Abundant Practice Podcast: Episode #622 - "BURNOUT!! with Joe Sanok"

Release Date: February 19, 2025

Introduction: Hosts and Purpose

In Episode #622 of the Abundant Practice Podcast, host Allison Parir welcomes her friend and fellow therapist, Joe Sanok, to discuss a pervasive issue affecting many in the mental health field: burnout. Both Allison and Joe bring their extensive experience and personal insights to explore the causes, manifestations, and strategies to combat burnout among therapists, whether they are in agency settings or running their own private practices.

Understanding Burnout in the Therapeutic Profession

Allison opens the conversation by highlighting the increasing prevalence of burnout among therapists. She emphasizes that burnout can stem from various sources, including demanding work environments, inadequate support systems, and the emotional toll of client interactions.

Joe delves into his personal experience, explaining how a severe salmonella infection in 2022 led him to slow down and critically evaluate his life and business practices. This health crisis became a catalyst for introspection, prompting him to reassess what truly mattered both personally and professionally.

Joe Sanok [04:54]: "So if I start with that personally and with our community, it's okay if I just break down a couple domains, it's like, how much can I work and what kind of work can I do?"

Personal Experiences and Their Impact on Burnout

Joe shares his ordeal with salmonella and the subsequent surgeries, which forced him to confront fundamental questions about his career and life choices. This period of adversity made him realize the importance of essentialism, a concept he discusses with reference to Greg McEwen's ideas on distilling essential tasks and priorities.

Allison relates by discussing her clients in agency roles and private practice who feel trapped by rigid structures, excessive working hours, and the constant demands of social media. She introduces the concept of being "full and miserable" in one’s practice—a state where therapists have built practices that are unfulfilling and unsustainable.

Allison Parir [07:53]: "They've built the wrong practice and now they need to make some big changes to make it sustainable."

Strategies to Combat Burnout

1. Setting Boundaries and Essentialism

Joe emphasizes the importance of boundary-setting and focusing on what one’s brain can handle at any given time. He advocates for starting with fundamental questions like, "What can my brain take right now?" to make more informed and gentle decisions about workload and client types.

Joe Sanok [04:54]: "Let's just start with that. Let's take a breath and say, what can my brain take?"

2. Reevaluating Work and Client Engagement

Both hosts discuss the necessity of rethinking the type of work and clients therapists engage with. Joe introduces the Sunk Cost Fallacy, encouraging therapists to recognize when it's okay to change paths despite past investments.

Joe Sanok [05:50]: "We're allowed to change our minds."

3. Self-Care and Incorporating Joy

Allison and Joe highlight the significance of self-care practices such as engaging in hobbies, setting aside time for relaxation, and ensuring personal needs are met to replenish emotional and mental reserves. Allison shares her transition to lighter entertainment and more joyful activities upon becoming a therapist, which helps mitigate burnout.

Allison Parir [09:08]: "I stopped watching dramas... It's all comedies and superhero flicks and lighter, easier, fantastical things for my entertainment."

4. Practical Tools and Exercises

Joe introduces the Plus One, Minus One exercise, a practical tool for building a balanced life by adding activities that promote well-being and removing those that drain energy. This method helps therapists experiment with and adjust their routines to better suit their current needs.

Joe Sanok [17:05]: "We're building our plus ones over time and then we're building our minus ones, which are things we're taking off our plate."

Navigating Changes in Private Practice

For therapists running private practices, burnout often manifests from overextension and unsustainable business models. Allison and Joe discuss strategies for transitioning to more sustainable practices:

1. Scaling Responsibly

Joe explains how growing a solo practice can lead to burnout if not managed properly. He suggests strategies like leaving certain insurance panels, increasing private pay rates, and improving digital presence to attract higher-end clients without the necessity of overworking.

Joe Sanok [23:19]: "If you just keep doing the same things, you're going to be the same as you are if you don't do something else."

2. Group Practice Considerations

They explore the benefits and challenges of group practices. Joe shares his experience of building a group practice where the administrative burden was minimal, allowing for a more balanced workload.

Joe Sanok [24:05]: "When I had my group practice we had 13 people and I probably worked on it half an hour a week."

3. Setting Realistic Goals

Allison underscores the importance of realistic goal-setting. She introduces her own method of setting "okay," "great," and "shit your pants" goals to manage expectations and reduce feelings of failure when ambitious goals aren't met.

Allison Parir [25:48]: "I have all three for any, you know, anything that we're doing launch-wise or goals for the year."

Balancing Burnout and Fear

Joe and Allison address the fear that often accompanies burnout, particularly the fear of making significant changes in one’s practice or career. They advocate for:

1. Letting Go of Outcomes

Recognizing that having rigid expectations can exacerbate burnout, they suggest letting go of specific outcomes and embracing flexibility. This approach allows therapists to adjust their strategies without the added pressure of unattainable goals.

Joe Sanok [24:33]: "That is you're creating an expectation for yourself that it's not, if it's not just a hope or like, hey, this is where we're headed."

2. Celebrating Growth

Instead of focusing solely on unmet goals, Joe encourages celebrating any form of growth. For instance, even if business growth doesn't meet initial targets, recognizing and appreciating the progress made can foster a more positive outlook.

Joe Sanok [26:54]: "We grew by a massive amount. And it's like, that should be celebrated."

3. Community Support

Both hosts highlight the critical role of community and peer support in navigating burnout and fear. Engaging with supportive communities provides a sense of normalcy and shared experience, which is invaluable for mental health professionals who often work in isolating environments.

Joe Sanok [29:40]: "Being in communities, to me, it's just like the support that you feel, the normalization of things."

Practical Recommendations for Therapists

1. Implement Structured Schedules

Allison advises therapists to maintain fidelity to their schedules, ensuring consistent progress towards goals without overextending themselves. She emphasizes the importance of being realistic about what can be accomplished, especially for those balancing full-time jobs.

Allison Parir [21:01]: "Holding fidelity to your schedule... start stacking up."

2. Prioritize Personal Well-being

Incorporating regular self-care activities such as exercise, hobbies, and quality time with loved ones is crucial. Allison shares her own practices like improv nights and game nights with her kids as essential components of her well-being.

Allison Parir [18:46]: "Knowing that as I've gotten older, I've had to have things added to my life intentionally for joy and pleasure and fun and just maintenance."

3. Delegate and Share Responsibilities

Both Allison and Joe stress the importance of delegating tasks and allowing others to handle responsibilities. Allison mentions how her husband takes care of certain tasks, which helps her feel taken care of and reduces her overall burden.

Allison Parir [20:12]: "My husband handles girl Scouts... So that makes me feel taken care of."

Conclusion: Embracing Change and Seeking Support

The episode concludes with Allison and Joe reinforcing the idea that addressing burnout requires a combination of self-awareness, strategic planning, and community support. They encourage therapists to embrace change, set realistic goals, and prioritize their well-being to build sustainable and fulfilling private practices.

Joe Sanok [30:54]: "Absolutely. Yeah. Make sure your email is actually HIPAA compliant with Powell Box. Use code Abundant to get Palbox for less than $100 your first year@paubox.com."

Allison wraps up by urging listeners to share the episode with fellow therapists, fostering a supportive community aimed at overcoming burnout and building abundant practices.

Key Takeaways

• Burnout is Multifaceted: It arises from personal, professional, and societal pressures, especially prevalent in high-demand fields like therapy.

• Essentialism and Boundaries: Focusing on what truly matters and setting clear boundaries is vital for managing workload and maintaining mental health.

• Self-Care is Non-Negotiable: Incorporating activities that bring joy and relaxation helps replenish emotional reserves and combat burnout.

• Realistic Goals and Flexibility: Setting achievable goals and being adaptable reduces the pressure and fear associated with unmet expectations.

• Community and Support Systems: Engaging with supportive networks provides validation, shared experiences, and practical advice for overcoming burnout.

By sharing their personal journeys and practical strategies, Allison Puryear and Joe Sanok offer valuable insights for therapists grappling with burnout, empowering them to create more sustainable and joyful private practices.