“I Can’t Keep Doing This”: Why You Don’t Have to Grind in 1:1 or Walk Away Completely

In this episode, I’m talking about one of the most painful myths therapists buy into: the belief that your only options are to keep grinding in 1:1 sessions until you collapse, or burn your practice down and walk away completely.

Maybe you’ve felt it too — cancelling family dinners because of client demand, fantasising about a “normal” 9–5 job, or even Googling “alternative careers for therapists” late at night. It’s an awful false binary, and it’s keeping too many talented therapists stuck, exhausted, and questioning their future.

I’ll walk you through why this binary shows up in our profession, what it actually costs when you stay stuck in it, and how to pivot in a safe, gradual way that doesn’t mean torching everything you’ve built. You’ll hear real stories from therapists in our community, plus my own 18-month pivot journey, and you’ll leave with the belief that your therapy career can expand, not end.

HERE ARE THE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE:

1. The “grind or burn” binary is a lie – Most therapists believe their only options are to overwork in 1:1 forever or walk away entirely. In reality, there’s a third path: gradual, layered pivots that create sustainability without blowing up your practice.

2. Staying stuck has real costs – Burnout, chronic health issues, guilt about waitlists, identity crises, and even leaving the profession altogether. This isn’t just uncomfortable — it’s unsustainable for you and for the mental health system.

3. Pivots can be small, safe, and successful – From pilot workshops to beta groups to my own 18-month gradual shift, the most effective pivots aren’t leaps off a cliff. They’re experiments that create breathing room while protecting your existing practice.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

If today’s conversation resonated and you’re ready to try your own safe pivot, join me for the From Couch to Course Bootcamp, running September 23–26.

For just $37, I’ll guide you through how to map, price, and structure your first ethical online program using frameworks designed specifically for therapists.

In four focused days, you’ll move from being stuck in the binary to having a clear roadmap for building a sustainable program that works alongside — not against — your therapy career.

👉 Secure your spot at: therapistsrising.com/bootcamp

MORE FROM DR. HAYLEY KELLY

• The Therapist Rising Incubator – For therapists ready to create their first sustainable online program with ongoing support: therapistsrising.com/incubator
  
  
• Follow me on Instagram @dr.hayleykelly
  for daily insights on therapist innovation and sustainable practice.

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW

If this episode helped you see that your only choices aren’t grind or burn, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more therapists who feel stuck but deserve to discover their third path.

Thanks for tuning in to Therapists Rising — see you next week!