Most clinicians have been trained to be exquisitely self-aware. Few have been trained in what to do with what they see. In this episode, we look at what the research actually says about therapeutic self, self-awareness, and burnout and why awareness, on its own, doesn't protect you. We distinguish burnout from secondary traumatic stress, moral injury, and PTSD. We examine why self-compassion (not self-monitoring) shows up as the consistent buffer across studies. And we name the structural conditions no individual practice can substitute for.

The Reset Circle™ is a free, online, monthly gathering for therapists and other helping professionals navigating burnout and the weight of practice in demanding systems. Each 60 minute circle includes a brief masterclass on topics that matter in and out of the session, a guided grounding practice, and an opportunity to reflect and share (always optional!). But mostly, this is a space you can actually exhale in with people who get it.

The next one is May 12th at 7pm EST where the topic is "Bringing our whole self into the therapy room".

All parts of you are welcome!

Save your seat and register here: https://www.relitpractice.com/circle

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Referenced research (linked):

Exploring the use of the therapist's self in therapy: A systematic review.https://doi.org/10.1177/02537176241252363

The soul of therapy: The therapist's use of self in the therapeutic relationship. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-021-09614-5

The benefits of self-compassion in mental health professionals: A systematic review of empirical research. https://doi.org/10.2147/prbm.s359382

Effective burnout prevention strategies for counsellors and other therapists: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. C. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2024.2394767

Self-compassion explains less burnout among healthcare professionals. Minhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01469-5

Love yourself as a person, doubt yourself as a therapist? . https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.1977

Psychologists' engagement in reflective practice and experiences of burnout: A correlational analysis.https://doi.org/10.1080/14623943.2022.2090326

(2020). Impact of the therapist's "use of self." . https://doi.org/10.5964/ejcop.v8i1.160

The mediating role of self-compassion between mindfulness and compassion fatigue among therapists in Hong Kong. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0618-5