by Karol Espejo, LCSW-C A few weeks ago my son was lying on the floor of his room, staring at the ceiling. Not on his phone. Not doing anything. Just lying there. And I felt it, that instinctive pull to ask: what are you doing? Why aren't you doing something with your time? I caught myself. Stepped back. Took a breath. Because I recognized exactly where that impulse came from. The phrase I heard growing up “de qué estás cansado”. You don't work to be tired. What do you have

by Shlomit Liz Sanders, LMFT, CCTP Whether you’re in graduate school or about to start working with clients, congratulations on making it this far! Entering the field of therapy is both a professional milestone and a profound responsibility. New therapists step into a role that invites them to witness vulnerability, foster resilience, and support meaningful change in the lives of others. This work requires not only clinical knowledge and technical skill, but also empathy, hu

Therapists spend countless hours supporting others, but who supports the therapist? Connection Matters Isolation is one of the greatest contributors to burnout. Having trusted colleagues, mentors, and peers can make an enormous difference. Ways to Strengthen Your Support Network Join Peer Consultation Groups Sharing experiences with colleagues reminds us that we are not alone in the challenges of this work. Prioritize Professional Relationships Attend trainings, conferences,

Therapists are trained to recognize distress in others, but burnout can be harder to identify in ourselves. 1. You Feel Emotionally Numb You may find yourself disconnected from your work, struggling to feel present, or lacking the empathy that once came naturally. 2. Every Session Feels Exhausting Even clients you love working with may begin to feel overwhelming. 3. You're Constantly Behind Documentation, emails, and administrative tasks pile up, creating a sense that you'll

Mental health professionals spend their days helping others navigate grief, trauma, anxiety, and life transitions. Yet many clinicians feel pressure to carry those burdens alone. The truth is, therapists are human too. The Hidden Cost of Caring Compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, and emotional exhaustion affect therapists across every setting—from private practice to hospitals and community agencies. Add financial stress and increasing caseloads, and many clinicians find th

by Falisha Oser, LMHC-D The mental health workforce shortage in the United States is a symptom of a much bigger problem: retaining therapists to stay in the field. According to a 2025 Motivo whitepaper, 54% of masters-level therapists and social workers never made it to licensure. State regulations further contribute to the mental health workforce shortage by limiting the availability of qualified supervisors for the next generation of pre-licensed clinicians. I am a licensed

by Jeanine Rousso, LCMHC, LPC, ACS TRN founder When we started talking about all the ways we hoped Therapist Resource Network could be impactful for therapists, in addition to financial support, providing free burnout prevention and recovery was high on our priority list. At the beginning of 2026, we launched monthly burnout prevention workshops, and I have been beyond thrilled at both the presentations we have been able to offer and the participants who have showed up to ben

by Zandra Baker, MS, LPC, NCC TRN Co-Founder I’m honored to contribute to the blog this February. Black History Month provides a beautiful opportunity to honor Black contributors throughout society. Every year, I’ve learned about a new field or invention that can be attributed to a Black creative mind. In recent years, thanks largely to social media, it’s also where I tend to learn about a restaurant or corporation led by Black innovator, in a field where that leadership is

by Dr. Naiylah Warren The start of a new year often comes with pressure to do more, be more, or radically reinvent ourselves overnight. This year, I’ve been approaching January a little differently. Instead of sprinting toward big goals, I’ve been focused on getting my foundation in order; the quiet, behind-the-scenes work that makes everything else possible. Less “new year, new me,” and more “new year, same me… just slightly more organized.” As I step in as a voice for TRN

I can't believe that 2025 is coming to a close. I don't know about you, but ever since the pandemic, time moves in a way that I can't always wrap my head around. But looking back at what all has happened with TRN this year helps me recognize how much we have accomplished! Especially since we work on all this outside of our jobs, volunteering time and energy to this important project. Here are a few highlights: *We have filled 18 grants this year, making a total of 21 grants s

by Kristi Harrison, PhD, LMFT As the Northern Hemisphere moves from Fall to Winter, many of us are preparing for colder weather while also witnessing the unusual weather patterns that are becoming our new, tumultuous normal. While weather has always been a reality in our practice as therapists, the effects of weather are undeniably changing. On one hand, telehealth has allowed us to work comfortably indoors, sometimes without braving the weather at all. On the other hand, we

After nearly two years into our work to support therapists, and our team is growing! We are thrilled to welcome Naiylah Warren and Billy Angelo to our executive board as secretary and treasurer, respectively. In the short time they have been with us, they have both provided some new perspectives and energy to TRN, and we can't wait to see how we grow with them. Here's a bit more about our new board members: When we met with Naiylah, we knew we couldn't have a board full of ju

It might be a bit weird to say, but I feel so grateful when I send out grant acceptance emails. We hear a lot of thank you’s from our...

I had a hard time figuring out what to write about. The world has been so heavy this week, and I felt like a lot of the topics I was...

by Britta March, LMHC-QS As therapists, we often tell our clients that it's okay to fall apart, rest, and tend to their emotions in times of personal need. But what happens when the crisis is our own? Just like our clients, we move through seasons of grief, navigate the heartbreak of breakups and divorce, face illness, and endure periods of deep overwhelm. Yet, when we're the ones unraveling, the pressure to remain steady and available, while showing up and holding space for

I graduated from graduate school 20 years ago…well, 19 years and 11 months to be exact, but who’s counting?! While it seems like just...

Asking for help is not my strong suit. Many people in helping professions really struggle to ask for help after all, WE are the helpers....

by Zandra Baker, LPC Partnering with founder Jeanine to launch Therapist Resource Network was a journey that made immediate sense for me....

Since I was in high school, I have regularly volunteered for a variety of community organizations. I come by it honestly–I remember both...

To date, TRN has been able to provide a total of $3000 in funding to six therapists, all in Western North Carolina who were impacted by...