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Therapists Rising Podcast
Welcome to the Therapists Rising Podcast, where we share real, raw, and behind-the-scenes stories and lessons from Therapists who are thinking outside the traditional clinical box and choosing to do things differently in their careers. I’m your host, Dr. Hayley Kelly, and I myself have made the journey from a very experienced, but burnt out and unhappy, Clinical Therapist - to a successful entrepreneur who runs a business she loves, is thriving financially, and working and living life on her own terms. Join me, and be inspired, as I speak with other Therapists who too are broadening their horizons, and experiencing more abundance, joy, and fulfilment than ever before. Together we will laugh, soak up priceless wisdom and take actionable steps, to help you transition from clinical practice to non-clinical offerings, and diversify and amplify your income - all while honouring your wellbeing and having a work-life balance. If you’re ready to be inspired and take action on your dreams, then you’re in the right place, friend. This is the Therapists Rising Podcast.
Therapists Rising Podcast
The 7 Lies Keeping Therapists Broke and Burned Out
"You just need more self-care."
That's what I kept hearing when I was burnt out, seeing 30+ clients a week, barely breaking even. I tried bath bombs, meditation apps, yoga breaks. None of it worked.
Because the problem wasn't my self-care routine. It was the business model.
In this episode, I'm dismantling the 7 lies that keep therapists overworked, underpaid, and stuck in unsustainable practices. The toxic narratives about burnout, pricing, marketing, and what it takes to build a therapy practice that doesn't destroy you.
Here's what I cover:
- Lie #1: "If you're burned out, you're just not cut out for this work" — Why burnout is a business design problem, not a character flaw
- Lie #2: "Good therapists don't talk about money" — How pricing shame keeps therapists broke and resentful
- Lie #3: "You need to work at the pointy end of the spectrum to be a good therapist" — Why helping people flourish is just as valuable
- Lie #4: "You have to be beige and invisible" — Why your personality is your competitive advantage
- Lie #5: "Marketing is sleazy and unethical" — Reframing ethical marketing as informed consent
- Lie #6: "If you just keep pushing through, it'll get easier" — Why waiting isn't a strategy
- Lie #7: "Wanting more means you don't care" — Dismantling the false binary between money and integrity
💡 3 Powerful Takeaways:
1. You cannot self-care your way out of a broken business model.
Burnout isn't proof you need more resilience—it's evidence the system wasn't designed for your wellbeing. Business redesign helps you survive your career.
2. Money talk isn't dirty. It's data.
Financial safety IS client safety. When you're stable, you show up grounded and present. Ethical pricing isn't greed—it's sustainability.
3. The model doesn't get easier. You have to make it different.
Different boundaries. Different pricing. Different client selection. Different revenue streams. The future requires you to build it.
💻 Resources & Links
- 🔗 Join the Incubator Waitlist: therapistsrising.com/incubator
- 📱 Instagram: @dr.hayleykelly
⭐ Subscribe, Rate & Review
If this episode helped you see that your exhaustion isn't a personal failing—please subscribe, rate, and review Therapists Rising.
Your words help reach more therapists who need to hear: You're not failing. The model is broken. And you can build something different.
