Support Group Style Discussion - Counselors Suffering From Burnout
Instructions:
Participants will break out into groups of 5-6. There will then be sharing of personal experiences
related to burnout, guided by a series of questions. The purpose of these circles is to provide
relational support and bonding among participants.
Participants should be encouraged to listen empathically, share their own experiences, and find
points of commonality. The goal is not to give advice but to feel heard and connected.
After completing their small-group discussions, participants will have the opportunity to share a
summary of what they talked about with the larger group.
Discussion Questions:
When you think of your burnout, what is the 'weather' like inside right now? (e.g., a fog, a storm,
a drought?)
What do you think contributed to your development of burnout? (work factors, personal factors,
etc.)
What are some things you have done to help prevent burnout in the past?
When you imagine your ideal, burnout-free workplace, what does that look like?
Questions to Ask During a Job Interview - Burnout Prevention
Professional Development & Supervision
● What does the path for clinical growth look like here? Do you offer a dedicated
budget or paid time off for CEUs (Continuing Education Units)?
● How is supervision structured? Will I have a dedicated supervisor? Is supervision time
strictly protected or subject to cancellation if the clinic gets busy?
● How do you approach feedback for new clinicians? Is there a formal evaluation
process, or is it more of an "open door" informal policy?
Autonomy & Scheduling
● How much control will I have over my caseload? Am I able to decline cases that fall
outside my scope of practice or interest?
● What does a typical "productive" week look like? Is there flexibility in how I block
my hours (e.g., four 10-hour days vs. five 8-hour days)?
● How are administrative tasks balanced with clinical hours? Is there designated
"paperwork time" built into the schedule?
Workplace Culture & Boundaries
● How does the leadership team model work-life balance? For example, what is the
expectation regarding responding to emails or texts after 5:00 PM or on weekends?
● In what ways does the organization recognize "wins"? Aside from clinical outcomes,
how do you celebrate the hard work of your staff?
● How do clinicians connect during the day? Is there a shared breakroom or scheduled
time for peer consultation and social interaction?
● What is the policy on "setting limits"? If a clinician feels overextended, what is the
protocol for adjusting their workload?
Pro-Tip for the Interview:
When they answer these, pay close attention to the specificity of their response. "We're like a
family here" can sometimes be code for "we have no boundaries," whereas "We have a policy
that no internal emails are sent after 6:00 PM" shows a tangible commitment to your mental
health.
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