When Burnout Ends Your Therapy Career: An Interview with Ofra Obejas

The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy

When Burnout Ends Your Therapy Career: An Interview with Ofra Obejas

Curt and Katie speak with Ofra Obejas, LCSW (Retired), about what happens when even the most dedicated therapists reach their limits. After 20 years in practice, Ofra recognized she could no longer sustain the emotional and systemic demands of the work and chose to close her practice with integrity. She shares what burnout really looks like, how unrealistic professional expectations fuel it, and what therapists can do to protect themselves before it’s too late.

About Our Guest: Ofra Obejas, LCSW (Retired)

Ofra Obejas, LCSW Retired, has just closed her practice after 20 years and many letters after her name. Over her career, she provided individual and group therapy to thousands, was on the faculty of a university therapy training program, and presented CEs to hundreds. Despite this clear proof of her expertise, she feels like a failure, a fate she wishes to save newer therapists from.

Key Takeaways for Therapists

• Burnout isn’t a personal weakness—it’s a mismatch between what therapy demands and what clinicians can sustainably give.
• “Self-care” can’t fix systemic overload or chronic emotional depletion.
• Therapists must honor their own limits and values to avoid running out of gas.
• Leaving the field can be an act of integrity, not failure.

Listen to the full conversation and find resources at: mtsgpodcast.com

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Creative Credits

Voice Over by DW McCann
Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano