u/Willing_Gas_6742

Might sound really crazy as it did to me when I first pondered doing it but I recently found out that i excel with two ten hour back to back days and five days off.

It sounds crazy but I have ADHD and find that when I’m locked in for the day I can stay locked in and keep my stamina up. What’s been burning me out is feeling like I have no days off because when I have just three clients scheduled it feels like it consumes my entire day and I can’t focus on anything else.

I also found that I do the two ten hour days and spend the third day doing all the notes but it feels chill knowing I have four days off after that to rest and focus on other things. I think this works really well because I have adhd and just wanted to throw it out there for other providers who would consider it. I experimented with it slowly.

For context, fully licensed LCSW clinician in the field for 8 years.

I have built a full weekly practice of an average of 25 clients weekly. I have longer term clients for the most part.

While I am actively aware that I remain good at my job, I have recently found myself so annoyed at everything.I drafted up an email today I was so close to sending to all clients on my caseload essentially saying for personal reasons I need to take a step back at the end of the month and will be working on the referral process with all clients… I stopped myself and said let me get through this work day and sleep on it. Still feel that way but I’m committed to finishing the work week.

I’m just so scared. You all know how much time and effort goes into building a caseload and I don’t want to start over with no plan. I feel so trapped because I’ll BE DAMNED if I do a salary therapy job where they work you to the bone but I also feel so trapped with an MSW and that I really can’t make money elsewhere. I need to take a step back from patient care but I don’t even know where to begin.

It just feels like too much. I’m burnt out beyond belief. No break will save me from the burn out because something structural needs to change but no pathway is without some form of pain.

I am a fully licensed clinician and I have worked in multiple settings throughout my career (crisis work, case management, CMH) but I remained doing direct outpatient therapy throughout the entire time with a group practice initially and then on my own in solo pp.

The biggest data point for me as it relates to burn out is… drum roll please 🥁: intakes. Yes, I know sounds obvious on the surface but I just wanted to share a tid bit others may relate to.

I was struggling with burnout bad leading up to the end of 2025 and decided to stick to caseload of 15-18 long term clients going into the new year. No new intakes. I made less money of course but from Jan to April I felt soooooo good and had little to no burn out and I was so present in every session.

May rolled around and I decided to open up my slots again and had poor boundaries and guess what? I am hating everything again lol. Managing all the new cases (personalities, stories, etc) has truly drained me once again. Also another point, please DO 15 MINUTE PHONE CONSULTS. It will save you so much time and energy knowing right away if you’re a good fit for the client or not.

Point being, don’t be like me and have really really strong boundaries regarding how many new clients you take on quickly. I just wanted to share this because now when I need to increase my caseload for whatever reason, I am so strategic about opening up one slot and adjusting for two weeks before potentially deciding to open up another. Just my two cents nobody asked for. This might feel like captain obvious to some of course.

I know it’s not a big deal or the end of the world as most buyers can see I’ve been pretty consistent. It’s just annoying lol. There was nothing left in the review besides the rating. I was considering reaching out and asking what could have been better but I think it’s better if I just leave it. Thoughts?

Today, I received some unfortunate news regarding a financial situation and I’m currently in talks with the insurance company for them to hopefully cover it. I’m completely discombobulated and trying to be present in sessions today. ETA: this is a personal health insurance issue in which my health insurance doesn’t want to cover a huge expense.

I found that I put my phone on do not disturb and was able to be a bit distracted by the situation and focus on my first two clients but I was locked back into my email notifications to see if there were any updates right as the sessions ended. I have four more today..

I’m trying the expansion of thought in order to know I’m going to be okay but it’s just so hard rn in the moment. Just looking for some advice/support.

Yesterday after I wrapped up sessions, I returned a FaceTime to two very close friends from undergrad who were physically together at the time and I haven’t verbally talked to them since college (only via text and memes) yet we’ve remained close.

I felt like I was so cautious of how I said things being so in tune with what questions can strike up certain emotions. It was overall a good catch up chat for 30 minutes but I left it over thinking and over analyzing my communication patterns. It’s like I am constantly torne between the real me and professional me with anyone in my life who is not a completely vulnerable and intimate relationship or a superficial relationship I don’t care about. It’s that middle ground where I feel this high level of insecurity.

I don’t know if anyone can relate. I just left the meeting wanting to cry because I’m like is there something seriously wrong with me now that I over analyze everything in communication. Btw these are great people and didn’t do anything to make me feel that way it’s literally all in my brain!

I have five really really expensive cards I want to send in because I’m craving those pristine 10 slabs and do you think it would be a bad idea if I printed out screenshots of the digital grading I received on each one? Like do you think it might rub the grader the wrong way? I kind of just want to show like these are most likely pristine 10s please don’t screw me but I’m scared lol. Literally never sent cards in before to get graded.