Episode 156: Money, Burnout, and Career Transition for Mental Health Workers [featuring Angela Koivula]

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Angela Koivula, psychologist and adjunct instructor at the University of Florida, about navigating financial realities in the mental health profession and its impact on career decisions. Key Takeaways: Financial Planning & Sustainability: Many therapists face significant challenges in planning for retirement due to a lack of resources and knowledge about financial management in the mental health field. The constant need for marketing and client acquisition adds to the financial pressure, making self-care days seem like a luxury. Private Practice Realities vs. Perceptions: The perceived glamour in private practice marketing often hides the tough realities. Many professionals feel conflicted between their values and the demands of running a successful practice. Angela shares her journey of shifting focus during the pandemic, finding lucrative contract work, and educating herself on financial independence to secure a more stable career path. Systemic Issues & Solutions: The mental health profession is fraught with systemic issues like high student debt and low entry-level wages, making the field unsustainable for many. Angela argues for the need to re-evaluate career paths, customize work schedules for better work-life balance, and prioritize debt reduction for true financial freedom. More about Angela: Dr. Angela Koivula, Ph.D. (she/they) is a Licensed Psychologist with over 15 years experience in the mental health field serving individuals, couples, and groups as well as active and retired military personnel and wellness industries. She is a Black and Queer individual on a journey to be her most authentic self in everything she does. Her roots originate in Kansas City, MO, and is a lifelong, die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan! Website: Inclusivewellnessproject.com ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 🎙️Listen to more episodes of the All Things Private Practice Podcast 🎙️Spotify 🎙️Apple 🎙️YouTube Music ▶️ YouTube ✈️ Learn about Retreats 🗨️ Join the free Empowered Escape FB Community 🗨️ Join the free All Things Private Practice FB Community ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Thanks to Our Sponsors: The Receptionist for iPad, & All Things Private Practice + Empowered Escapes 2025 Retreats & Summits! ✨ The Receptionist for iPad Thanks to The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode. The Receptionist offers an iPad list check-in option where clients can scan a QR code to check in, which negates the need for you to buy an iPad and stand. Go to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice and sign up for a free 14-day trial. When you do, you'll get your first month free. And don't forget to ask about our iPad list check-in option. ✨ All Things Private Practice + Empowered Escapes 2025 Retreats & Summits The 2025 retreats and summits are live! This is Patrick Casale from All Things Private Practice. My co-host Jennifer Agee and I have put a ton of planning into these events for next year, and we are excited to welcome you to the following locations. We have a retreat about creating alternative income streams and diversifying revenue from May 17th–22nd in Catalonia, Spain in a beautiful seaside Mediterranean village. We have the second annual Doubt Yourself, Do it Anyway Summit in Edinburgh, Scotland, from July 14th–18th with 13 incredible speakers. We then have a second retreat in Catalonia, Spain, on creating alternative income streams. Next is the Greece, Chania, Crete Leadership Retreat in November 2025. You can find more information at allthingspractice.com and empoweredescapes.com. Travel the world with us, connect, build your businesses, expand, step out of your comfort zone, doubt yourself, do it anyway. We hope to see you in 2025. ✨ Hurricane Relief for WNC communities Donate to Patrick's GoFundMe to help provide urgent aid for WNC communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Visit: atppod.com/wnc