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.

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