The Myths & Moments of Burnout in Allied Health with Nicole de la Perelle

Episode 21:

I’m really glad you’re here because today’s episode hits that place many of us settle into without even realising… a quiet burnout. Enough to feel tired, a little despondent, maybe like you’ve lost your spark. I had Nicole de la Perelle from Encourage OT on, and together we lean into what burnout actually looks like.. its early whispers, and what we, especially as practice owners, can do before it becomes the roar. This one’s honest, hopeful, and full of practical stuff.

What We Covered:

• Breaking down what burnout really is: exhaustion, cynicism/negativity, and reduced professional efficacy.
• Nicole’s own journey into recognising burnout (thanks to an art therapist) and how hard it was to admit.
• Common myths & misconceptions in allied health: such as it’s all-or-nothing (you’re burnt out or you’re fine), it’s a personal failing (“if only I worked harder or was better”) and generational myths (“Millennials/Gen Z are soft” etc.)
• The stages of burnout, from early warning (“whispers”) to full burnout, and how often we mislabel those early stages.
• The factors beyond hours & caseload that contribute: job demands vs resources, workplace culture, feeling heard/seen, connection, supervision/mentorship, recognition.
• Isolation: even people surrounded by clients or in teams can feel isolated, especially if they’re the only one doing certain tasks or working remotely / alone.
• What practice owners can stop doing to reduce burnout risk in their teams!!! Such as being defensive about feedback, waiting until something is “big” before acting, and ignoring small boundary creep
• What practice owners (and individuals) can start/keep doing, such as leaning into small changes: firm boundaries, carving out time for connection, rest, hobbies or small joy things, making connection points in the workplace: team lunches, welfare sessions, being intentional about checking in
• Recognising that rest (weekends, holidays) shouldn’t feel like the only way to recover — if you need those just to make it through, something is off.

Metaphors that stuck:

• “Whisper” vs “scream” stages of burnout
• Firefly: glowing by gathering from environment, turning on/off light, sustaining glow
• Pouring from an empty cup vs pouring from overflow

Thanks for going through this one with us. If anything here hit home… maybe you thought, “Yeah, that’s me… and I’ve dismissed it too long” , then this is your moment to lean in. Try one small shift this week: maybe it’s a boundary, maybe it’s checking in with someone, maybe it’s re‑instating that team lunch spot.

If you want more support, Nicole’s work is GOLD! And if you ever need someone to bounce ideas off, reach out. You are not alone in this, and you do deserve to feel connected, supported, and less burdened.

Resource list courtesy of Nicole:

• Sydney Burnout Measure. https://www.naturallywith.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sydney-Burnout-Measure-Questionnaire.pdf
• Utrecht Work Engagement Scale https://www.wilmarschaufeli.nl/tests/
• Job Resources and Demands Model https://www.wilmarschaufeli.nl/publications/Schaufeli/476.pdf and application in practice to NDIS space (as an interesting read!) https://nds.org.au/images/events/Banners_2022/BETA_NDIS_Workforce_Findings_Webinar_slides.pdf
• 5 Language of Appreciation at Work book https://www.appreciationatwork.com/books/5-languages-appreciation-workplace/

How to work with Nicole:

• Mentoring and supervision: https://encourageot.com/
• Burnout Course: https://encourageot.com/course/
• Workplace training: https://encourageot.com/