Description

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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:

• Burnout vs. depression — how to tell the difference
• The research behind burnout’s loose definition (142 of them!)
• Why therapist burnout often includes clinical grief, moral injury, and vicarious trauma
• What helped me through a depressive episode this year
• The nervous system toll of not stopping—and how I finally did
• How language shapes the support we seek
• A reframe: what’s underneath “I’m just so burned out”?

🔎 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:

• Rotenstein et al. (2018) meta-analysis on burnout definitions
• Guille & Sen (2024) on burnout vs. depression
• World Health Organization burnout definition
• My experience with postpartum and professional depression
• Clinical grief after losing clients
• Therapist-specific supports: NAMI Warmline and others

💡 Want more?

• Join the Pen-Pal List
• Follow me on LinkedIn
• Work with me – Coaching for Burned Out Therapists

You are not meant to live in a constant state of depletion. If you’re carrying something heavy, this episode is for you.