10 Self-Care Swaps for a Healthier, Happier Mental Health Professional
May 23, 2025
As a counselor or coach, you teach your clients to prioritize their well-being, but let’s be honest: you’re not immune to the burnout cycle. In fact, the very qualities that make you a great practitioner—empathy, availability, dedication—can also make you more susceptible to unhealthy patterns.
If you’ve been running on fumes or feeling disconnected from your work, it might be time to take stock. Here are 10 common bad habits mental health professionals fall into and 10 good habits that can help restore your energy, clarity, and joy.
Bad Habit #1: Skipping breaks between sessions
Good Habit: Schedule 10–15 minute recovery blocks
Use that time to stretch, hydrate, breathe deeply, or step outside—anything to reset your nervous system before your next client.
Bad Habit #2: Saying yes to every new client
Good Habit: Set clear client limits and referral boundaries
Know your capacity. It’s okay to say no—or refer out—when your caseload is full.
Bad Habit #3: Working through illness or exhaustion
Good Habit: Listen to your body and take sick days when needed
You preach rest and recovery. Model it, too.
Bad Habit #4: Neglecting your own therapy or supervision
Good Habit: Maintain your own support system
Regular therapy, peer consultation, or clinical supervision keeps you grounded and growing.
Bad Habit #5: Using admin time as overflow for sessions
Good Habit: Protect your back-end time for charting, billing, and planning
Treat your business time like it’s billable—it matters.
Bad Habit #6: Bringing emotional residue home
Good Habit: Create a shutdown ritual for your day
Close your laptop. Light a candle. Go for a walk. Signal to your body and mind: I’m off duty now.
Bad Habit #7: Comparing your work to others
Good Habit: Celebrate your unique strengths and pace
Success doesn’t look the same for everyone. Stay rooted in your purpose and shake free of imposter syndrome (we’ve got a guide for that if you could use a little boost: download it now).
Bad Habit #8: Relying on caffeine and adrenaline to get through the week
Good Habit: Prioritize sleep, water, and real meals
Fuel your body like you expect it to carry you through life-changing conversations (because it does).
Bad Habit #9: Treating joy and fun as luxuries
Good Habit: Schedule life-giving activities every week
Not as a reward, as a requirement. Play is productive for your soul.
Bad Habit #10: Waiting until burnout hits to make changes
Good Habit: Regularly evaluate and adjust your workflow
Take inventory of what’s working—and what’s not—before your body forces you to.
Final Thought: You Matter Too
You are not just a vessel for other people’s healing. You’re a human being who also needs care, rest, connection, and meaning. The better you care for yourself, the better you’ll serve your clients—and the longer you’ll sustain this work you love.
If you’re looking for more ways to transform your practice and transform clients’ lives, you should look into The Intensive Method (TIM). Download our TIM Handbook to learn more.
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