June 9, 2025 PCI Centers
“Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” – Eleanor Brownn
Mental health professionals are trained to hold space for others—but who holds space for the therapist? The work of psychologists, counselors, and social workers is deeply human, emotionally demanding, and often invisible in its toll. Despite their clinical training, many professionals struggle to consistently apply the same self-care principles they encourage in clients. The key to sustainable practice lies not just in coping, but in strategic, psychologically-informed self-care. Here are 10 essential self-care strategies every mental health professional should integrate into their personal and professional life.
Why Mental Health Therapists Need Self-Care: The Latest Statistics
The American Psychological Association (2024) found that 32% of psychologists reported feeling burned out. Additional research identified that 35.2% of therapists working with trauma populations experience burnout, with clear associations to diminished treatment efficacy (Wiltsey Stirman et al., 2023). A separate study also found that 26.4% of psychologists were experiencing probable work burnout, accompanied by significant levels of depression and anxiety symptoms (Millon et al., 2022). These findings point to the urgent need for sustainable self-care practices and institutional strategies to support clinician well-being.
1. Practice Nervous System Regulation Daily
Self-care starts with the body. Engage in regular practices that activate your parasympathetic nervous system—like slow breathing, stretching, or grounding exercises. Polyvagal theory reminds us that safety and regulation are biological prerequisites for connection, both with clients and ourselves.
2. Build in Reflective Supervision and Consultation
Talking through cases isn’t just about ethics—it’s about emotional processing. Regular supervision, especially with peers who understand your population or modality, protects against isolation and emotional overload. It’s a clinical necessity, not a luxury.
3. Protect Your Schedule with Boundaries, Not Just Availability
Time management is a form of containment. Avoid overbooking, leave transition time between sessions, and schedule mental “white space.” Saying no to another session can be saying yes to long-term endurance.
4. Engage in Values-Driven Activities Outside of Work
According to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), value-guided action is central to psychological well-being. Whether it’s creating art, being in nature, or spending time with loved ones, prioritize activities that reflect who you are beyond your clinical role.
5. Develop Rituals of Closure
Unprocessed emotional residue can accumulate across sessions and weeks. Create intentional rituals—journaling, taking a walk after a tough case, or symbolically “closing the office”—to mark the end of emotional labor.
6. Stay Connected with Other Clinicians
Community is medicine. Join a local consultation group, participate in therapist-focused online communities, or attend continuing education events with peers. These spaces provide validation, insight, and co-regulation.
7. Normalize Seeking Therapy or Support
Therapists need therapy too. Seeking your own mental health support enhances your ability to model vulnerability, boundaries, and accountability.
8. Watch for Early Warning Signs of Burnout
Track subtle indicators like emotional numbness, irritability, dread before sessions, or a loss of meaning in your work. Early intervention with rest, support, or adjusted caseloads can prevent more serious emotional exhaustion.
9. Prioritize Embodiment and Movement
We often intellectualize distress—but emotions are stored somatically. Regular physical movement (yoga, dance, walking, strength training) reconnects the mind and body and can discharge accumulated stress.
10. Revisit Your “Why” Regularly
Reconnect with the purpose behind your work. Write it down, revisit client breakthroughs, or engage in advocacy. A clear sense of meaning helps buffer against cynicism and emotional fatigue.
Free webinar on Self-Care for Mental Health Therapists, Clinicians, and Counselors
To support you in this journey, PCI offers ongoing resources designed specifically for mental health therapists, clinicians, and counselors, including peer consultation opportunities, reflective practice tools, and clinician wellness content shared weekly on our social platforms.
Don’t miss our upcoming virtual webinar: “Balancing Clinician Mental Health with Client Care,” happening Friday, June 13th at 9:00 am (PST). Join fellow psychologists, therapists, and counselors to explore realistic strategies, share experiences, and recommit to your own well-being.
Sign up: https://www.pcicenters.com/pci-events/
References:
American Psychiatric Association. (2025). Preventing burnout: Protecting your well-being. https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/preventing-burnout-protecting-your-well-being
National Institute of Mental Health. (2024). Caring for your mental health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health
National Institutes of Health. (2023). Compassion fatigue. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compassion_fatigue
National Institutes of Health. (2023). Mindfulness-based stress reduction. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulness-based_stress_reduction
Nguyen, T., Hirsch, J. K., & Mann, A. (2023). Social workers, burnout, and self-care: A public health issue. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10987033/
Walton, A. G. (2022, April 25). Why doctors are prescribing nature walks. TIME Magazine. https://time.com/6171174/nature-stress-benefits-doctors/
American Psychological Association. (2024). Practitioner Pulse Survey: Spring 2024 Full Report. https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/practitioner/2024/practitioner-pulse-2024-full-report.pdf
Millon, G. E., Yasin, J. D., & McElroy, H. (2022). Burnout, depression, and anxiety in practicing psychologists: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 27, 52–59. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212420925000196
SimplePractice. (2023). 2023 State of Therapist Well-Being Report. https://www.simplepractice.com/press/2023-state-of-therapist-well-being-report/
Wiltsey Stirman, S., Gutner, C. A., Suvak, M. K., Rodriguez, S., & Resick, P. A. (2023). Burnout among providers of trauma-focused psychotherapy: Impacts on treatment quality. Psychiatric Services, 74(4), 389–397. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11024738/
