Finding your balance this holiday season

The holiday season often arrives with a mix of excitement and pressure. For therapists, this time of year can feel especially intense. You’re managing client schedules, navigating shifting family routines, and handling your own personal to-do lists. It’s easy to feel like you’re running on empty long before the new year arrives. 

This time of year can amplify the physical and emotional weight we carry. You are a steady presence for your clients during a season that can be both joyful and stressful. But who is holding space for you? Whether you’re working with families in ABA or guiding clients through rehab therapy, this season can stretch you thin. Let’s talk about how you can find a sense of harmony by focusing on what you can control: your own well-being and the support you get from others who understand. 

The holiday season and the weight of burnout 

As a therapist, your work is deeply personal. Whether you are helping a child develop a new skill or guiding a client through physical recovery, you pour so much of yourself into their progress. When the holidays roll around, that professional dedication runs headlong into personal obligations. 

Suddenly, you’re juggling session notes, treatment plans, or behavior data with gift shopping and family gatherings—all while trying to maintain consistency for clients when their own worlds are full of seasonal disruption. This constant pull in different directions can quietly drain your energy, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and disconnected. It’s important to ask yourself: how can you show up for others if you aren’t first showing up for yourself? 

A path to harmony through work-life integration 

The idea of perfect “work-life balance” can feel like an impossible standard. A more compassionate and realistic goal is work-life integration—finding a rhythm that allows your professional and personal worlds to coexist without one completely overtaking the other. For clinicians, this is especially critical. Your work often requires you to be emotionally “on” for hours at a time while also being physically present and engaged. 

Here are a few ways to find better integration during the busy holiday weeks: 

• Set intentional boundaries. This is more than just saying no. It’s about deciding ahead of time what you can realistically give. Maybe that means not taking on a new client in December, protecting your evenings by logging off at a set time, or taking your full lunch break away from your desk. Your boundaries protect your energy. 

• Create small pockets of rest. You might not have time for a week-long vacation, but you can build moments of pause into your day. Take ten minutes between sessions to step outside for fresh air. Put on your favorite music during your commute instead of making work calls. These small moments are deposits into your well-being account. 

• Lean into the season in a way that feels good to you. The holidays don’t have to be another source of pressure. Find simple ways to bring joy into your routine. Maybe it’s a festive coffee, a holiday-themed activity you can use in a session, or just taking a drive around town to see the lights. Let the season serve you, not the other way around. 

The power of leaning on your peers 

No one understands the unique challenges of being a clinician better than another clinician. Your peers get the highs of seeing a client make a breakthrough—whether that’s mastering a new word in speech therapy or a skill acquisition goal in ABA—and the lows of a really tough session. They understand the frustration of insurance paperwork and the satisfaction of seeing hard work pay off. This shared understanding is a powerful tool against burnout. 

Peer support is more than just swapping stories; it’s about creating a lifeline. It’s knowing you have someone to call who can offer a fresh perspective or simply say, “I get it, and you’re not alone.” In a field that can sometimes feel isolating, that connection is everything. 

Consider how you can build this support system during the holidays: 

• Schedule a holiday check-in. Organize an informal coffee meetup, either virtually or in person, with a few colleagues. Use the time to connect as people, not just as professionals. 

• Find a mentorship moment. The end of the year is a great time for reflection. Reach out to a mentor or a newer clinician you can support. Sharing your experiences and hearing theirs can be incredibly grounding. 

• Practice collaborative self-care. Suggest a group mindfulness session, a walk during lunch, or even just a shared break where work talk is off-limits. Supporting each other’s well-being strengthens the entire team. 

Your invitation to a more balanced holiday 

This season, you have an opportunity to practice the same compassion and intention with yourself that you offer your clients every day. Finding harmony isn’t about doing everything perfectly; it’s about making small, conscious choices that honor your own needs. 

So, take a deep breath. Give yourself permission to pause, to connect with others who lift you up, and to find moments of rest amid the holiday rush. By taking care of yourself, you ensure you can continue to show up as the dedicated, effective, and compassionate clinician you are. 

What is one small step you will take this week to create a little more harmony in your life?