Burnout & Self-Care Episodes

Bron is joined by Dr Ben Searle (Organisational Psychologist) for part two of their deep dive into severe and prolonged burnout, focusing on what it actually looks like in practice and how clinicians can support recovery. This episode focuses on: 👉🏽 What cynicism really looks like in burnout and why it becomes a barrier to recovery 👉🏿 The role of moral injury and values misalignment in driving burnout 👉🏻 Practical strategies to help clients re-engage with positive experiences and shift attent...

Bron is joined by Ben Searle (Organisational Psychologist and burnout researcher) to unpack what it really looks like to treat clients with severe burnout. Ben shares his own experience of burning out during COVID after years of researching stress, and why even doing “all the right things” didn’t lead to quick recovery. They chat about: 👉🏽 Why burnout is still poorly understood and often lacks clear treatment pathways 👉🏻 How to tell the difference between stress and severe burnout in your cli...

Bron is joined by Amy Henderson (Organisational Psychologist) to unpack psychosocial hazards in the workplace and what early-career mental health workers need to know about recognising and responding to them. They chat about: 👉 What psychosocial hazards are and how they differ from physical workplace hazards 👉🏾 Why high caseloads, isolation, and workplace bullying are common risks in mental health work 👉 The subtle warning signs that your work might be affecting your wellbeing 👉🏿 How to tell ...

Bron is joined by Denver Simmons (Psychologist, Supervisor, Writer) to chat about how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has shaped not only his therapeutic work with clients over the past 18 years, but also his own career trajectory and personal life. They chat about 👉🏽 How ACT can be a guiding compass for early-career psychologists 👉🏻 Navigating the internal and external challenges of being a psychologist 👉 Figuring out professional identity 👉🏿 How Denver once left a workplace to focus...

Ever felt like you’re carrying the extra weight of your identity into every supervision meeting, team huddle, or client session? That’s not “just stress.” It might be identity-based burnout. In this ep, Bron and guest Shuktika Bose unpack identity-based burnout - what it is and how to navigate it. 👉🏾 We cover: How identity-based burnout differs from general workplace burnout The emotional and nervous system toll of constantly “proving yourself” What psychological safety really ...

Bron is joined by Danielle Graber to explore a no-nonsense approach to burnout prevention called S.P.A.R.K.S. Danielle shares how her experience during Melbourne’s COVID lockdowns sparked the creation of this method, and together they unpack why traditional self-care often falls short. The conversation redefines what therapist wellness really means, highlights the importance of genuine, sustainable self-care, and shows how practical strategies can improve both clinician wellbeing and client outc...

Bron and Jazmin (Social Worker, Consultant) discuss how early career mental health workers can maintain their well-being while balancing the demands of work and life. Jazmin shares her journey, from struggling with work-life boundaries to finding strategies that helped her prioritise self-care and family time. She emphasises the importance of reflective practice, supervision, and setting realistic goals. Jazmin also touches on the 'Advice Monster' concept and how to manage unsolicited help-seeki...

Bron is joined by specialist in workplace psychosocial hazards, Jason van Schie, to talk about the kinds of psychosocial hazards mental health workers may encounter at work, their impacts, and practical steps to protect your wellbeing at work. Jason also highlights the shared responsibility between employers and employees in managing these risks and offers valuable advice for those feeling the strain. Tune in to learn how to navigate workplace challenges and maintain mental health in demanding e...

Not all mental health professionals experience burnout, but if they do, they might not realise just how bad it is. Matthew returns to the pod to chat with Bron about the five phases of burnout, starting from the honeymoon phase to the habitual burnout phase. Drawing from personal experiences and research, Matthew provides practical strategies for early career mental health workers to identify and manage burnout. Bron and Matthew also discuss the emotional, physical, and existential components of...

Bron is joined by Shane (Community Psychologist) to chat about reflective practice groups and how they can be a great tool for preventing burnout in early-career clinicians. We chat about what reflective practice groups involve, how they can reduce feelings of isolation (that "I'm the only one experiencing this" feeling), and how you can implement reflective practices in our workplace, supervision group, or regular peer consultation. Thanks Shane for opening up the conversation about this great ...

Initially overwhelmed by the severest phase of burnout, in this Part 2 episode Matthew discusses his journey of self-reflection, acceptance, and gradual recovery. Bron and Matt delve into the stages of burnout, and the transformational shift Matthew undertook to cope and regain his sense of self. We again thank Matthew for his courage and vulnerability during this episode, and we hope this episode resonates with listeners 💖 This is Part 2 of Matthew's journey through burnout. If you haven't l...

In this deeply personal episode, Matthew shares his experience of hitting the depths of burnout and making the difficult decision to leave his career as a therapist. We discuss the warning signs of burnout, the importance of recognising when therapy work no longer aligns with you, and the courage it takes to step into the unknown. We also explore the stigma surrounding career changes in psychology and how to navigate the uncertainty of forging a new path. A huge thank you to Matthew for his h...

As mental health workers, we are so used to giving to others that our own needs can be neglected, especially our physical health. In this episode, exercise physiologist Jamie tells us about how to keep physically healthy, including 👉 myths around 'correct' posture 👉🏿 the role of incidental exercise 👉🏽 integrating movement into a busy workday 👉🏼 and BONUS! Jamie chats about the positives and challenges of running a psychology practice from a non-psychologist's perspective. Thanks so much for this...

Therapists use all the strategies they recommend to their clients, right? If you laughed, me too. One of the strategies I rarely practise is mindfulness, and Matthew was kind enough to come on the pod to chat about what mindfulness is and how a regular practise can help us as therapists. Matthew shares his journey from skeptic to mindfulness-embracer, and offers practical advice for therapists interested in giving mindfulness a go. Listen in for a great episode! GUEST: Matthew Jackson, Psycho...

Bron and Daniela chat about the value of knowing your own stuff when you're a therapist. We explore 👉🏿 why therapists need to engage in their own self-reflection 👉 debunk myths around therapists doing inner work 👉🏾 share practical tips for integrating self-awareness and self-care into practice. Daniela is such an insightful and joyful guest so I know you'll love listening to this one! Guest: Daniela Ho Tan, Clinical Psychologist and Advanced Accredited Schema Therapist at Mindwealth Psycholog...

Bron and Rebecca explore all things joy, play, and fun! They chat about the importance of joy for sustainability in our careers, the common challenges of therapist schemas like self-sacrifice and unrelenting standards, and practical ways that therapists can bring joy into their work to keep burnout at bay. This was a delightful chat and I definitely felt ready to make more space for joy and play in my daily life by the end! Guest: Rebecca Black, Clinical Psychologist at Nourish, Heal & Grow P...

Bron is joined by listener Nick to chat about his unique transition into psychology at a later stage of life and while he was a full-time Executive Director of HR. They chat about 👉🏽 The challenges he faced and sacrifices Nick made to study psychology 👉🏻 The importance of having a solid support system and being patient in your psychology career journey 👉 Guidance for other listeners who may be thinking of switching careers or coming into psychology from a non-psychology career 👉🏾 Nick's passion ...

Bron and Matthew chat about how to reclaim the joy of being a psychologist if you've lost it. They discuss 👉🏽 The factors that can lead to disillusionment for early-career psychs 👉🏻 What gives us joy in our work 👉 Matthew's journey of reclaiming joy after losing it (hint: being authentic plays a BIG part). Thanks to listener Neta for suggesting this fantastic topic! 🌈 Guest: Matthew Jackson, Psychologist LINKS Matthew's Insta - Matilda Mercury (@matildamercuryqueen) Previous episode with ...

It's our last episode for 2023! Thanks SO much for listening ❤️ Bron thought she would treat you to some uplifting content to round off the year. In this ep, Bron unpacks all the good things about being a psychologist, just in case you've forgotten how unique, valuable, and special our work is. Tune in for some good vibes and a reminder of why we do this mental work. New beaut episodes from January 11, 2024 ⭐. Until then, consider leaving us a rating & review on Apple and Spotify. And let Bro...

Bron unpacks what end-of-year burnout looks like for therapists and her 🔥 red hot 🔥strategies for preventing burnout (book your leave for next year NOW!). LINKS Comic by Gemma Correll on burnout: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbAi-OrrSBw/ THE END BITS Mental Work is your companion to early-career psychology, hosted by Dr Bronwyn Milkins. Love the podcast? Reviews really help! Leave a rating & review on Apple and Spotify. Keep the pod alive by joining our Patreon for $2 a month 😎 Supp...

Bron and Carly unpack a spicy listener question: Is it possible to be financially secure AND avoid burnout? They chat about 👉🏽 Valuing the skills that you have to offer as a psychologist 👉🏻 Finding workplaces that align with your financial goals and respect that you are a human with a finite workload capacity 👉 How to not get sucked in by workplaces promising you the world. Guest: Carly Dober (Psychologist and Director at the Australian Association for Psychologists Inc) THE END BITS Mental Wo...

Bron is joined by Rebecca Black (Clin Psych at Nourish, Heal, Grow & sustainable career coach) to unpack how to build a sustainable psychology career. Yes, it IS possible to have a profitable career, friends/family, and even hobbies without burning out 😮! They chat 👉🏽 Over-preparing for sessions 👉🏻 How many clients per day is too many? 👉 Tips if you struggle with unrelenting standards and self-sacrificing schemas. Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psych...

Today on Mental Work, by popular request Bron returns to the topic of emotional labour with guests Anthony Joffe (Psychologist/PhD Candidate) and James Clarke (Clinical Psychologist/PhD Candidate). They chat about 👉🏽 Surface acting vs deep acting vs natural expression 👉🏻 Surface acting and burnout 👉 Why authenticity is key 👉🏿 How emotional labour shows up in James' and Anthony's therapy work 👉🏾 The emotion regulation strategies they use in and out of sessions. Mental Work is the podcast unpac...

Bron is joined by Carly Dober (Psychologist, Director of AAPi) to unpack the taboo world of getting therapy as a therapist. We talk about 👉🏽 Does getting therapy mean you're not suited to the profession? 👉🏻 Does psych training get in the way of being helped by therapy 👉 How personal therapy informs us as professionals 👉🏿 Practical tips for getting therapy (finding a psych, getting a mental health plan). Mental Work is the podcast unpacking the challenges faced by early career psychologists, s...