#102. You Are Not Just Your Job: How to Stop Letting Work Define Your Identity
Are you the one who always says yes? The "go-to" provider who handles the toughest clients, never pushes back on late sessions, and somehow holds it all together?
If so, you’re not alone. Many SLPs, OTs, and PTs fall into the trap of letting their work become their entire identity — especially if you're a high achiever or people-pleaser. But what if your burnout isn’t just about workload… and more about how tightly you’re clinging to your professional role?
This post kicks off a five-part series exploring burnout from a fresh, deeply personal perspective — starting with what happens when your self-worth gets tangled up in your job title.
The Trap of Tying Your Identity to Your Work
You probably entered this field to help people. You care. You’re skilled. You’re passionate. And you’ve likely been praised for all of it.
But here’s the problem: when your worth becomes attached to how helpful, available, or high-performing you are, it’s only a matter of time before you burn out.
You might be:
The one families go to for every question—even outside your scope of practice.
The one admin overbooks because “you can handle it.”
The one coworkers rely on to fix things, clean up messes, or take extra cases.
Sound familiar?
It feels good to be needed and validated… until it doesn’t. That praise-loop can become a cage, keeping you stuck in overwork and self-abandonment.
Ask Yourself: Who Am I at Work… and Who Am I Outside of It?'
Here’s a quick exercise I use with my coaching clients:
1. Identify the role you play at work.Are you the fixer? The overachiever? The one who never says no?
2. Ask: Why does that role feel safe?Is it job security? Being liked? Feeling irreplaceable?
3. Audit your time. Look at your week. How much of your decision-making is based on obligation vs. intention?
4. Define your non-work identity. Outside of work, who are you? Creative? Playful? Reflective? Bold? Now: how often do you honor that version of yourself?
Why Reclaiming Your Identity Is the Key to Real Work-Life Balance
True balance doesn’t start with a better planner. It starts with remembering: you are valuable because you exist — not because of how productive you are.
When you:
1️⃣ Anchor in your values
2️⃣ Set boundaries based on alignment
3️⃣ Honor who you are outside of your credentials
…you begin to create a career that supports your life, not one that consumes it.
And yes, you can still be an incredible SLP, OT, or PT while doing less, saying no, and prioritizing yourself.
“The most powerful version of you knows how to say no — and doesn’t need to earn her worth through overwork.”
Ready to Reclaim Your Identity?
If you're tired of measuring your value in reports written or sessions crammed in, it's time for a new approach.
💬 Let’s talk. Book a free consult and I’ll help you create a career path that honors your values, your energy, and your actual life.