If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve had days when the thought of one more therapy session, progress note, or IEP meeting feels like too much. You’re not alone—and you’re not weak for feeling that way.
You might be experiencing the early signs of burnout, and identifying them early can make all the difference.
In last week’s post, we defined burnout as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been successfully managed. This week, we’re diving into the warning signs—what burnout can actually look and feel like in a speech-language pathologist’s day-to-day life.
Recognizing these early symptoms can help you take action before things get worse.
Emotional Exhaustion
“I’m just so tired. All. The. Time.”
This is often the first sign of burnout—and one of the easiest to dismiss. We chalk it up to a busy week or a tough caseload. But when emotional exhaustion becomes chronic, it’s time to pay attention.
As described by Verywell Mind, emotional exhaustion is a state of feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally depleted. For SLPs, this might show up as:
- Feeling like you’re constantly “running on empty”
- Struggling to focus or find energy for planning therapy
- Dreading the start of each workday
- Being irritable or short-tempered with coworkers or family
Even when you technically have time to rest, true emotional exhaustion leaves you feeling like rest is never enough.
Depersonalization (Cynicism or Detachment)
“I just don’t care anymore.”
This stage is especially alarming because it conflicts with the very reason many of us entered the field…we care deeply. CORP-MSL0 (SPMP) explains depersonalization as a defense mechanism. It is a way to emotionally distance ourselves from the demands of the job. But that distance can show up as:
- Becoming cynical or sarcastic about students, clients, or coworkers
- Feeling indifferent or numb during therapy sessions
- Losing your sense of empathy
- Thinking, “Why even bother?”
This sense of detachment is often the mind’s way of protecting itself—but over time, it erodes our connection to the people we serve and the purpose behind our work.
Reduced Personal Accomplishment
“I used to be good at this. Now I’m just getting by.”
When burnout starts to take hold, it’s common to experience a decline in confidence and motivation. According to SELF Magazine, this stage is marked by a sense of ineffectiveness or failure, even if the reality doesn’t match that perception.
For SLPs, this might sound like:
- “I’m not helping anyone.”
- “My therapy isn’t making a difference.”
- “I’ll never catch up on documentation.”
- “Everyone else seems to be handling things better than I am.”
This lack of fulfillment can chip away at our professional identity and make it harder to feel pride in our work, even when we’re doing good things every day.
Why Early Recognition Matters
Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It builds slowly, layer by layer, as demands pile up and the joy we once felt starts to fade.
By learning to spot the signs early, we can take steps to protect our energy, ask for help, and create a more sustainable way of working. The sooner we respond, the easier it is to reverse the pattern before it becomes overwhelming.
Ask Yourself:
- Have I been feeling unusually tired, irritable, or unmotivated?
- Do I find myself emotionally checked out during sessions?
- Am I losing confidence in my abilities as an SLP?
If you answered yes to one or more, you’re not alone and you’re not failing. You’re likely dealing with the real, human impact of a demanding profession.
And that’s something we can do something about.