In this episode of the Colleague Down the Hall Podcast, Jeanene Wolfe leads a fictionalized case discussion with colleagues about navigating complex client care. The case involves Sherry, a 28-year-old marketing professional experiencing anxiety and depression, who may also have traits of borderline personality disorder. Therapist Emma, feeling unequipped to address this diagnosis, must decide whether to refer Sherry to a specialist or expand her own training while maintaining ethical care. The group explores treatment strategies, addressing therapist scope, client transition concerns, and the importance of compassion in clinical practice. Listen in for practical insights and thoughtful perspectives!

“I think building a strong clinical alliance is very helpful, teaching them grounding skills, supporting them, helping them to understand their experience, what's going on, where it's coming from. All of those things are just as important as processing through the trauma. And so I think also, if we change the narrative that you have to go through five different trainings or a two year long training to be able to help these individuals, that really hinders what we can do. And in fact there's so many different, I don't want to say sub types, but borderline personality shows up in so many different ways, so we're already dealing with it. It's just one of the lesser common known subtypes that we see. So I just would like some change of the narrative in terms of that aspect of it as well”- Patrice Griffin

Key takeaways:

***Balancing Scope of Practice and Client Needs: Therapists must navigate their competence boundaries while ensuring clients receive appropriate care.

***Addressing Diagnostic Uncertainty: When facing a potential diagnosis like borderline personality disorder, seeking consultation or further training can be helpful for therapists who are new to working with these clients.

***Referral Considerations: Transitioning a client to a specialist requires careful communication to maintain trust and therapeutic continuity.

***The Role of Compassion: Therapists should approach complex cases with empathy and understanding, balancing professional challenges with client-centered care.

***The Value of Peer Consultation: Collaborative discussions with colleagues can provide fresh perspectives and support ethical decision-making.

Ready to elevate your therapy practice? Discover valuable tools, resources, and insights with Therabundle! Learn more at https://therabundle.com/jeanene (affiliate link, time sensitive) and take the next step in building a sustainable, impactful career in therapy.

Get updates about future Fictionalized Clinical Consultation Groups: www.CollabOasis.com/FCC_live

Connect with Jeanene:

*Get your free Four Keys to Private Practice Peace of Mind workbook: https://collaboasis.com/4keysworkbook

*Learn more about clinical consultation groups: https://collaboasis.com/

*Join my free therapist Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oasispcgt

*Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanene-wolfe-lcsw-64042220a/

In this episode of the Colleague Down the Hall Podcast, Jeanene Wolfe introduces Monica Helvie, a licensed marriage and family therapist and burnout recovery expert, to explore the complexities of burnout among mental health practitioners. She shares how her husband's intervention in 2017 led her to confront the toll burnout was taking on her personal life, and she discusses starting a private practice, where she found herself recreating the same unsustainable patterns. Monica and Jeanene discuss defining burnout, recognizing its signs, and the importance of setting boundaries, even when guilt and societal expectations make it difficult. Monica emphasizes aligning business practices with personal values and offers practical techniques for managing burnout, including somatic coping skills and a free burnout clarity checklist.

“I think the more that we can start encouraging and empowering people to really sense into what environment do you need to be able to thrive and not experience burnout, some folks might motor really high, and they're like, I want three back to back, and then I want three hours off, right? Or I want one and then I need an hour, and then I need another one, then I need another hour. Everybody runs differently. And so I think when we can start to create spaces where therapists can really start to sense into what is working and what feels right for them and their nervous system, then that's going to be really what keeps folks able to sustain the work that they're doing for longer and longer periods of time.”- Monica

Key highlights:

***Impact of Burnout on Mental Health Providers’ Lives and Their Client Work: Monica’s 2017 marriage crisis underscored the toll her workload was taking on her life, prompting her to reassess her work-life balance. How transitioning to private practice didn’t immediately solve her burnout; she found herself recreating similar stress patterns, revealing that burnout often follows us if underlying issues remain unaddressed.

***Preventing Burnout through Deep Healing and Nervous System Regulation: Addressing burnout goes beyond quick fixes; it requires deep work on limiting beliefs, aligning with personal values, and, as Monica learned from her experience with perfectionism, developing tools to regulate the nervous system. This approach supports clearer decisions and reduces negative thought patterns—both crucial for managing burnout. Often, resentment toward clients or work signals a lack of alignment and the need for stronger boundaries. Just as they encourage their clients, therapists must prioritize boundaries to protect their own well-being.

About Monica Helvie:

Monica Helvie is a licensed marriage family therapist in California and Texas and a trauma informed burnout recovery expert. She helps high-achieving career women overcome chronic stress and find work-life balance. Together, we create sustainable success without burnout, so you can thrive in your career and personal life.

Connect with Monica Helvie:

Social Media: @monicahelvielmft

Free Burnout Clarity Checklist: https://monicahelvie.aweb.page/p/8f6d0a69-2efd-4521-8d6c-bb2a1a9d815d

Ready to elevate your therapy practice? Discover valuable tools, resources, and insights with Therabundle! Learn more at https://therabundle.com/jeanene (affiliate link, time sensitive) and take the next step in building a sustainable, impactful career in therapy.

Get updates about future Fictionalized Clinical Consultation Groups: www.CollabOasis.com/FCC_live

Connect with Jeanene:

*Get your free Four Keys to Private Practice Peace of Mind workbook: https://collaboasis.com/4keysworkbook

*Learn more about clinical consultation groups: https://collaboasis.com/

*Join my free therapist Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oasispcgt

*Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanene-wolfe-lcsw-64042220a/