Own It

Imagine serving the people you’re called to serve, spending time with family, taking vacation and traveling, mentoring new members of your profession, and running a successful business. Without burning out. It sounds both fantastical and doable. Right? There are folks who talk about this like it’s super easy if you just have the right tools…

3 Things I Wish I Knew Starting Out

So, at a recent presentation I gave, someone asked me, “What would you have done differently to avoid burnout in public mental health?” That question stopped me in my tracks. I have had ideas and philosophical ponderings about what others can do to avoid the burnout they experience. But what led me to Sacrificial Helping…

When life gives you lemons, when are you ready to set up a lemonade stand?

Many of us experience powerful, life-changing experiences that define us. We navigate through them with hard work and survival skills. These defining moments are hugely impactful and dramatically change our perspective on the world. When we’ve come through the other side (or at least mostly come through the other side), oftentimes we want to help…

Are you creating a toxic work environment?

When you go into business for yourself, you often have these grand plans to create a Zen-like workspace where you will feel energized by meaningful and purposeful work. All the time. You’ll be living the dream and feel calm and self-assured. You’ll feel the power of making the world a better place. Every. Single. Day.…

Stop Doing It All – It’s Hurting Your Practice

When you go out on your own, it can feel important to do everything yourself. You’re building your own practice and want to make sure that it represents you.  Delegating something (bookkeeping, website building, scheduling, social media, billing, etc.) can feel especially daunting or just plain wrong.  I hear the same reasons over and over…

Evolve to Thrive: 4 Steps to Make Tomorrow Better Than Today

Times are hard for many people for many different reasons. In the world, there are huge conflicts and divisive messages. There has been so much tragedy and loss. It can feel like our lives (and our focus) are  overwhelmed with what’s happening “out there” in the world, leaving us with unmet goals and dreams. We…

How to Navigate through your Growing Pains as a Helping Professional

Becoming a successful helping professional would be so much easier if you were told exactly what to do to make it all work out. So often we get thrown off course by the growing pains or obstacles that are actually fairly predictable.   Here are some of the common growing pains I see at each…

3 Myths That Are Making You a LESS Effective Helping Professional

In my everyday interactions with helping professionals, I’ve come across a pattern of behavior and a specific mindset that holds so many of us back. This configuration of behaviors, thoughts, and feelings is so common in my experience, that I’ve decided to give it a name: “Sacrificial Helping Syndrome.” I can hear you now. Wow…