Episode 5

The Realities of Being a Mom Boss

Published on: 2nd September, 2025

Being a mom therapist means wearing more hats than most people can imagine - and switching between them in the blink of an eye. 

In this raw and real episode, we talk candidly about balancing motherhood and career, and how we manage the mental load without completely burning out.

We dig deep into the lived experience of being a mom therapist in today’s “do it all” culture - and we don’t hold back. From awkward Zoom calls with kids in the background to the cost (financial and emotional) of showing up at your kid’s 10am school play, this is what balancing motherhood and career actually looks like behind the scenes.

We talk about:

  • The crushing mental load of modern motherhood - and how working mom burnout sneaks in, even when you love your job
  • The real cost of that school play (yep, we calculated it) - and why it’s so hard for a mom therapist to make time for both clients and class parties
  • What “identity whiplash” feels like when you're code-switching between CEO, clinician, and carpool driver
  • Creative ways we’re redefining “quality time” with our kids without sacrificing the businesses we’ve built
  • How we recognize the signs of therapist burnout - and the micro-adjustments we make to protect our energy and our kids

Whether you're crying in your car between sessions or building your dream mental health business after bedtime, this episode will make you feel seen, supported, and a little less alone.

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO EPISODE HERE!


Connect with us!

Podcast Website: www.offthechair.com

 

Colleen Long, Psy.D.

Website: www.claritypsychologicaltesting.com

LinkedIn: Dr. Colleen Long

 

Jennifer Politis, PhD, LPC

Website: www.wellnesscounselingBC.com

Instagram: @wellnesscounselingnj

TikTok: @wellnesscounseling

LinkedIn: Jennifer Politis

 

Erika Bugaj, MA, MSW, LICSW

Website: www.dandelioncounselingcare.com

Instagram: @dandelioncounselingcare

LinkedIn: Erika Bugaj


Transcript
[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:

[:
Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Off the Chair

About the Podcast

Off the Chair
In a world where a nail artist can out-earn a licensed therapist, behavioral health professionals have no choice but to get scrappy, color outside the lines, and start writing our own rules. The old path—graduate school, licensure, paneled with insurance, packed calendar of 1:1s—is broken. It’s time for a new blueprint.

That’s where Off the Chair comes in. We’re not just talking about surviving the grind, we’re exploring radically different ways to thrive. From building passive income streams to launching scalable service lines, we dive into business models that break the mold. We cover how modern technology; AI, digital products, automation, and online communities—can even help clinicians step out of the therapy chair and into a more expansive, creative, and financially free version of practice.

Off the Chair is the no-BS podcast for therapists ready to break out of burnout, reclaim their income, and build values-driven businesses beyond the therapy room.

Hosted by Dr. Colleen Long, Dr. Jennifer Politis, and Erika Bugaj, LICSW—three clinician-entrepreneurs who’ve built, broken, and rebuilt thriving mental health companies—this show brings you weekly conversations on what it really takes to succeed in today’s broken behavioral health system.

Whether you're a growth-minded psychologist, a private practice owner, or a therapist wondering how to scale without selling your soul, Off the Chair is your roadmap to redefining what success looks like in mental healthcare.

What You’ll Learn
- Business & Practice Management: Navigate the operations side of private practice with insight into EMRs, scheduling workflows, profitability pivots, and systems that scale.
- Hiring & Leadership: From managing your first intern to leading multi-state teams, get real-world advice on creating aligned, sustainable teams (and firing fast when it’s not a fit).
- Financial Freedom for Clinicians: Understand compensation models, create recurring revenue streams, and stop trading time for money—all without compromising your ethics.
- Mental Health Industry Reform: Challenge the status quo with honest dialogue on insurance gatekeeping, clinician burnout, and what it takes to build a more human-centered system.
- Personal Resilience & Growth: Behind every spreadsheet is a dark night of the soul. We talk mindset, mission drift, and how to stay motivated when the math doesn’t math.
- Overcoming Challenges: The podcast addresses common challenges faced by therapists, such as negative reviews, legal threats, and the fear of failure, offering strategies for navigating these obstacles. Overall, Off the Chair aims to empower clinicians to: Become more effective leaders and managers. Build strong, efficient, and profitable practices. Enhance their personal well-being and achieve a fulfilling career. Stay ahead of the curve in a constantly evolving industry.

Why Listen?
Off the Chair isn’t just about the logistics of running a practice—it’s about reclaiming your creativity, your autonomy, and your voice as a leader. No jargon, no perfectionism. Just vulnerable, strategic conversations that meet you in the messy middle.

New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Connect with us!
Podcast Website: www.offthechair.com

Colleen Long, Psy.D.
Website: www.claritypsychologicaltesting.com
LinkedIn: Dr. Colleen Long

Jennifer Politis, PhD, LPC
Website: www.wellnesscounselingBC.com
Instagram: @wellnesscounselingnj
TikTok: @wellnesscounseling
LinkedIn: Jennifer Politis

Erika Bugaj, MA, MSW, LICSW
Website: www.dandelioncounselingcare.com
Instagram: @dandelioncounselingcare
LinkedIn: Erika Bugaj