The Conscious Practitioner
#73 Compassion Fatigue vs Burnout: What Every Massage Therapist Needs to Know
Published: 3 March 2025 at 07:00 UTC
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Episode notes
If you’ve ever felt emotionally numb with clients—like you’re just going through the motions—it might not be burnout. It might be something deeper.
Many massage therapists and wellness practitioners assume exhaustion is purely physical or due to overwork. But what if the real reason you feel disconnected in your sessions has more to do with your unprocessed emotions than your workload? Compassion fatigue is often mistaken for burnout, but understanding the difference is essential for preventing long-term depletion and rediscovering fulfillment in your practice.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- The key difference between burnout and compassion fatigue—and why it matters.
- How your unprocessed emotions could be blocking your ability to connect with clients.
- A simple practice to help you rebuild emotional presence and transform numbness into deeper connection.
If you’re ready to understand the hidden dynamics behind your exhaustion and reclaim your ability to care without burnout, listen to the full episode now.
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⏱ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction to Burnout vs. Compassion Fatigue
01:03 Recognizing Emotional Numbness
03:12 Understanding Compassion Fatigue
05:54 The Resonance Effect
08:09 Mapping Your Reactions
10:45 Personal Story: Overcoming Injury
14:43 Actionable Steps for Practitioners
16:35 Key Insights and Conclusion
For massage therapists and wellness practitioners seeking to get unstuck through purpose-driven inner work, this episode explores how wellness professionals can use self-awareness and mind-body connection to overcome burnout, create work-life balance in their wellness business, and build a conscious, holistic healers practice that serves both their wellness center clients and themselves.
