May 29, 2025
Wellness is important for everyone — especially for those in the business of helping others. Behavioral and mental health professionals often face unique challenges, including navigating the emotional weight of clients’ trauma while juggling high caseloads, long hours and systemic stressors.
The irony? We teach others about wellness, but frequently neglect our own – I’ve seen and experienced this first-hand while carrying that emotional and mental weight.
Common barriers to wellness
If you’re a behavioral health professional, you’re not alone. Many in this field struggle with maintaining personal well-being while being a source of stability and care for others. Here are some barriers to watch for:
Savior complex As natural problem-solvers, behavioral health professionals may feel compelled to "save" everyone. But this unrealistic expectation can lead to emotional exhaustion and compassion fatigue.
Compassion fatigue Constant exposure to clients’ trauma causes a level of exhaustion known as compassion fatigue. As a helping professional, the accumulation of the stories your clients or patients share can take a toll.
Burnout Burnout is physical, emotional or mental exhaustion caused by chronic stress. According to the National Council for Mental Well-Being , 9 in 10 behavioral health workers experience burnout, many at moderate to severe levels. Burnout is also a leading reason professionals leave the workforce.
Avoidance and denial Some professionals push their own needs aside or deny they’re struggling in order to help others. But unaddressed stress builds up and can be detrimental to your well-being, affecting your health, performance and personal life.
The impact of poor wellness
The challenges you endure don’t stay at work. Poor wellness can ripple across multiple areas of your life.
Work-life balance When stress increases at work or in life, one can impact the other. Stress can spill into your personal life and negatively impact relationships, sleep and overall satisfaction. Having a good balance and maintaining boundaries helps keep stress under control.
Job satisfaction Increased stress, burnout and compassion fatigue can reduce your job satisfaction. When this happens, you can lose sight of the difference you’re making in others’ lives and leave you feeling less fulfilled in your work. This can even lead to reduced quality of care for your patients.
Personal health Mental, emotional and physical health are all connected. When your mental health suffers, your body often does too , resulting in fatigue, insomnia or chronic illness.
These challenges aren’t theoretical – they’re personal for many of us, myself included.
From burnout to balance
Working as a clinical supervisor and behavioral health professional in community mental health and the correctional system, I endured a lot of stress and challenges with my wellness. I realized I was trying to solve everyone’s problems and avoided my own struggles in the process.
Over time, I developed severe compassion fatigue and burnout. My wife noticed I had become irritable and withdrawn. My job satisfaction declined along with the quality of care I provided my patients. Worst of all, I began having panic attacks before work while anticipating the chaos, pain and trauma I’d encounter. It was draining.
When I realized that I was struggling and needed to address it, I took steps to make changes. Here are a few things that helped me begin healing:
Set boundaries We often teach our clients that setting boundaries is healthy. But how often do we set healthy boundaries for ourselves? When I finally did, it made a big difference. I stopped bringing work home, clocked out at 5 p.m. and honored that limit. That boundary helped restore my energy and gave me time to reconnect with my family and myself.
Seek professional help Yes—I’m a therapist who sees a therapist. And I encourage others to do the same. We see and experience a lot of difficult things, and talking with someone who understands what you experience can be beneficial. You don’t have to carry it all alone.
Prioritize personal time I need time alone to recharge. As an introvert, spending time by myself is critical for my well-being. So, I carved out 30 minutes a day for me. If you’re more extroverted, your personal time might look like attending a game, book club or concert, whatever fills your cup.
Practice mindfulness I started slowing down and checking in with my thoughts and feelings more intentionally. Meditation, self-reflection and calm breathing exercises helped me overcome my panic attacks and consider different perspectives.
As behavioral and mental health professionals, we endure stress the average person does not. The emotional labor of this work is immense. Without intentional wellness practices, the risks are high: imbalance in work and life, burnout, compassion fatigue, health issues and job dissatisfaction.
You deserve to feel whole — not just at work, but in life. Setting boundaries, getting support, scheduling personal time and being mindful of your needs and emotions are some ways to support your mental well-being.
Remember, you’re not alone. Help is available and wellness is possible.
Additional resources for wellness and self-care:
10 Self-Care Tips for Psychologists, Therapists & Counselors
11 Self-Care Tips for Therapists
Self-Care for Therapists: 12 Ways to Help Yourself
Written by Taylor Blakeley, PhD, CRSS Dr. Blakeley is an assistant professor in the Dept. of Psychiatry at SIU School of Medicine, project manager with the Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Center, and adjunct professor at Purdue University Global. He holds a Ph.D. and Master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Liberty University, graduating with highest honors, and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Benedictine University. He is a Certified Recovery Support Specialist and former clinical supervisor in behavioral health and correctional institutions. Dr. Blakely teaches Mental Health First Aid to various populations and is an advocate for developmentally disabled individuals seeking employment.