Why Mental Health Awareness Month Matters for Therapists Too

Let’s be honest.
Mental Health Awareness Month shows up every May with good intentions—and a bit of irony. After all, we therapists are the ones talking about rest, boundaries, and emotional regulation… but how often are we actually living those values in our own practices?

It’s easy to cheer on mental health from the therapist’s chair and forget that we’re also human beings who need the very support we recommend to others.

But here’s the thing nobody’s saying loud enough:
Mental Health Awareness Month is for YOU, too.
Yes, you. The therapist. The burnout survivor. The late-night note-writer. The business owner, biller, scheduler, and social media manager all rolled into one.

So before you overextend yourself creating 31 days of Instagram content (complete with Canva carousels and that one quote from Bessel van der Kolk you post every year), let’s pause and look at what this month could mean for your mental health.

The Problem: Therapists Often Put Themselves Last

In my work as a private practice consultant, I see it all the time. Passionate therapists with overflowing hearts and jam-packed calendars who want to make a difference—but who are also quietly running on fumes.

We’re trained to hold space for others. But how often do we forget to hold space for ourselves?

Just because we can talk about mental health 24/7 doesn't mean we should skip lunch, miss supervision, or run back-to-back sessions for days on end.

This month can be a meaningful opportunity to raise awareness for clients and communities—but only if we also raise our own awareness of how we’re really doing.

Spoiler alert: compassion fatigue doesn’t care if you made a Reel about trauma-informed care.

Why This Month Actually Matters for Therapists

Let’s reframe Mental Health Awareness Month—not as a marketing campaign, but as a mirror.

This is your chance to check in on:

• Your burnout level (on a scale from “I’m okay” to “I fantasize about becoming a barista”)

• Your self-care habits (and whether they still include doomscrolling under the guise of “relaxing”)

• Your boundaries with clients (and yes, that includes your sliding scale policy that’s bleeding you dry)

• Your vision for your practice (Are you building a life you love, or a therapy sweatshop?)

You didn’t start your private practice to feel like a martyr. You started it for freedom, flexibility, and to practice therapy in a way that actually aligns with your values.

Mental Health Awareness Month is the perfect time to course-correct.

You Can Serve and Still Have Boundaries

Here’s a wild idea: you can support mental health in your community without sacrificing your own in the process.

Want to post on social media? Great—pick 1 or 2 key messages you’re passionate about.
Thinking about hosting a workshop? Awesome—partner with someone so it’s not all on your shoulders.
Need to skip all the extras this year and just rest? That’s valid too.

You don’t need a flashy campaign to make a difference. Sometimes modeling good boundaries and a sustainable work life is the awareness your audience needs most.

A Consultant’s PSA: Don’t Forget Your Own Mental Health

As someone who helps therapists grow and manage their private practices, I’ll tell you this: the most successful, sustainable practices are built by therapists who prioritize their own mental health.

Not therapists who post the most.
Not therapists who charge the least.
Not therapists who say yes to everything.

The ones who thrive long-term? They set boundaries. They delegate. They rest. They charge rates that support their lives, not just their caseloads.

So if this month is feeling like “one more thing” on your never-ending list, take it as a signal. You don’t have to carry the entire mental health world on your shoulders to be a good therapist. You just have to start with you.

A Few Encouraging Reminders (Because You Deserve Them)

• You don’t have to be a walking public service announcement this month.

• You don’t have to give everything away for free to prove your commitment to the field.

• You are allowed to say “no” to opportunities that drain you.

• You are also allowed to do nothing “special” for Mental Health Awareness Month and still be an excellent therapist.

(Also, if no one’s told you lately: you’re doing a damn good job.)

TL;DR: Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month by Checking In With Yourself

Whether you run a solo practice or manage a growing group, take a moment this month to ask yourself:

• Am I aligned with my values as a business owner?

• Am I practicing what I preach?

• What would support my mental health right now?

And if the answer is “I have no idea where to start,” that’s okay too. That’s where someone like me—your friendly private practice consultant—can help you figure it out. Because when you take care of your mental health, your practice thrives. And when your practice thrives, everyone wins.

Need support as you build or grow your private practice without burning out?
Check out my private practice consultation services to get customized guidance, whether you're just starting out or ready to restructure your entire schedule.

Related Article: Making Your Practice More Inclusive for Mental Health Awareness Month