment for myself) * How therapists’ unique skills (empathy, interviewing, deep listening) make us great podcasters * Practical tips on choosing a niche, naming your show, and setting realistic expectations EPISODE TAKEAWAY 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.

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: * Why “follow your passion” isn’t always the best career advice (thanks, Cal Newport). * Liz Gilbert’s framework of hobby, job, career, and vocation — and why not everything in your life should be all four. * How I realized teaching my Monday night lifting class was more depleting than renewing. * The role diet culture, perfectionism, and certifications play in therapist burnout. * 5 Questions to help you decide if it’s time to let something go in your work or hobbies. * How to reclaim joy, creativity, and pleasure now — even in midlife. RESOURCES MENTIONED * Elizabeth Gilbert on Hobby, Job, Career & Vocation (YouTube): * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g7ARarFNnw [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g7ARarFNnw] * Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert (Barnes & Noble): * https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/books/big-magic/ [ https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/books/big-magic/] * So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love by Cal Newport: https://calnewport.com/writing/ [https://calnewport.com/writing/ ] * Email Love from me--yes, you're pen-pal Dr. Jen: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb [https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb]