In this episode, Stacey Steele, R.Psych., takes on five of the most persistent and clinically consequential myths about burnout in the helping professions and replaces them with what the research actually shows. Drawing on recent empirical literature and honest personal experience, this episode reframes burnout as a nervous system and systemic response, not a personal failing.

Stacey distinguishes burnout from secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, moral injury, and depression, and makes the case that sustainability in clinical practice requires both individual restoration and structural accountability.

Tools mentioned in the episode

The PHQ-9 and the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) survey for formal tracking. The Greenspace Health platform for outcome data. The Bearable app for symptom and lifestyle tracking. And for the already-tired: a Post-it on the laptop, an energy rating at the end of each day, thirty days of data.

Stay in the conversation

The ReLit Practice 12-week program opens enrollment for the September founding cohort in July, with special pricing for the first eight clinicians. https://www.relitpractice.com/workwithme

Before then, book a free Practice Sustainable Snapshot twenty minutes to look at one thing you could change this week to feel even ten percent more sustainable. https://calendly.com/relitpractice/practicesnapshot

The Reset Circle is a free monthly peer gathering for clinicians. Come once or come every month. https://www.relitpractice.com/circle

References Cited

Bianchi, R., & Schonfeld, I. (2024). Beliefs about burnout. Work & Stress, 39, 116–134.

Brindley, P., et al. (2019). Psychological ‘burnout’ in healthcare professionals. Journal of the Intensive Care Society, 20, 358–362.

Camargo, G., et al. (2021). Psychological exhaustion of nursing professionals. Revista brasileira de enfermagem, 74.

Hoffarth, M. (2017). The making of burnout. History of the Human Sciences, 30, 30–45.

Ledingham, M., et al. (2019). ‘I should have known.’ Asia Pacific Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 10, 125–145.

Montgomery, A., & Maslach, C. (2019). Burnout in health professionals.

Smajlović, A., & Budler, L. (2025). Burnout and the stigma of help-seeking in nurses. Acta psychologica, 261.

Yang, Y., & Hayes, J. (2020). Causes and consequences of burnout among mental health professionals. Psychotherapy.