103. When Everyone Around You Is Burned Out: A Burnout Story with dbtkiki

Burnout Story: Today, I’m joined by Dr. Kiki Fehling (aka @dbtkiki), a psychologist, author, and DBT expert (Linehan board-certified). Kiki shares the burnout story that started in grad school and became impossible to ignore after an unexpected heart attack at 29 during internship.We talk about what happens when your body forces a reckoning, why therapists normalize burnout so hard, and how Kiki ultimately built a career teaching DBT skills outside the therapy room through writing, speaking, and content creation. We also get into the reality of being a clinician “in these internet streets” — ethical gray areas, overwhelm, and why content creation isn’t a quick burnout escape hatch.In this episode:Medical trauma as a catalyst for changeDBT’s “life worth living” question (and what it reveals)The therapist burnout elephant we name but don’t unpackIdentity shifts: quitting, not quitting, and letting it evolveSocial media ethics + boundaries for cliniciansLinks & resources:Dr. Kiki Fehling: https://www.kikifehling.com/Follow Kiki: @dbtkikiAPA social media guidelines (PDF): https://www.apa.org/about/policy/guidelines-optimal-use-social-media.pdfJoin my Therapist Pen Pal list: https://balanced-thunder-281.myflodesk.com/drjenb