Episode 3: The Weight of Other People’s Stories

In this episode of Both Sides of the Couch, Kari opens up about the unseen emotional and physical toll of holding space for others while managing her own chronic illness. She shares how, early in her private-practice career, she began noticing deep exhaustion, not just from long therapy hours, but from the intensity of listening, empathizing, and carrying others’ pain while masking her own.

Kari reflects on what it’s like to work through migraines, fatigue, and emotional depletion while still showing up as the “best version” of herself for clients, only to crash the moment sessions end. She pulls back the curtain on what emotional labor really means for therapists, and why the line between professional empathy and personal energy can get blurry.

Ultimately, Kari explores how chronic illness, self-employment, and empathy intersect, and how even the most compassionate therapists must intentionally protect their energy. She challenges listeners, therapists and non-therapists alike, to rethink self-care as a daily necessity, not a luxury.

✨ Takeaway: “Think of your energy as a luxury item.” When you treat it that way, every boundary and act of rest becomes an investment in your ability to keep showing up, for yourself and for others.