Episode 108: Burnout Prevention: You're So Much More Than Your Professional Identity [featuring Sarah Gilbert]

Therapists, when someone asks you about yourself, how often do you start with "I'm a mental health therapist," without actually being able to talk about the other things that make up your identity? It could be that you can't think of other roles in your life, interests, hobbies, etc. As helpers, we so often default to "what we do for work" to describe who we are. This can be problematic, especially when we don't take care of other parts of ourselves. It leads to burnout, stress, compassion fatigue, and more. 1️⃣ Reflect on your journey: It's important to explore why you entered this field and how your identity as a helper developed. Understanding this can provide insight into how your work may be influencing your overall sense of self. 2️⃣ Boundaries are crucial: Building boundaries is an essential component of self-care and preventing burnout. We must recognize that we can't be "therapists" or "healers" 24/7. It's okay to prioritize other aspects of our lives and set limits to protect our mental and emotional well-being. 3️⃣ Challenge societal expectations: Society often expects mental health professionals to sacrifice their personal lives for the sake of their clients. However, we have the power to redefine success in our field. Let go of guilt and shame when prioritizing self-care and setting professional goals that align with your needs and values. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 🎙️Listen to more episodes of the All Things Private Practice Podcast here 🎙️Spotify 🎙️Apple 🎙️Google 🗨️ Join the free All Things Private Practice FB Community  –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– A Thanks to Our Sponsors: The Receptionist for iPad, Alma, & Therapy Notes ✨ The Receptionist for iPad: I would also like to thank The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode. The Receptionist offers an iPad list check-in option where clients can scan a QR code to check in, which negates the need for you to buy an iPad and stand. Go to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice and sign up for a free 14-day trial. When you do, you'll get your first month free. And don't forget to ask about our iPad list check-in option. ✨ Alma: I would also like to thank Alma for sponsoring this episode. Alma makes it easy and financially rewarding to accept insurance. When you join their insurance program, you can get credentialed within 45 days and access enhanced reimbursement rates with major payers. They also handle all of your paperwork from eligibility checks to claim submissions, and they guarantee payment within two weeks of each appointment. You can also attract clients who are the right fit for your practice with a free profile in Alma's searchable directory. Additionally, Alma offers time-saving tools and administrative support, so you can spend less time on paperwork and more time delivering great care to your clients. Get your first month free with Alma by visiting helloalma.com/ATPP. ✨Therapy Notes I would also like to thank Therapy Notes for sponsoring this episode. TherapyNotes™ is a complete practice management system with everything you need to manage patient records, schedule appointments, meet with patients remotely, create rich documentation, and bill insurance, right at your fingertips. Their streamlined software is accessible wherever and whenever you need it. Go to therapynotes.com and get 2 free months when you use code ATPP.