I am excited to introduce you to Kimberly Goodrich, MSW, LCSW, LCADC. Kimberly is a therapist in New Jersey and one of the therapists who responded to my invitation to share how she is nurturing her well-being. During the pandemic, Kimberly noticed that she was burnt out and made several shifts. Read about Kimberly’s experience moving from therapist burnout to sustainability below.
Recognizing Therapist Burnout
Kimberly shared, “About six months ago, after 1 1/2 years of working non-stop through the pandemic, I hit a “rock bottom” point and found myself what I would describe as beyond burned out. I had been working around the clock, with virtually no days off and had taken on several volunteer positions that took up any and all of the free time I had. It was like I was operating on autopilot until I just one day felt like I hit a wall. It was at this point that I realized what I was doing was not only not sustainable – but not the life I wanted for myself or my family. I have always struggled with saying “no” and I had clearly taken on too much. This realization was what gave me the motivation to make some big changes in my life – both personally and professionally.“
Moving from Therapist Burnout to Sustainability
When therapists start to recognize that they are getting burnout, they are faced with making decisions that allow them to better tend to their needs and make their work more sustainable. These can be hard decisions to make! Given our unique practices and life circumstances, the choices we make when noticing signs of burnout may look different.
What did Kimberly do? She explains, “Professionally, I made a plan to start getting off of insurance panels and began discussing it with my clients. This has allowed me more freedom to run my business the way that I want and has given me more free time. I gave up some of my volunteering and I also carved out time each week in my schedule to dedicate to creating a business that more genuinely fits who I want to be as a therapist. It has revived my passion for the work that I do and I love the creative aspect of it. It’s changed my mindset so much.”
Life Outside of the Therapy Office
The shifts that Kimberly made in her practice have allowed her to show up in the ways she wants to outside of the therapy office. Kimberly explains, “Personally, I realized how much I was missing by not having the energy to be present for my family. I now work my schedule around the needs of my family, rather than the opposite (which was what I had always done). I have dinner with my children every night; we make dinner time I time to connect and laugh rather than just rushing through it. We play music, make up games, etc to make it fun and I love that. I have also created time each morning to allow me to ease into my work day after having taken care of my own needs (such as exercising, having breakfast, etc) which helps me feel more prepared for my day. Long gone are the days that I rush and barely have time to make my coffee before I start seeing clients.”
Final Takeaways from Kimberly
“So, my “burn out breakdown”, as I call it, was a huge turning point for me in so many ways. As therapists, we always feel like we have to keep a facade of being “ok” but I’ve realized it’s ok for me not to be ok sometimes and acknowledging that has been so incredibly empowering. “
Thank you to Kimberly for sharing her experiences!
Can you relate to some of what Kimberly’s story? I invite you to post a comment about shifts you have made or plan to make to ensure that you are approaching your work in a sustainable way and can tend to your own well-being.
More about Kimberly Goodrich, MSW, LCSW, LCADC.
Kimberly owns her own practice in New Jersey where she specializes in women’s issues, substance use and relationship issues. In addition to seeing therapy clients, Kimberly provides clinical supervision.
Take Care,
Sarah