GITNUXREPORT 2025

Therapist Burnout Statistics

Half of therapists experience burnout, affecting emotional health, job satisfaction, and retention.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Approximately 50% of therapists experience burnout at some point in their careers

Statistic 2

A survey found that 70% of mental health professionals report emotional exhaustion as a major issue

Statistic 3

Burnout rates among therapists are higher than many other healthcare professionals, with some studies citing up to 60%

Statistic 4

Nearly 65% of therapists have considered changing careers due to burnout

Statistic 5

Emotional exhaustion is the most common symptom reported by burnt-out therapists, with 85% indicating significant levels

Statistic 6

Therapists working more than 40 hours a week report burnout rates of about 55%

Statistic 7

Therapists in private practice report lower burnout rates (around 40%) compared to those in institutional settings

Statistic 8

Secondary trauma affects nearly 35-50% of therapists, contributing to burnout

Statistic 9

60% of therapists report feeling emotionally drained at the end of the workday

Statistic 10

Nearly 40% of therapists report feeling overwhelmed by administrative work, which contributes to burnout

Statistic 11

Female therapists report higher burnout levels (around 52%) than male therapists (around 42%)

Statistic 12

Burnout is associated with a 20% decrease in job satisfaction among mental health professionals

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Therapists practicing less than 10 years report a burnout rate of approximately 48%

Statistic 14

About 45% of therapists report experiencing impaired empathy due to burnout, adversely affecting client care

Statistic 15

Therapists with higher caseloads tend to report burnout scores 15% higher than those with manageable loads

Statistic 16

30% of licensed therapists have reported contemplating leaving the profession because of burnout

Statistic 17

The incidence of burnout among school counselors exceeds 55%, according to recent studies

Statistic 18

Burnout is correlated with increased absenteeism among therapists, with rates up to 25% in some studies

Statistic 19

Many therapists report that inadequate supervision or mentorship correlates with higher burnout, around 40%

Statistic 20

Approximately 50% of therapists experience symptoms of depression or anxiety at work largely due to burnout

Statistic 21

Therapists working in urban settings report higher burnout rates (about 55%) compared to those in rural areas

Statistic 22

Job-related stress accounts for nearly 70% of burnout cases among counselors, according to some research

Statistic 23

Burnout is linked with a 25% increase in intention to leave the profession among therapists

Statistic 24

Approximately 62% of mental health professionals report experiencing emotional exhaustion at least weekly

Statistic 25

Therapeutic burnout contributes to higher turnover rates, with some clinics experiencing 20-30% annual staff turnover

Statistic 26

Burnout symptoms are present in more than 45% of new therapists within their first five years of practice

Statistic 27

Cognitive and emotional fatigue are common among burnt-out therapists, affecting their clinical judgment

Statistic 28

Nearly 50% of therapists report feeling detached from their work due to emotional exhaustion

Statistic 29

Therapists working over 50 hours per week have an 80% higher risk of burnout symptoms

Statistic 30

55% of therapists report feeling "emotionally drained" daily, significantly impacting their work quality

Statistic 31

Burnout among therapists is linked to increased errors in clinical judgment approximately 20%, according to some studies

Statistic 32

Therapists with less than 5 years of experience report burnout at a rate of 54%, higher than their more experienced counterparts

Statistic 33

The prevalence of compassion fatigue among therapists is around 40%, directly related to emotional exhaustion

Statistic 34

65% of therapists experience burnout symptoms intermittently throughout their careers, with some periods of recovery

Statistic 35

Burnout is significantly associated with increased use of maladaptive coping strategies like avoidance or substance use, in approximately 30% of cases

Statistic 36

Many organizations report that providing regular supervision and peer support reduces burnout levels by up to 25%

Statistic 37

Chronic stress from therapy practice can lead to physical health issues in therapists, including hypertension and fatigue

Statistic 38

Approximately 35% of therapists experience physical health issues like headaches or sleep disturbances related to burnout

Statistic 39

Over 40% of therapists report feeling inadequately trained to manage compassion fatigue and burnout, impacting their self-care strategies

Statistic 40

Only 30% of therapists feel adequately supported by their organizations, which correlates with burnout levels

Statistic 41

Organizational support and perceived autonomy are negatively correlated with burnout levels, with correlation coefficients of -0.45 and -0.40 respectively

Statistic 42

High caseloads are associated with a 30% increase in burnout risk among mental health therapists

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Approximately 61% of burnout cases among therapists are linked to workload and work environment issues

Statistic 44

The correlation between workload and burnout severity is strongest among therapists working in outpatient clinics, with a correlation coefficient of 0.50

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Key Highlights

Approximately 50% of therapists experience burnout at some point in their careers
A survey found that 70% of mental health professionals report emotional exhaustion as a major issue
Burnout rates among therapists are higher than many other healthcare professionals, with some studies citing up to 60%
Nearly 65% of therapists have considered changing careers due to burnout
Emotional exhaustion is the most common symptom reported by burnt-out therapists, with 85% indicating significant levels
Therapists working more than 40 hours a week report burnout rates of about 55%
Therapists in private practice report lower burnout rates (around 40%) compared to those in institutional settings
Secondary trauma affects nearly 35-50% of therapists, contributing to burnout
60% of therapists report feeling emotionally drained at the end of the workday
High caseloads are associated with a 30% increase in burnout risk among mental health therapists
Nearly 40% of therapists report feeling overwhelmed by administrative work, which contributes to burnout
Female therapists report higher burnout levels (around 52%) than male therapists (around 42%)
Burnout is associated with a 20% decrease in job satisfaction among mental health professionals

Did you know that nearly 50% of therapists wrestle with burnout at some point in their careers, with the distress impacting everything from job satisfaction to client care?

Burnout and Emotional Exhaustion

Approximately 50% of therapists experience burnout at some point in their careers
A survey found that 70% of mental health professionals report emotional exhaustion as a major issue
Burnout rates among therapists are higher than many other healthcare professionals, with some studies citing up to 60%
Nearly 65% of therapists have considered changing careers due to burnout
Emotional exhaustion is the most common symptom reported by burnt-out therapists, with 85% indicating significant levels
Therapists working more than 40 hours a week report burnout rates of about 55%
Therapists in private practice report lower burnout rates (around 40%) compared to those in institutional settings
Secondary trauma affects nearly 35-50% of therapists, contributing to burnout
60% of therapists report feeling emotionally drained at the end of the workday
Nearly 40% of therapists report feeling overwhelmed by administrative work, which contributes to burnout
Female therapists report higher burnout levels (around 52%) than male therapists (around 42%)
Burnout is associated with a 20% decrease in job satisfaction among mental health professionals
Therapists practicing less than 10 years report a burnout rate of approximately 48%
About 45% of therapists report experiencing impaired empathy due to burnout, adversely affecting client care
Therapists with higher caseloads tend to report burnout scores 15% higher than those with manageable loads
30% of licensed therapists have reported contemplating leaving the profession because of burnout
The incidence of burnout among school counselors exceeds 55%, according to recent studies
Burnout is correlated with increased absenteeism among therapists, with rates up to 25% in some studies
Many therapists report that inadequate supervision or mentorship correlates with higher burnout, around 40%
Approximately 50% of therapists experience symptoms of depression or anxiety at work largely due to burnout
Therapists working in urban settings report higher burnout rates (about 55%) compared to those in rural areas
Job-related stress accounts for nearly 70% of burnout cases among counselors, according to some research
Burnout is linked with a 25% increase in intention to leave the profession among therapists
Approximately 62% of mental health professionals report experiencing emotional exhaustion at least weekly
Therapeutic burnout contributes to higher turnover rates, with some clinics experiencing 20-30% annual staff turnover
Burnout symptoms are present in more than 45% of new therapists within their first five years of practice
Cognitive and emotional fatigue are common among burnt-out therapists, affecting their clinical judgment
Nearly 50% of therapists report feeling detached from their work due to emotional exhaustion
Therapists working over 50 hours per week have an 80% higher risk of burnout symptoms
55% of therapists report feeling "emotionally drained" daily, significantly impacting their work quality
Burnout among therapists is linked to increased errors in clinical judgment approximately 20%, according to some studies
Therapists with less than 5 years of experience report burnout at a rate of 54%, higher than their more experienced counterparts
The prevalence of compassion fatigue among therapists is around 40%, directly related to emotional exhaustion
65% of therapists experience burnout symptoms intermittently throughout their careers, with some periods of recovery
Burnout is significantly associated with increased use of maladaptive coping strategies like avoidance or substance use, in approximately 30% of cases
Many organizations report that providing regular supervision and peer support reduces burnout levels by up to 25%

Burnout and Emotional Exhaustion Interpretation

With nearly half of therapists teetering on the brink of burnout—often due to overwhelming workloads, emotional fatigue, and administrative burdens—it's clear that even those dedicated to healing others need a little more institutional support to prevent their own disillusionment and preserve the art of empathetic care.

Impact on Therapists' Well-being and Careers

Chronic stress from therapy practice can lead to physical health issues in therapists, including hypertension and fatigue
Approximately 35% of therapists experience physical health issues like headaches or sleep disturbances related to burnout
Over 40% of therapists report feeling inadequately trained to manage compassion fatigue and burnout, impacting their self-care strategies

Impact on Therapists' Well-being and Careers Interpretation

Even as therapists dedicate themselves to healing others, a troubling 35% endure burnout-induced health issues, and over 40% feel unprepared to combat compassion fatigue, highlighting a paradox where caring deeply can come at a significant physical and professional cost.

Organizational Support and Work Environment

Only 30% of therapists feel adequately supported by their organizations, which correlates with burnout levels
Organizational support and perceived autonomy are negatively correlated with burnout levels, with correlation coefficients of -0.45 and -0.40 respectively

Organizational Support and Work Environment Interpretation

With only 30% of therapists feeling sufficiently supported, it's no surprise that burnout looms—proving that organizational backing and autonomy are the antidotes, not just optional perks, in keeping mental health professionals resilient.

Workplace Conditions and Caseloads

High caseloads are associated with a 30% increase in burnout risk among mental health therapists
Approximately 61% of burnout cases among therapists are linked to workload and work environment issues
The correlation between workload and burnout severity is strongest among therapists working in outpatient clinics, with a correlation coefficient of 0.50

Workplace Conditions and Caseloads Interpretation

With over 60% of burnout linked to workload and a 30% increased risk tied to high caseloads, mental health therapists—especially in outpatient clinics—are essentially running on empty in a system that demands more while giving less, highlighting an urgent need for structural change.