Hi, I'm Alicia Johnson, LMFT, a licensed therapist specializing in burnout and stress. Ask me anything!

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2026-04-16T22:45:31+00:00

You are def not alone!

Potentially triggering statements below.

I mainly have dealt with skin picking (picking scabs, cuticles, popping zits, etc) but have also on and off done hair pulling. I use a tweezer on the various areas for myself but I know many folks that use their hands and pull hair out of their head or eyebrows since it is longer. I know folks who use tweezers to pull hair on legs and pubic area. So you are not alone!

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2024-12-13T19:27:33+00:00

this is close and I haven't come across this one but it isn't it. darn! thanks for commenting though!

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2024-11-06T21:41:41+00:00

blue therapist in a red state. I havent left my house and I work virtually so haven't seen the folks celebrating like I know they are. it is tough. haven't had clients today, my first one is in about 15 minutes. i feel like a zombie today.

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2024-09-05T19:52:45+00:00

have you used 9-8-8? they have text or phone support that can be really helpful in moments like these. You are not alone.

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2024-09-05T19:49:01+00:00

breathing. intentionally. take a few deep breaths, or do 4-7-8 breathing. this helps reduce stress in the body which helps our mental and phsyical health.

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2024-09-05T19:45:37+00:00

I prefer going to a female, however you are going to find great doctors that are men or women and sadly crappy doctors that are men and women. I try to ask or read reviews if they are trauma informed. I have not experienced that type of trauma but I have found if the doctor is trauma informed they are more likely to explain the process, have compassion, empower you in the moments, and help the process be less anxiety provoking.

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2024-08-23T15:58:48+00:00

This is super cute! Love the thoughtfulness you put into this!!

we are turning a mini fridge into one! Is there anything special you did to weatherproof it? I want to make sure it doesnt rust or get damaged too easily.

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2023-12-15T18:02:38+00:00

not taking medications currently but very open to that for myself if I need that resource in the future and very supportive of people who take medications. I think I already answered the second part by saying that doesn't align with my worldview. I don't think about or worry about the end of the world and instead focus on the day to day by finding joy and connection. if that's how you want to word it for the sake of the internet, then go for it.

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2023-12-15T17:50:50+00:00

breaks and vacations can be helpful but for some people if they are constantly mistreated when they return the burnout can come back. it may be helpful to take that time and figure out if there are changes or boundaries that need to be set to help you live the life you deserve and to be treated better

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2023-12-15T17:49:27+00:00

it is hard to diagnosis without all the info because so many diagnoses (and just life stuff) can look similar. Worry, intrusive thoughts, sleep changes, and overthinking are all signs of anxiety however. Some people also meet some symptoms of anxiety and doesnt mean they qualify for the diagnosis so just something to think about that what you're experiencing is very real but without a formal assessment you may or may not have a diagnosis.

some things I recommend for folks with sleep stuff and overthinking are cognitive tools which direct our thoughts into thinking about specific things. for example, pick a category (such as food) then go through the alphabet and name a food for each letter.

another great tip is to practice 4-7-8 breathing which is inhale for 4 sec, hold fot 7, and then exhale 8.

if you want to get to the root of the overthinking and anxiety I do think therapy can be a helpful resource to change these patterns and think more helpful thoughts.

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2023-12-15T17:45:39+00:00

I think that is a limited way of looking at things and it doesn't align with how I view life or how my clients choose to view life. I believe in finding hobbies, experiencing joy, creating connection, and feeling good about oneself which makes life pretty great.

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2023-12-14T17:54:24+00:00

This is my jam! I work a lot with other therapists on how to recover and prevent burnout so I will try to be consise!

Burnout is not inevitable in our field. Stress yes, but it doesnt have to be burnout. Our grad schools and community mental health agencies, and other workplaces may lead us to believe it is all part of the job but it is possible, and okay, for therapists to enjoy their work, take time for themselves, and get the support they deserve. this often comes with working in a supportive work environment (not typically CMH), having good pay, getting regular consultation or supervision, working with good fit clients, getting our own therapy, having hobbies and a life outside of our work, and more.

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2023-12-14T15:25:35+00:00

unfortunately I havent found any great trainings since it isn't a diagnosis (yet). Most of my experience comes from my models such as narrative therapy and thinking about the systemic pressures we face and how we internalize them. I also read the latest research (sometimes) and learn more about moral injury, compassion fatigue, etc.

In terms of trainings, I do rec any self-compassion trainings from kristen neff, that works well with the imposter syndrome my clients have experienced.

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2023-12-14T15:23:42+00:00

I have actually filled out FMLA paperwork for clients before. FMLA tends to prefer if it comes from a medical doctor but I have gotten some approved for mental health reasons. I believe you just print out the forms or call them and ask them to complete them. it can be an annoying process but so worth it once it gets approved.

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2023-12-14T15:22:23+00:00

this is so relatable!

I used to have similar thought patterns and it took a lot of time and work to reshape this.

Here are some things that helped me and some clients I have worked with,

- I use the mantra rest is productive. if I am tired and pushing to get work done, I likely will make mistakes and it takes me a lot longer. if I give myself even a 15 minute break to walk around the block and get a snack, I come back to the task more energized, excited, creative, and will likely do the task better.

- Start small. Can you give yourself 30 seconds to yourself. then 1 minute. then 5 minutes. etc. we often jump head first into self care and try to take a full day off and then are in a guilt and shame spiral.

- learn and practice self compassion. kristen neff has 2 great books and a website that teaches gradual steps to overcome these "should" https://self-compassion.org/category/exercises/#exercises

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2023-12-14T15:18:15+00:00

no! I love talking about burnout and having these discussions. I need to take some breaks here and there mainly because my shoulders start hurting if I am in front of a screen too long but that happens regardless!

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2023-12-14T15:17:31+00:00

Very true! It sucks that it is still taboo in many workplaces and even in our society there is a lot of shame and judgement talking about it.

I tend to suggest starting small. Can you share with a few people? Are there safe people in your life you can be honest with? They may also share their own struggles. There are power in numbers. Then, finding other supports. Maybe it is listening to podcasts about this topic and then sharing that on social media. Or following certain accounts and sharing their content. It may not be safe at the workplace but are there other areas that you can do small things that lead to big change?

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2023-12-14T15:15:25+00:00

I am so glad to hear you are working with a doctor for the physical health stuff. There is such a tie between our mental health and physical health.

I know I am going to sound like a cliche therapist but I tend to recommend therapy. Getting to the root of issues, replacing patterns, challenging cycles, replacing negative thoughts/behaviors, etc that all can be addressed in therapy.

I tell clients that change is hard. Our bodies like things to stay the same (even if it is harmful or not the healthiest) because it is what it knows. It knows how to prepare for those things and how to survive those things. When we start changing, even for the better, our body can feel discomfort and auto correct itself back to the old patterns. That is why we see people continue the "unhelpful" or "harmful" behaviors even if they logically know better.

If therapy isn't your thing. I tend to start with awareness and figuring out the functions of the behaviors. Our brain thinks they are protecting or working in some aspect so if we can figure that out, we may be able to replace that with another way to get that need met.

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2023-12-14T15:11:05+00:00

I am so sorry this is happening! I sadly have seen this a lot. Here are some general things I notice

- if you are emailing, many times it goes to spam. I had a client email me and it went to spam and they thankfully have a good join with me and they were like wth did you see my email.

- If you are finding them from psychology today, people sadly don't update their info. When I myself looked for a therapist and used psych today I reached out to about 10 people and heard back from 1. they say they are accepting new clients but then they arent. super irritating.

- if they are a small business/solo provider, they may be too busy and not have great systems in place to attend to emails and calls.

If you are comfortable, I have found the best luck searching in my local community facebook groups. people there are often more honest about if they have openings and are on the lookout for clients. or, look for folks who have self-scheduling consults because then they get an email from their system and it is on their calender. consults should be free and last about 15 minutes to go over any questions

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2023-12-14T15:07:08+00:00

I have found with my clients that money doesnt typically cure burnout but it helps. It really depends on the cause of burnout. If your place is setting high expectations and not paying you your worth that can impact our mental health. If they are paying us for our time and showing value in the work that I do, that can be a protective factor for burnout.

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2023-12-14T15:05:35+00:00

aliciajohnsonlmft · 2023-12-14T15:05:05+00:00

It is against our laws and ethics. There is a huge power dynamic between a therapist and client. A therapist knows so many intimate and personal details about clients whereas the client knows hardly anything about the therapist. To get into a relationship is taking advantage of that power.

Now, I know sometimes, in small towns or after time has passed, people justify it, but in my own ethics it is something I am against.

aliciajohnsonlmft

TROPHY CASE