PTSD, Pandemic PTSD, and Burnout in Therapists
We've been through a LOT the last few years. All of this turmoil has brought some things out into the open, there have been some amazing connections, conversations, and a little bit of change (we know we need more). But, in the midst of everything, have you noticed you’re often seeing people be more... well... more on edge and in pain? Nasty name-calling, cursing, shaming, etc. It’s been pretty stressful on social media feeds and in Facebook groups for therapists.
And let’s be clear: We’re not just talking about uncomfortable and important topics surrounding racism, ableism, heterosexism, etc. We’re talking about run-of-the-mill conversations and questions, requests for consults, asking for a referral for software or support, and expressing frustration from working with insurance companies. The responses to simple questions and the posts of complaint quickly devolve into a deeper display of pain and hurt.
We have a theory over here on what’s happening in our profession (and in the world in general). The last few years have been really hard. They’ve upended support networks, family networks, political ideals, communities, medical care, and so much more. Some of this upending has been needed and is good for our progress as human beings on the planet, and some of it’s been internalized, leaving us feeling more than just a little burnt out.
Are Therapists Suffering from Trauma?
A lot of therapists are exhibiting symptoms that make us wonder if the impact of a global pandemic while working in a high-burnout profession that’s been overwhelmed with need might have been very traumatic. Add on to that more emotionally distressing experiences, deaths, and medical fears that have left therapists in later stages of burnout and beyond.
Then we add to our own trauma the vicarious trauma of working with clients going through the same traumatic experiences. It’s a vicious cycle that leaves us in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn.
Jerk or Canary in the Coalmine?
While we can absolutely point the finger at those therapists and judge their behavior, we’d like to think of these therapists as the "canary in the coalmine." They’re alerting us of what might be an important message we can learn from, signaling to all of us that there’s danger ahead if we don't make some deep changes personally and as a group.
Years ago, in grad school, Miranda had a teacher that had her class read the disciplinary actions each month as a learning opportunity. Those pages were filled with stories that shocked her about her colleagues, made her afraid of being publicly shamed for poor behavior, and gave her insight. She often would explore in her mind and try to read between the lines to get a clear picture of what came BEFORE the ultimately dangerous, unethical, or illegal behavior.
Beyond the obvious heinous examples of assault, a lot of the behaviors seemed to develop over time down a slippery slope of small poor choices that ultimately led to patterns of bad behavior that put clients at risk.
Therapists have been rockstars through the pandemic. They moved their practices from in-person to virtual over a weekend, some of them risked their health to keep seeing people at the office, they navigated insurance directives that were changing from week to week and from plan to plan. They were following confused and sometimes contradictory local, state, and national regulations... and simply put, it was A LOT.
All of that change, shifting, and extra stress has made an impact on each and every one of us. While some people found the pandemic to be restful as they started to work LESS, most therapists found themselves working MORE and struggling to be everything to everyone while also in crisis themselves.
The Collective Pause
It’s time for the therapist community to take a collective pause and determine what's next. What’s really sustainable long-term for each of us, for our families, and for our businesses? Where are we in the phases of burnout after these few years and how can we prevent it? Are we just at risk, are we on our way, or are we further gone than we realized?
It’s time to have some real conversations and discussions about how burnout and trauma are impacting us in our day-to-day lives. Let's talk, remove the shame, and start to create a plan for collective healing.
We have a big ask. Comment below with what symptoms of trauma or burnout you've experienced since the pandemic began. We want to normalize what’s happening and help you create a plan.
FREE Therapist Burnout Webinar
Your life doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience categorized by stress and burnout. Ready to make a meaningful change in life and practice? You’re invited to the FREE Therapist Burnout Webinar, where you’ll learn how to recover for the long term and start loving life again!
