Therapists Need a Break Too! – The Therapeutic Benefits of a Vacation
Why Mental Health Providers Need to Take Vacations Too
The season of summer holidays is upon us – a time that usually brings rest, play, and long-awaited moments in the sun. For many, it’s an opportunity to step away and recharge. But for therapists, taking time off can come with mixed feelings. Alongside the desire for rest, there may be anxiety about how to truly “turn off” our clinical minds, especially when our work involves holding the struggles of people we care about deeply. As clinicians, we regularly remind our clients of the importance of rest, balance, and setting boundaries. Yet many of us struggle to extend the same compassion to ourselves. Whether it’s the weight of clinical responsibility, the fear of disrupting a client’s progress, or the internalized belief that good therapists must always be available, taking time off can feel more like a source of guilt than a path to restoration. But avoiding rest carries real risks both to our well-being and the quality of care we provide. In today’s post, I’m going to explore why taking a vacation is so essential to our life as practitioners.
Compassion Fatigue: A Documented Occupational Hazard
If you’ve ever found yourself feeling unusually irritable, emotionally numb, or dreading a full day of sessions despite loving the work, you’re not alone. Most of us have brushed up against compassion fatigue at some point, even if we didn’t call it by that name. It doesn’t mean you’re burned out or in the wrong field—it means you’re human. Being deeply attuned to others, session after session, requires a great deal of emotional and mental energy. And without enough space to replenish, even the most grounded clinician can start to feel worn thin.
Compassion fatigue is a well-established phenomenon in the mental health literature. First introduced by Charles Figley in the 1990s, it refers to the emotional residue or strain from exposure to those suffering trauma or distress. Studies have since linked compassion fatigue to symptoms such as emotional exhaustion, irritability, reduced empathy, and difficulty maintaining professional boundaries (Figley, 2002; Ray et al., 2013, Journal of Mental Health Counseling).
Unlike burnout, which arises gradually from chronic workplace stress, compassion fatigue can appear more suddenly and is often related to secondary traumatic stress. Therapists are particularly susceptible, especially those working with trauma survivors or high-risk populations. Left unaddressed, compassion fatigue can lead to increased clinical errors, reduced treatment quality, and a heightened risk of leaving the profession.
Though one may need more than a simple vacation to address compassion fatigue (such as supervision or other personal and professional supports), taking time away is certainly an important preventative measure.
The Science Behind Time Off
It’s easy to assume that rest is something we should earn only after pushing ourselves to the brink. But science tells a different story. Time off shouldn’t be a reward for overwork; it’s a vital part of how our brains and bodies stay healthy. Researchers have been studying the impact of vacationing on everything from stress hormones to sleep quality, and the findings are clear: stepping away helps us come back clearer, calmer, and even more effective in our work.
A growing body of psychological research supports the restorative benefits of taking time away from work. A recent American Psychological Association (APA) social media post emphasized that vacation time is associated with “lower stress, improved heart health, better sleep, and even increased productivity.” This statement aligns with research by Dr. Jessica de Bloom, who has extensively studied the health effects of vacations. Her findings show that time off is linked to decreased cortisol levels, reduced burnout symptoms, and improved mood and energy levels (de Bloom et al., 2009, Stress and Health; de Bloom et al., 2013, Journal of Happiness Studies).
Dr. Sarah Pressman, a health psychologist at the University of California, Irvine, has also contributed research showing that psychological well-being—including regular rest and positive experiences—directly influences physical health outcomes such as immune function and cardiovascular health.
Importantly, these benefits are not limited to long vacations. Even brief breaks from clinical work can provide meaningful recovery if structured well and protected from work-related intrusions.
Modeling Wellness for Our Clients
It can feel counterintuitive to step away from clinical responsibilities, especially when we deeply care about our clients’ well-being. But as mental health professionals, we cannot pour from an empty cup. Working through fatigue or emotional depletion can dull our attunement, cloud our judgment, and ultimately impact the very clients we are trying to serve.
Taking time off is not neglect – it is necessary. In fact, it models the very practices we promote: self-care, emotional regulation, and sustainable boundary-setting. When we return from a break restored and grounded, we bring more clarity, creativity, and presence to the therapeutic relationship.
Making Your Break Restorative
Research suggests that for time off to be truly restorative, it must include what psychologists call psychological detachment from work—mentally disconnecting from job-related stressors. Dr. de Bloom’s research emphasizes that engaging in activities that foster autonomy, enjoyment, and meaningful social connection leads to greater post-vacation recovery.
Here are a few tips to optimize your time away:
- Set a clear out-of-office message and inform clients well in advance.
- Avoid checking work email or documentation systems while away.
- Plan pleasurable and nourishing activities, even if your vacation is a “staycation.”
- Ease your transition back with a buffer day or light schedule upon returning.
Rest as a Clinical Responsibility
The quality of our clinical work depends on our emotional, mental and physical resources. Taking time to replenish those resources is not a luxury; it is an ethical imperative that protects both clinicians and clients from potential harm. When we prioritize rest, we preserve the capacity for empathy, deep listening, and creative problem-solving.
So if you’re hesitating to take that vacation, know that the science supports it! And more importantly, your work will be stronger because of it. On that note, I wish you all a most restful, enjoyable, and replenishing vacation
Key References:
Figley, C.R. (2002) Compassion fatigue: Psychotherapists’ chronic lack of self care. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58, 1433-1441.
Ray, S. L., Wong, C., White, D., & Heaslip, K. (2013). Compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, work life conditions, and burnout among frontline mental health care professionals. Traumatology, 19, 255–267.
de Bloom, J., Geurts, S. A. E., & Kompier, M. A. J. (2013). Vacation (after-) effects on employee health and well-being, and the role of vacation activities, experiences and sleep. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14, 613–633.
De Bloom, J., Kompier, M., Geurts, S., De Weerth, C., Taris, T., & Sonnentag, S. (2009). Do we recover from vacation? Meta‐analysis of vacation effects on health and well‐being. Journal of Occupational Health, 51, 13-25.
Pressman, S. D., Matthews, K. A., Cohen, S., Martire, L. M., Scheier, M., Baum, A., & Schulz, R. (2009). Association of enjoyable leisure activities with psychological and physical well-being. Psychosomatic Medicine, 71, 725–732.
By Patricia C. Baldwin, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Co-Founder Note Designer Inc.
Author of
Note Designer: A simple step-by-step guide to writing your psychotherapy progress notes (2nd Edition – updated and expanded; 2023.
© 2025 Patricia C. Baldwin. All rights reserved.
This blog post is the intellectual property of Patricia C. Baldwin and may not be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author. Brief quotations may be used with appropriate citation and link to the original source.
