207. Burnout with Debbie and Jill

by Debbie SorensenJuly 21, 2021

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The World Health Organization includes burnout in its International Classification of Diseases and defines it as work-induced stress leading to exhaustion and cynicism. If you find yourself experiencing symptoms of burnout, you might try many things to get rid of them. For example, you might try engaging in large amounts of rest, meditation, or relaxation exercises. In contrast, you might try to rid yourself of burnout symptoms by engaging in even more work. Each of these strategies would likely provide you with some short-term relief, but eventually the symptoms of burnout would reemerge, leaving you just as exhausted and cynical as before (if not more!). In this episode of POTC, co-hosts Debbie and Jill discuss the causes of burnout and provide practical approaches to preventing and finding relief from its symptoms. You’ve fought the good fight. Now, put your feet up and listen in to learn more about finding peace and joy in your work today!

Listen and Learn:

An expert-approved definition of burnout
Three hallmark signs and symptoms of burnout
The pandemic’s impacts on burnout
Practical, pragmatic approaches to self-care
Overlaps and distinctions between compassion fatigue and burnout
Debbie and Jill’s personal experiences with burnout
Actionable steps for professionals, caregivers, and parents who are experiencing burnout but still have bills to pay
Skills for preventing burnout
Short- and long-term consequences of burnout-related behaviors
How and why certain exercises fail to “fix” burnout in the long run
Debbie defines institutional betrayal and talks about the impact of minority stress on burnout
How you can push against, and work toward changing, the systemic issues that cause burnout

Resources:

Check out Debbie’s website and buy her book, ACT Daily Journal: Get Unstuck and Live Fully with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Attend Debbie’s webinar on ACT for Burnout!
Look here for more information on the work of David Whyte
Try some of these exercises to identify and move toward your values
Find out more about Christina Maslach, the original investigator of burnout
Attend Diana’s Values-Rich Living Retreat!
Grab your copy of all our favorite books at bookshop.org/shop/offtheclockpsych.
Check out Debbie, Diana, Yael, and Jill’s websites to access their offerings, sign up for their newsletters, buy their books, and more!

About Debbie Sorensen and Jill Stoddard:

Debbie Sorensen, co-founder and co-host of Psychologists Off the Clock, is a clinical psychologist with a Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard University and a private therapy practice in Denver, Colorado. She specializes in providing individual Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for adults. In addition to private practice, she holds a part-time appointment as a Clinical Research Psychologist at the Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention. She currently lives in Colorado, her home state, and where she enjoys reading fiction, cooking, travel, and getting outdoors in the beautiful Colorado Rockies with her family and dog. Check out her and co-host Diana Hill’s book, ACT Daily Journal: Get Unstuck and Live Fully with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Jill Stoddard earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Boston University where she trained at the highly regarded Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders under the mentorship of Dr. David Barlow and Dr. Stefan Hofmann. She is founder and director of The Center for Stress & Anxiety Management, co-founder and vice president of the non-profit San Diego Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Consortium, and member-at-large for The Association of Contextual and Behavioral Sciences (ACBS). Dr. Stoddard specializes in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders and has expertise in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She is an award winning teacher, peer-reviewed ACT trainer, author of two books, and co-host of the popular Psychologists Off The Clock podcast.