Many of the clients I see struggle with the decision to take time off for their mental health because they work in environments where balance isn’t encouraged or supported, and they’re incredibly hardworking, conscientious people who care deeply about the impact their choices have on those around them.

For people like this, setting and maintaining boundaries can be especially challenging, even when they fully recognize the need to do so. Over time, that ongoing struggle can make it difficult to make meaningful change within the rhythm of daily work life.

Sometimes, taking a short-term leave offers the space to pause and recalibrate. It can give you the opportunity to engage more fully in therapy, deepen your understanding of yourself, and develop more effective coping strategies and support systems.

For many clients, it’s about realizing that if you’re constantly over-functioning at work, you often end up with less energy and presence in other parts of your life. There’s a natural cost to that imbalance. A short-term leave can be the first step toward shifting that pattern — a chance to start showing up for yourself in the same committed, thoughtful way you’ve always shown up for your colleagues.

The best first step you can take is a conversation with your doctor about your mental health struggles. Your doctor is part of your support circle. Clients are often fearful that their doctor won’t fully understand what they’ve been experiencing. That is so, so normal when you’ve been trying to push through burnout. In my anecdotal experience, when your doctor knows you’re doing therapy and are implementing support, they’re eager to play a role in helping you take such positive steps towards self-care and better health.