Description

Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Therapist Burnout Podcast, Jen reflects on the strange in-between season of late summer—a time that often feels like it should be restful, but rarely delivers. She opens up about the grief of an "unlived summer," the scarcity-driven urge to fill downtime with productivity, and the pressure to make the season mean something.

Inspired by a Celtic prayer shared by Elizabeth Gilbert, Jen explores what it means to release cherished outcomes and bring an undefended heart into the transition ahead. For therapists bracing for the fall rush or wondering why summer didn’t restore them, this episode offers a gentle reframe and a deeply human invitation to soften.

In this episode, Jen shares:

• The mismatch between the summer we imagine and the one we live
• How therapists often fill lulls with productivity to escape scarcity
• The emotional toll of “cherished outcomes” and unmet expectations
• A personal story of summer parenting and small moments that actually mattered
• A powerful Celtic prayer that reframes presence, hope, and disappointment
• What it means to bring an undefended heart into friendship, work, and life after therapy

Resources Mentioned:

• The Celtic Prayer of Approach
• Podcast featuring Elizabeth Gilbert (via a share from a biz bestie—thank you, Micah!)
• Upcoming fall episodes on practice closure, seasonal rhythms, and rebuilding differently

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