143. Navigating Workplace Burnout and Cultivating Professional Well-being

Elena Simonsen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Florida. She works at the Department of Veteran Affairs in the substance use field and she also works with a small organization called Therapy for Therapist Collective. Because burnout is something so many of us struggle with, Elena joins me to discuss burnout and its many layers. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Burnout can be conceptualized as coming from work place stress that hasn’t been successfully managed. 

Elena explains that most people associate burnout with work though burnout can impact all areas of your life. She explains that we commonly see burnout in caregivers and helping professionals such as therapists and nurses.  

In our conversation, Elena discusses the common causes of burnout, how it shows up in other areas of your life, common signs and symptoms to look out for, and finally, how you can begin addressing burnout. She puts an emphasis on the importance of support and community. 

If you have ever been burned out or are currently burned out then you don’t want to miss this episode because Elena is going to discuss how to manage existing burnout as well as how you can prevent future burnout.