About this episode
If you’ve ever thought, “I left my agency job to have more freedom, but now I’m more exhausted than ever,” — this episode is for you.In Episode 90 of the Therapist Burnout Podcast, I’m asking a bold question: Is private practice a scam?When I left my agency job, I was told that private practice would mean freedom — flexibility, financial ease, and time for my life. But a decade later, I see a harder truth: many therapists are burning out under the weight of a system that was never designed to sustain them.This episode kicks off a new Practice Closure Series where I unpack what happens when private practice stops working — emotionally, financially, and ethically — and how to know when it’s time to make a change.💬 In this episode, I talk about:The myth of private practice as the “dream job” for therapistsWhat I discovered when my highest-earning year still brought in only $50K take-homeWhy so many therapists feel like they’re failing when the system itself is brokenThe emotional cost of “freedom” — no PTO, no supervision, and a lot of isolationHow insurance rates, under-earning, and compassion fatigue quietly drive burnoutWhy it’s okay to consider closing your practice — or changing how you work — without shame🧭 Key takeawayPrivate practice isn’t always the scam itself — but the promise that it will fix everything often is. It’s okay to admit when the numbers, energy, and emotional math just don’t add up anymore.🌱 Mentioned in this episodeEntrepreneurial Poverty (Mike Michalowicz) — why “more clients” doesn’t equal successThe upcoming Practice Closure Guide: Your First 30 Days to ClosureNext week’s guest: Melvin Varghese, host of Selling the Couch, on pivots and permission💌 Connect & Learn MoreIf this conversation resonated, join my Therapist Pen Pal List — you’ll get the first look at my new Practice Closure Guide and honest conversations about burnout, career pivots, and what comes next when therapy no longer fits.https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb
