PT Burnout Isn’t What You Think

Burnout in physical therapy isn’t just about workload—it’s about how clinicians process stress over time. In this episode, Jimmy talks with Charles Inniss about why optimism is not a personality trait, but a trainable skill. They break down how burnout develops in PT careers, why cynicism follows exhaustion, and what clinicians and clinic owners can actually do about it. If you run a clinic, this matters because burnout directly impacts retention, patient outcomes, and culture. If you’re a clinician, this gives you a practical framework to regain control of your career experience. What you’ll learn: • Why PT burnout happens even in “good” jobs • The difference between exhaustion and cynicism • How optimism works like a muscle • Simple daily habits to improve mental resilience • How clinic culture contributes to burnout (or prevents it) Get His Book: Sponsors: SaRA Health – helping clinics increase revenue without adding staff EMPOWER EMR – faster documentation and better workflows U.S. Physical Therapy – clinician-led growth and career support

You can listen to PT Burnout Isn’t What You Think online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

PT Burnout Isn’t What You Think is an episode from PT Pintcast by Jimmy McKay, PT, DPT | Physical Therapy Podcast.

This episode is 0:35:48 long.

This episode was published on May 5, 2026.

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