307: Unpacking Burnout & the Pressure to Always Do More - with Dr. Sumi Raghavan, Clinical Psychologist & Former Psychology Professor

Dr. Sumi Raghavan is a cross-cultural clinical psychologist and former psychology professor who works with adults dealing with everything from trauma to burnout and chronic stress.  She believes everybody has a culture and strives to be affirming and curious in her work.  Beyond psychotherapy, she offers workshops and training to organizations looking to support the mental health and well-being of their staff.  She combines her academic experience with her clinical skills to help people build resilience and learn true self-care.  

She can be found at www.drsumiphd.com, and on Instagram at @DrSumiPHD.  When she's not working, she's a proud rebel perfectionist with many hobbies that she does badly, a reader of beach books year round, and a parent of two wonderful humans who keep her own her toes.

In this episode, we discuss misconceptions around burnout, including how it's more than long hours or being “tired.” We explore how burnout can include emotional, physical, and cultural aspects, and how it can shaped by the systems we live in, the identities we hold, and the messages we’ve taken on about productivity and worth.

Overall, we explore burnout through a culturally competent lens. We discuss how COVID-19 reshaped our capacity and expectations, visible and invisible symptoms of burnout (fatigue, cynicism, decreased effectiveness, emotional numbness), and how capitalism reinforces overworking, self-sacrifice, and guilt around rest. We also touch on the role of identity, family expectations, and cultural narratives. Dr. Sumi also shares how workplace dynamics can make burnout harder to name.

We also unpack what burnout feels like day-to-day, not just what textbooks and social media posts say. 

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WEBSITE: www.drsumiphd.com

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