E3: Red Flags, Sand Trays, and Shit Pay: The Lies They Sell New Therapists with Ally Henry MA, LPC (she/her)

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E3: Red Flags, Sand Trays, and Shit Pay: The Lies They Sell New Therapists with Ally Henry MA, LPC (she/her)

Summary

In this raw and unfiltered episode of Burnout & Bullsht*, host Kayla Schubert-Wirth sits down with Ally Henry, LPC, to expose the early signs of burnout and the brutal realities therapists face behind closed doors. From being paid $17 an hour to work with sex-trafficked teens (with zero trauma training) to being hired at a private practice after bartending their Christmas party—Ally shares the red flags, the system failures, and the moments that made her say: this can’t be it.

They dive deep into the toxic work environments so many clinicians endure, the performative nature of supervision, the false promises of private practice, and the financial minefield of 1099 work. You’ll hear about navigating mental health roles during COVID-19, why community care matters more than competition, and the power of real, authentic supervision.

This isn’t just a story—it’s a call to action for therapists stuck in survival mode.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it me… or is it the system?”—this episode is your answer.

🎧 In this episode, we cover:

• What it’s really like starting out in community mental health

• Why lack of trauma training is a systemic failure

• Red flags no one warns you about in private practice

• The reality of being a 1099 therapist without financial prep

• Why self-advocacy, mentorship, and leaving matter

• How Ally finally found a workplace that pays her to rest

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Burnout and Mental Health Challenges

01:06 Recognizing Early Signs of Burnout

03:34 Navigating Toxic Work Environments

07:01 The Importance of Advocacy and Self-Trust

10:09 Defining Effective Clinical Supervision

12:48 The Role of Authenticity in Therapy

15:08 Transitioning Between Jobs in Mental Health

19:12 Resignation and Rebuilding in the Private Sector

21:34 The Honeymoon Phase of Private Practice

24:40 Red Flags in Private Practice

27:37 Navigating Challenges During COVID

30:45 Finding the Right Fit in Private Practice

33:01 The Importance of Community in Mental Health

36:05 Advice for New Therapists

🔹 Work with Ally – Ally has openings for therapy clients, and her team is hiring!

Want to work alongside a therapist who actually gets it? ⁠Reset Outdoors⁠ is changing the game for mental health professionals in Pennsylvania. If you're looking for trauma-informed, community-centered work that doesn’t burn you out—go check them out.

🔹 Work with Kayla – Burned out, fed up, and ready to build a private practice that actually works for you? Check out my 1:1 coaching and consultation for therapists: ⁠gritandgracepsychotherapy.com⁠

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This podcast includes personal opinions and experiences shared by guests and anonymous contributors. All identifying details may be changed to protect confidentiality. These stories are intended for educational and storytelling purposes and are not meant to defame, accuse, or harm any person or organization. Any resemblance to real persons or entities is purely coin