Burnout and Faith Fatigue: A Christian Therapist’s Reflections on Healing and Hope
- Diana S Rice
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
August 18th, 2025
By Diana S. Rice, LMHC, CIMHP – Through the Valley Therapy & Transformed Mind Consulting and Coaching
Have you ever been so tired that even sleep, coffee, or a vacation couldn’t touch it?
That’s not just burnout—it’s soul exhaustion. I found myself there this year, somewhere between grief, faith fatigue, and overfunctioning. And as a Christian therapist, I know I’m not the only one—clients, colleagues, even listeners of my podcast have told me the same. If you’ve ever felt that bone-deep tired, you’re not weak and you’re not alone. This is where healing begins.
Bible Verse for Burnout, Renewal, and Christian Counseling
“My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’” – Psalm 27:8
Burnout is one of the most Googled topics in mental health, and for good reason.
Therapists, parents, pastors, professionals—we’re all running on empty. But when burnout collides with grief, faith fatigue, and overfunctioning, the exhaustion feels deeper than just “stress.”
This post is part personal reflection and part healing guide, rooted in my work as a Christian therapist in Florida, consultant, and podcast host—where faith, science, and holistic healing intersect.
If you found this post searching for:
Christian therapist online Florida
Therapist burnout faith fatigue
Faith and mental health podcast
Christian counseling CEUs online
…you’re in the right place.
From Grief to Overfunctioning: When Rest Isn’t Optional
Three months ago, I stepped back from blogging. Not because I had nothing to say—but because grief had taken my voice.
Life didn’t pause. I was still:
Holding space for clients’ trauma in therapy
Podcasting
Moderating and creating Christian mental health panels
Managing two businesses
Navigating my mother’s death and the complexities of blended family love
Her passing was intimate. Her only request was simple: to hear her grandson sing “I Did It My Way.” We honored that wish, and it was sacred.
But instead of resting, I slipped into Martha mode—leading, producing, grieving, organizing, all at once.
If you’ve never heard of “Martha mode,” it comes from the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet to listen and be still, while Martha busied herself with serving and striving. Many of us—especially women, helpers, and second-generation kids raised on performance—fall into this same cycle today. Martha mode looks like constant doing: checking off tasks, caring for everyone else, producing endlessly… all while ignoring the whisper of our own soul that says, “Be still.”
Grief has layers. Months later, while recording Episode 76 with John Acosta, I heard my mother’s voice again: “Ay mi’ja, toughen up.”
But this time, it didn’t cut like judgment like it has so many times before. It came softer—like resilience being passed down through generations.
I whispered back: “Thank you, Mami.” Not for the pain, but for the grit. For the survival.
That moment showed me what I had been missing: grief can carry unexpected gifts. But to notice them, you have to slow down.
And when I finally slowed down, I saw the truth—what I was carrying wasn’t just burnout from overwork. It was soul exhaustion: the weight of loss, responsibility, and expectation all at once.
What Silences the Helper: Media, Trauma, and Boundaries
As a therapist, I’m trained to manage crisis. But when my own nervous system whispered “you’re not okay,” I ignored it. I pushed harder—podcasting, leading webinars, carrying trauma.
Then one evening, my husband and I settled in to watch a show. We chose Animal Kingdom—not the sweet Discovery Channel version, but the gritty, high-adrenaline drama.
As I watched, I realized the reality of these characters—because many of their stories have walked through my office. Oh my word, I thought, I just wanted to relax, not get overstimulated and spend my evening in a psychological challenge of abuse, narcissism, and brokenness. What I saw were people who desperately needed Jesus… and therapy. Ay yi yi.
After just one episode, I was left with nightmares. It gut-punched me with memories of generational trauma. My boundaries cracked. My peace fractured. Sleep wouldn’t come.
That night, I was reminded of something I already knew but had ignored: media is spiritual. What we watch, scroll, and listen to doesn’t just entertain us—it shapes us. It either strengthens peace or fractures it. And in that moment, I knew: protecting my peace wasn’t optional. It was non-negotiable.
That night, I remembered: Peace doesn’t just happen—it has to be protected.
How Overfunctioning Masks Soul Exhaustion
Grief. Marital dynamics. Menopause. Creative labor without pay.
I stayed busy so I wouldn’t have to face my own mess. That’s what helpers do—we overfunction and call it strength.
But underneath, I had to ask myself: why? What part of me was running the show?
Oh, IFS gave me some of the answer. My Manager, Firefighter, and Exiles were cycling through like a revolving door, wearing me down. (If you want to learn more about parts work, check out Episode 59 of The Holistic Counselor Podcast with Dr. Tory Olds.)
And here’s where CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) came in—another tool I’ve taught for years but sometimes forget to apply to myself. I had to challenge the thought patterns driving me: “If I stop, I’ll fall apart. If I rest, I’ll be seen as lazy.” Like so many helpers, I hand out these tools every day but forget that they’re meant for me, too.
So I had to ask: Is it because I’m a woman? A woman of color? A Christian woman? Or is it deeper—being the daughter of an immigrant mother who drilled into me: “I didn’t come to this country for you to be lazy.”
If you’re a second-generation kid, you probably know that line by heart. The unspoken rule is clear: rest equals weakness, productivity equals worth. And so we run ourselves ragged, mistaking exhaustion for resilience.
But I’ve also sat with women across cultures and faith backgrounds who carry the same message, just packaged differently. Marriage, kids, menopause, career changes—every life transition whispers: do more, carry more, be more.
And if you grew up in a high-control religious environment, you know the weight of it.
Proverbs 31 wasn’t encouragement—it was a measuring stick. Womanhood meant perfection, silence, and sacrifice. Saying no was framed as sin. Even intimacy was twisted into obligation instead of choice.
That message leaves no space for rest, no grace for limits, and no room for being human. It can make your body turn against itself—chronic stress, burnout, autoimmune flares, anxiety that never switches off.
But here’s the truth: I was showing up—but not filled. Producing—but not grounded. Even retreating to my refuge in Avery County, NC didn’t fix it. Hurricane Helene had scarred the land, and nature mirrored my heart: wounded, unsteady, moving but off rhythm.
That’s when I realized: I wasn’t just burned out. I was in a season of invisible overfunctioning—where everything on the outside looks “fine,” but inside, your soul is gasping for breath.
And many of you reading this know it well.
Why Burnout Recovery Tools Often Fail
Like many helpers, I reached for old tools that usually worked:
Forcing myself to create content
Using devices like Alpha-Stim
Scrolling social media “for inspiration”
Eating for dopamine
Pretending at routines
None of it worked—because I wasn’t addressing the root.
Here’s the truth: Burnout recovery fails when we keep bypassing our own healing to keep serving others.
What’s Actually Helping: Faith & Holistic Healing Tools
These practices didn’t “fix” me—but they are restoring me:
Reading the Bible in context asking the who, what, where, when, why and how!
Grounding walks with my dog, Bear
Creative work without performance (photography of nature)
Amazing podcast guests who remind me growth is possible
Unhurried meals with safe friends
Ugly, holy tears—grief without censorship
Being with my grandkids without multitasking
Epsom salt baths with essential oils
Sauna, cupping, PEMF therapy, acupressure mats
Massages
Whole foods, supplements, hydration, and rest
Reading books with the phone off in my hammock
Morning breathwork, stretching, and Scripture meditation
Forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) at local parks
Shelling at the beach—because play is medicine
This isn’t a “self-care list.” It’s soul CPR.
👉🏾 What’s on your list right now?
Lessons for Helpers and Therapists
Whether you’re a therapist, ministry leader, or caregiver, these truths apply:
Media is spiritual – what you consume impacts your soul.
Boundaries start within – protect your nervous system, not just your calendar.
Therapists aren’t immune – we must model rest as part of healing.
Grief has no timeline – six months later, I still cry. That’s not weakness.
Silence is productive – stillness is not laziness.
Helpers must unplug – disconnection is a spiritual discipline.
You can rewrite your story – soften where it is safe.
The Faith Fatigue Factor
This isn’t just burnout—it’s also faith fatigue.
When you’ve carried the weight of church hurt, religious expectations, or spiritual disappointment, exhaustion seeps past the body and mind—it hits the soul.
In that place, I needed something deeper than self-care lists or productivity hacks. I needed wisdom that could sit with both pain and mystery. That’s when I found myself drawn again to Ecclesiastes.
Each morning, I return with fresh eyes and ask:
– Who wrote this?
– What’s the context?
– Is this history, poetry, or prophecy?
– How can I live this out more like Jesus?
And here’s the shift: Scripture isn’t an escape—it’s an anchor. It grounds me in God when everything else feels shaky. It invites me to wrestle honestly, to bring my questions to Him without guilt or shame. Scripture was always meant to be a mirror for the soul—not a weapon to control people or gain power.
The Bible even warns us that there will be wolves in shepherd’s clothing (Matthew 7:15). That’s why testing teachings and asking questions isn’t rebellion—it’s wisdom. God’s ways are higher than ours, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8–9). If we could fully understand Him, He would cease to be God.
And that’s what faith really is: trusting in what we cannot fully see, surrendering to the mystery, and knowing He remains faithful.
This is why examining your faith—what some call deconstruction or disentangling—can actually be part of rebuilding a stronger relationship with God.
Ask:
– Is this drawing me closer to Christ?
– Is it rooted in love, humility, and truth?
– Or is it rooted in fear, control, and ego?
Because faith in Jesus isn’t meant to be another burden—it’s meant to be a lifeline.
Scriptures That Anchor Me
These are the verses I return to in every season, and they’ve shaped both my podcast and my counseling work:
Psalm 139:14 – “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” → A reminder of worth when burnout lies.
Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” → A call to boundaries that protect the nervous system.
Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” → This verse captures the heart of neuroplasticity and faith working together. It’s also the inspiration behind the name of my second company, Transformed Mind Consulting & Coaching, because true change begins when our thinking is renewed and aligned with purpose.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…” → Surrender in seasons of overfunctioning.
Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” → This verse inspired the name Through the Valley Therapy. It’s my reminder that therapy isn’t just about “fixing”—it’s about walking together through valleys with God’s presence as our guide.
👉🏾 Maybe take one of these verses and just sit with it—no pressure to memorize, no need to force meaning. Let it be what it is in this season: words you can wrestle with, return to, or even question. Scripture isn’t meant to inflate us or condemn us—it’s meant to ground us in truth and remind us we’re not alone. And if you’re unsure about faith right now, that’s okay. Sometimes the smallest step—reading, pausing, even doubting with God—is the doorway back to peace.
🌿 Final Word: From Burnout to Breakthrough
You’re not broken for feeling exhausted. You’re human.
And you are not alone. My mission, whether through therapy, consulting, or the Holistic Counselor podcast, is the same: to help you transform pain into purpose, break stigma, and find peace in Christ.
If you’re ready to take a step forward:
👉🏾 Florida clients: Book a free 15-minute consultation with Through the Valley Therapy for holistic, faith-integrated care.
👉🏾 Therapists & leaders: Build resilience and impact through Transformed Mind Consulting & Coaching — CEUs, trainings, and coaching designed to renew both mind and mission.
👉🏾 Everyone: Subscribe to The Holistic Counselor Podcast for conversations where faith, science, and holistic healing meet.
Now—pause with me. Take a slow breath in… 1…2…3…4. And let it go.
Meditate on Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Even in burnout, you are still deeply loved.
🙏🏾 A Prayer for the Burned-Out Helper
Lord, thank You for reminding us that stillness is not weakness. Teach us to guard our hearts, renew our minds, and rest in Your presence. For every weary soul reading this, breathe fresh peace and remind them they are fearfully and wonderfully made. In Your name, Jesus .... Amen.
In Service, Faith, Hope, and Love,
Diana
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