Stop the Burnout Podcast

Do you find yourself thinking, "It's just easier if I do it myself," or feeling guilty every time you want to say no? If you're constantly helping others do their job, answering work texts on your day off, training new employees, or taking on responsibilities that aren't really yours, you may be over-functioning without even realizing it. In this episode, Dr. Amber Parks explains why over-function...

Most veterinarians focus on salary when reviewing a contract, but the details hidden in the rest of the agreement often have a much bigger impact on stress, job satisfaction, and long-term burnout. In Part II of this contract series, Dr. Amber Parks walks through the clauses and details that deserve your attention before you sign. We’re talking about things like mentorship, job descriptions, PTO,...

Whether you're signing your first employment agreement or renegotiating a long-term position or getting a promotion, your contract can shape far more than your paycheck . In Part I of this two-part series, Dr. Amber Parks breaks down the hidden contract details that can influence your stress levels, workload, compensation, time off, and whether or not you could get penalized for taking time off. F...

Veterinary burnout is often blamed on long hours and difficult cases , but the daily stress many professionals experience comes from something else: people . Dr. Amber Parks shares the three most common workplace challenges she sees repeatedly in coaching clients and has experienced firsthand throughout her veterinary career that play a major role in veterinary burnout. From coworkers who are not...

If you've been fantasizing about leaving veterinary medicine altogether, you're not alone. But before you map out your escape plan, what if the real problem isn't the profession itself, but a burned-out brain and overwhelmed nervous system desperately searching for relief? This episode explores why so many veterinary professionals feel trapped between staying and leaving, how burnout distorts our...

You've taken time off. You've gone to therapy. Maybe you've even changed jobs. So why does burnout keep coming back? We’re exploring a surprising driver of burnout that most high-achieving veterinary professionals never consider. Through the lens of neuroscience, motivation, and a little-known brain structure called the habenula, you'll discover why achievement, ambition, and external validation c...

We’re talking about the hidden “addiction” to urgency that keeps so many veterinary professionals trapped in chronic stress and burnout. Not just veterinary professionals, but high achievers, perfectionists, and neurodivergent brains often rely on pressure, chaos, and last-minute productivity to function, even when it’s exhausting. We’ll explore how this cycle shows up both inside and outside of v...

When one comment, bad interaction , or frustrated client can completely change your mood, it’s usually not about the moment itself. It’s about the weight you’re carrying around other people’s approval. In this episode, Dr. Amber Parks breaks down how external validation quietly fuels burnout in veterinary medicine , from overexplaining and people-pleasing to second-guessing yourself after difficul...

Veterinary medicine can feel emotionally exhausting in ways nobody truly prepares you for. In this candid conversation, veterinarian and colleague Dr. Gunila Pedersen and I explore the hidden realities behind veterinary burnout, including perfectionism, difficult client interactions, leadership challenges, emotional trauma from cases, and the pressure to always “get it right.” Together, we’re shar...

In this episode, Dr. Amber Parks breaks down the 3 biggest myths veterinary professionals believe about healing burnout and why those beliefs may actually be keeping you stuck in the same cycle of stress, exhaustion, and overthinking. From constantly searching for the “right” clinic to relying on self-care strategies and popular “burnout hacks ,” she explains why so many common approaches fail to...

Veterinary medicine has always been a customer-focused industry , and many veterinary professionals are paying the emotional price for it. In this episode, we’re chatting about how client expectations, online reviews, people pleasing, and constant emotional management are contributing to burnout across the profession . We’re talking about the stuff no one wants to talk about, including the growing...

You already know what you need to do: speak up, say “no,” stop taking on everything for everyone else, or have an uncomfortable conversation. But knowing isn’t the hard part…doing it is, especially when fear is quietly running the show. In this episode, we break down the subtle ways you may be sabotaging your confidence and unknowingly fueling your overthinking . You’ll learn how fear keeps veteri...

Have you ever walked into work already dreading the same frustrating situations, feeling like nothing is ever going to change? And worse, you’re convinced that because you’re not a manager or owner, you can’t change it? Many veterinary professionals and high achievers fall into the trap of believing they have no control, which leads to burnout, resentment, and repeating the same exhausting pattern...

Client interactions can make or break your entire day in veterinary medicine, yet no one really teaches you how to navigate them without feeling drained, uncomfortable, or stuck replaying conversations for hours or even days after work. If client communication in vet med feels exhausting or overwhelming, you’re not alone . In this episode, we go beyond generic advice and break down what’s actually...

Have you ever had a client say “no” to your recommendation, received constructive criticism , or been left out of something, and suddenly your whole mood (or week) is wrecked? 😅 That kind of intense reaction doesn’t mean you’re “too sensitive.” It might actually be a brain-based pattern that’s incredibly common in high-achieving humans, neurodivergent and neurotypical people (yes, even the ones w...

Does your workday often involve feeling overwhelmed, mentally exhausted, or stuck in overthinking? In Part II of this neurodivergent series, we move beyond awareness and into practical, real-world strategies you can actually use in clinical practice. Whether you identify as neurodivergent or not, these tools will help you reduce cognitive overload, improve focus, and make your day-to-day work feel...

If you are constantly overthinking, feeling overwhelmed, or stuck in perfectionism , you might assume it is just part of veterinary medicine and the high expectations that come with it. But what if there is more going on beneath the surface? In this episode, I share my personal experience of being diagnosed in my 40s with something I never thought applied to me, only to realize it had been there m...

This episode is a preview of my Vet Reset Masterclass training, where I break down the missing piece in burnout recovery that most veterinary professionals were never taught. If you’ve been trying to manage stress but still feel overwhelmed, overthinking, and mentally exhausted, this will show you why...and what actually works instead. I'm doing another FREE, full masterclass training on Wed. Apri...

In this episode of Stop the Burnout , Dr. Amber Parks sits down with Dr. Kristin Welch, a board-certified emergency and critical care specialist and founder of DVM STAT Consulting , to discuss how teleconsultation is transforming veterinary medicine. They explore how veterinarians can collaborate with specialists in real time, 24/7, to manage complex cases, improve patient outcomes, and reduce the...

In Part II of this imposter syndrome series, we dive into why self-doubt continues to persist for veterinary professionals over the long term, even after gaining more experience, CE, and clinical competence. This episode explores how chronic stress, fear-based patterns, and nervous system responses shape the way you interpret your performance at work. You will learn how to move beyond short-term c...

Imposter syndrome is incredibly common in veterinary medicine, and in this episode, we break down the neuroscience behind it and how chronic stress and burnout amplify feelings of self-doubt, even when you are highly competent. You will learn why more education and experience do not resolve imposter syndrome and how your fight-or-flight response plays a powerful role in how you interpret your perf...

We're getting into the mindset patterns that fuel imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and chronic overthinking in veterinary professionals and other high achievers. You’ll hear real-life examples from clinical practice and learn how common thought loops can quietly intensify stress and emotional exhaustion. Rather than relying on generic positivity, this episode focuses on practical, grounded mind...

In this episode of Stop the Burnout , we’re talking about a rarely discussed contributor to burnout in veterinary medicine: anger. For high-achieving veterinary professionals who deeply care about their patients and teams, anger often gets suppressed in the name of professionalism and empathy. What’s worse is that unprocessed anger doesn’t disappear. It turns into resentment, exhaustion, and chron...

Burnout recovery isn’t always prolonged by a heavy workload, crazy schedules, or a lack of boundaries. Sometimes it is slowed by patterns we do not consciously recognize. In this episode, I share a personal story about how shame showed up for me and how, looking back, it clearly slowed my recovery from burnout without me realizing it at the time. I explain how shame differs from guilt, why it feel...

In the final part (Part III) of this boundaries series, we’re breaking down how veterinary professionals can actually set boundaries without guilt, overexplaining, or burning out. You’ll hear real-life veterinary and personal examples of when boundaries are needed, what they sound like in practice, and exactly what to say to communicate them clearly and professionally, even if you’ve never set one...