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As a mental health provider, you help clients navigate their struggles and find healing. It’s no wonder you experience a sense of purpose and fulfillment as you call it a day.
But when the workday ends, your other full-time job begins—being a mom. And let’s be honest, parenting is no less demanding than therapy sessions.
Once kids are added to the mix, things become even more challenging. You’re not just responsible for your client’s well-being, but also for your little ones’ snacks, naps, and tantrums. Not to forget the mom guilt that creeps in when you feel like you’re falling short in one area or the other.
So, how do you juggle it all without burning out? Below are some practical tips that will help you thrive as both a mental health provider and a mom.
There are many challenges mothers encounter to find balance between motherhood and working in mental healthcare. Below are some key difficulties moms will face and ideas to mitigate risk and combat them:
Each day is 24 hours long, yet working moms never have enough time.
As a mental healthcare provider, you do an inherently taxing job. You’ve got a full day of therapy sessions. And when you come home, there is a toddler clinging to your leg and a pile of dishes that keeps growing. Managing all of that? It’s exhausting.
And let’s not forget the pressure to be present everywhere—whether it’s the clinic or bedtime story sessions. By the time you finally sit down—if that even happens—the clock is already ticking towards tomorrow.
Balancing family duties with work commitments doesn’t leave mothers with too much time for self-care, states Susan Landers, MD. That leads to feelings of overwhelm and tiredness.
Regardless of their profession, mothers often face societal pressures to prioritize their families over their careers.
In the mental health field, this expectation can be particularly burdensome. Some may assume that a mother’s responsibilities should make her more empathetic and patient. Others, however, might criticize her for not spending enough time with her children due to work commitments.
It’s important to remember that moms are not superheroes. They are humans, like others. The society holds working mothers to impossible standards. It expects them to excel in their careers, raise perfect children, keep a spotless house, and look flawless while doing it.
These societal expectations can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy, especially when combined with the already high standards mothers place on themselves. The pressure to ‘do it all’ can leave mothers feeling stretched too thin, which impacts their mental health and overall well-being.
Mental health providers often carry the weight of their patients’ struggles, which can be emotionally draining.
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Mothers working in this field face an added layer of emotional labor at home as they navigate the demands of parenting. Whether it’s helping a child through their own emotional challenges of managing the day-to-day stresses of family life, the dual burden can lead to compassion fatigue.
Compassion fatigue is a state of emotional depletion that occurs when caregivers—both professionally and personally—are unable to refill their emotional reserves.
For mothers, this fatigue is worsened by the expectation to stay nurturing and emotionally present for their children after a long workday. This constant emotional output can lead to burnout, making it challenging to sustain both roles effectively.
It’s not surprising that working mothers are experiencing higher levels of anxiety than working fathers, reports Forbes.
When you’re a third party to life events that are downright traumatic or depressing, that whole putting-yourself-in-their-shoes thing can hurt. This is known as vicarious trauma—is a common issue in the mental health profession.
Mothers working in this field may find it particularly challenging to separate their work from their personal lives. Hearing stories of trauma, abuse, or grief at work can make them hypervigilant about their own children’s safety and well-being, creating additional stress and anxiety.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, signs of vicarious trauma include excessive worrying, changes in mood, trouble sleeping, and difficulty in managing your emotions.
The secret to maintaining your sanity as a mental health provider and a mom? It is to set firm work-life boundaries.
For mothers working in the field of mental health, separating work life from home life can be difficult, but vitally important.
If you don’t learn how to set boundaries, Mother Nurture warns that you will have more on your to-do list than you can complete. You will also continue to give your energy to work, leaving nothing for your family and yourself.
Be intentional with your schedule. That is to say, designate specific hours for work and family life. Avoid checking emails or responding to non-urgent messages after hours. Your patients need your best self, and so does your family—but you can’t give that if you’re perpetually burnt out.
Also, remember that empathy doesn’t mean over-involvement. Be there for patients, but don’t carry their burdens home with you. Mental transition rituals, like journaling or taking a walk after work, can help you leave the emotional weight behind.
One of the hardest things for mental health providers to do is to set limits on their caseloads.
There’s always someone in need. You became a therapist because you care about people, right? But taking on too many patients won’t just overwhelm you, but it will also be counterproductive.
If you’re stretched too thin, your sessions might start to feel like a sprint. And no one will get your best—not your patients, not your family, and definitely not you.
To avoid that, figure out your personal capacity. On average, Alliant International University states that a therapist may see 20 to 25 patients per week. But, what’s the number of sessions you can handle each week without feeling drained?
Also, think about how certain clients affect your energy. Some cases are more emotionally taxing than others. So, mix your schedule with lighter sessions or block time for breaks to recover.
If your plate is full, refer clients out, as it’s better for them to work with someone who has the bandwidth.
Tech innovations are only making our lives easier. Why don’t you take advantage of them? That can be a lifesaver when you’re balancing a busy career and motherhood.
Scheduling tools are a must-have for mental health providers. They can help you organize your schedule, set up meetings with patients, and automate reminders.
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Calendly, for instance, is popular among mental health providers because it connects with calendars and simplifies appointment scheduling.
When you integrate it into your practice, your clients will be able to book sessions as per your availability. All you have to do is set your availability, and Calendly will take care of the rest.
Besides, it will send automated reminders to patients, which will reduce no-shows. What’s great is that it is free to use. Some advanced features are accessible only in paid plans. But even those plans are affordable. So, integrating it into your practice won’t burn a hole in your pocket.
Remote patient monitoring software can also be incredibly useful for mental health providers. It will allow you to monitor a patient’s mental health outside of traditional healthcare settings, states a study published in JAMA Network. Hence, you will be able to provide better care outside of sessions.
Examples of devices included in remote patient monitoring systems are wearable health monitoring devices and activity trackers, smart scales, and biofeedback devices.
According to CoachCare, wearable health monitors and activity trackers such as fitness bands and smartwatches keep track of heart rate, sleep patterns, or physical activity. All these provide insights into emotional well-being.
Just make sure to assess your monitoring requirements before you choose a remote patient monitoring software. Consider the health parameters you will track since different systems offer varying capabilities. Doing so will allow you to narrow down your options and choose software that aligns with your needs.
Since you’re a therapist, you already have a deep understanding of emotions, communication, and relationships. So, why not use those superpowers at home? Your skills don’t have to stay in the therapy room.
For instance, when your toddler is melting down because their sandwich is cut the wrong way, channel your inner therapist. Instead of reacting with frustration, try validating their feelings. It might not solve the sandwich crisis immediately, but it can help de-escalate the situation. Kids—just like your patients—need to feel heard.
Use your grounding techniques to stay calm during those inevitable parenting chaos moments. Deep breaths can go a long way when you’re trying not to lose it over spilled milk. Also, consider teaching your kids how to express their needs and set boundaries by modeling those skills yourself.
It might feel strange at first to take the therapist at home, but these skills can strengthen your family relationships—and reduce stress for everyone.
Mental health providers don’t always work from hospitals or private practices. Sometimes, these professionals work from their homes.
On days when you decide to take therapy sessions from home, how do you make sure you don’t blur the lines between your roles as a professional and a parent? The secret lies in creating a mom-friendly workspace.
Carve out a dedicated work zone. Even if it’s just a small nook, having a defined area helps you mentally separate work from family time.
To prevent conversations from being overheard, invest in noise-cancellation headphones.
An ergonomic desk and chair are non-negotiable. As these encourage good posture, you won’t experience back pain when you have back-to-back sessions.
The Women’s Network advises creating a small, designated play area in your work zone. Include a small table with puzzles, coloring books, and soft toys to keep kids entertained when you’re working.
Balancing your career as a mental health provider while raising little humans is no piece of cake. It’s messy and unpredictable. But you’re doing something incredible: helping your clients heal while raising the next generation.
Just find a balance that works for you and let go of perfection. Some days, you’ll crush it at work and feel like a mediocre mom. Other days, you’ll be a rockstar mom, but feel like you phoned it in with your patients. So, give yourself grace because you’re making a difference, both at work and at home.