Ep 23: Burnout with Dr. Amy O'Hana

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Have you ever just felt DONE with work? Maybe what used to fulfill your values and give you meaning just doesn’t anymore. This week on A Coach, a Nutritionist, and an Expert Walk Into a Podcast, Mike and Helena are joined by therapist and burnout expert Dr. Amy O’Hana, licensed professional counselor and Assistant Professor, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, at University of Western States.

In this episode, we delve into the world of burnout—what it is, why it happens, and how it manifests as emotional fatigue, cynicism, and a disconnection between our work and the meaning we derive from it. Dr. O’Hana helps us understand the differences among stress, depression, anxiety, and burnout, highlighting that burnout is always connected to work or vocation—two distinct concepts.

Key topics include:

• The importance of value alignment in career satisfaction and how its loss leads to burnout.
• Recognizing the difference between stress as a stimulus and burnout as a result.
• Identifying the internal and external factors contributing to burnout.
• The critical role of coping mechanisms in managing stress and preventing burnout.
• Practical steps to realign with your values and reconnect with your work’s meaning.

Discover how to find purpose in a job you don’t love and explore the trade-offs between short-term gains and long-term value alignment. Dr. O’Hana provides insights on acknowledging burnout, taking responsibility for your well-being, and making microsteps toward lasting change.

Join us for an introspective journey towards reconnection and learn how to move forward courageously.

Dr. Amy O’Hana is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Oregon and an Approved Clinical Supervisor (CCE). She has been a full-time counselor educator for 19 years, manages her own private practice and has been the director of two counseling training clinics. Her clinical expertise is in ethics; diagnosis and assessment; career and vocational counseling; grief, loss, and adjustment; and clinical training in practicum and internship. She has taught at UWS as a full-time CMHC faculty member since July 2021.

Amy’s research interests are human potential and motivation, Erotic Intelligence (Er-I) (which isn’t necessarily about sexuality), spirit-body-mind integration, and spirituality. She is the author of two published books, When Your Child is Grieving (2019) and Beyond Burnout: What To Do When Your Work Isn’t Working For You (2020). In addition, she has authored or co-authored many other professional publications and presentations, including a website.

Amy is an expert in career and vocational issues, including burnout and secondary traumatic stress (e.g., stress and trauma due to occupation, such as military or first responders). You an find Amy on LinkedIn and www.amyohana.com

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DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, psychotherapist, or other qualified medical professional. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast are the speaker’s own and may not be those of the hosts or CoNut Media LLC; we are not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. Listeners should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.

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1. Ep 23: Burnout with Dr. Amy O'Hana (00:00:00)

2. Mastering Your BS (00:47:38)