It is happening more often than most people realize. The same physicians who seem unshakable in the OR or clinic, the ones who handle chaos without blinking, are quietly scheduling therapy appointments. Not because they have “hit rock bottom” or cannot do their jobs anymore, but because they are realizing they do not have to slowly carry it all alone. Nor can they sustain this level of burnout anymore.

As a psychologist for doctors, I see this shift firsthand in my therapy practice. Over the past few years, more and more physicians are reaching out. And not even necessarily because they are in full-on crisis mode, but because they are realizing that they need something deeper; a space to move through and process the human side of their experiences as a doctor and their existential purpose in life beyond medicine. This is not about weakness. Far from it. Instead, it is about finally giving themselves permission to seek support.

Why now?

I see several trends converging:

1. Burnout is not a taboo word anymore. Not long ago, admitting you were burned out could feel like a death knell to your career. Now though, more physicians are openly discussing burnout with their peers, be it at happy hour after call, at conferences, with their friends and family members, and in articles like this one. They are no longer willing to quietly tolerate the symptoms of burnout. That transparency and vulnerability thankfully make it easier to take the next step: seeking therapy before burnout becomes unmanageable.

2. The “invincible doctor” narrative is cracking. Medical culture has long rewarded stoicism, the ability to work through exhaustion, grief, personal challenges, and internal strife, all without letting anything show. But more doctors are starting to question whether this is sustainable, or even desirable. Thank goodness for that.

3. Generational shifts in mindset. Younger physicians have grown up with more openness, honesty, and frankness about the importance of attuning to and nurturing one’s mental health. They are less likely to see therapy as a last resort, and more likely to view it as routine self-care, just like you would treat going to the gym or the importance of annual check-ups.

4. The pandemic broke the silence. COVID-19 was a tipping point for the conversation around mental health in general, especially for doctors. It stripped away the illusion that physicians can remain unaffected by constant exposure to suffering, moral distress, systemic abuses, chronic overwork, uncertainty, trauma, and more. For many, it was the first time they realized: “I cannot keep doing this without help.” and “I deserve better; I do not have to keep going on in life like this anymore.” They are ready to actually treat their burnout, rather than silently suffer through it.

What physicians are looking for in therapy

Physicians rarely come to therapy asking for generic “stress management tips.” Indeed, they usually already know what to do—they spend all day telling their patients the same tips, after all. Instead, they are looking for:

A safe space to talk without filtering. There is often a need to appear composed and collected that doctors feel when interacting with patients, trainees, and even family. In therapy, doctors can drop the mask and start getting in touch with their real self.

Someone who understands their world. Doctors want a therapist who understands the unique pressures of medicine without needing a 30-minute explanation about why a bad outcome still haunts them. Many of the doctors we see in my practice express relief at having found a therapist with whom they do not have to spend more time explaining the realities of medicine instead of actually talking about and deepening into the struggles they are there to process.

Depth, not quick fixes. The physicians I work with often want to explore the deeper roots of why they are feeling unfulfilled or disconnected, even (and often especially) when their careers look impressive on paper.

Why “quietly” matters

For better or worse, many physicians who start therapy do not broadcast it. They might tell a close friend or partner, but they are not announcing it in the staff lounge. The quietness can sometimes be about shame or stigma against mental health care, yes. But it can also be rooted in the same instinct that keeps a doctor from sharing intimate personal details with coworkers; TMI management. That said, even quiet participation can have ripple effects. I have had clients tell me that, months later, a colleague confided they were in therapy too, and then suddenly, there was a sense of mutual permission to be more human at work.

Therapy as a career investment

Some physicians start therapy because they are on the brink of quitting medicine. Others come because they want to stay in their careers, but no longer at the expense of their mental health, relationships, or identity. Still others come to therapy because they are finally ready to pay attention to that gnawing feeling inside that something is not right and that it is time to seek support to see what that voice is trying to tell them.

In all these cases, therapy can be an investment in longevity. Longevity in medicine, but more importantly, longevity in life too. Processing grief, learning to set boundaries, reconnecting with purpose in medicine, redefining meaning and sense of self outside of medicine—all of this does not just help the physician. It benefits patients, families, colleagues, and society more broadly.

The bottom line

The quiet trend of physicians seeking therapy is worth paying attention to and encouraging more loudly. It is a sign that the culture of medicine is slowly but steadily shifting toward one that allows its healers to seek healing themselves.

If you are a physician who has been thinking about therapy, you do not have to wait for a crisis to start. You can explore it simply because you want more emotional clarity, more resilience, or more connection to yourself—all of which can make you a better doctor and a more grounded human being.

Annia Raja is a clinical psychologist who specializes in therapy for physicians facing burnout, identity struggles, and the emotional toll of caregiving. As the spouse of a physician, she combines deep clinical expertise with personal insight to support high-achieving doctors seeking more than symptom relief—those wanting to reconnect with themselves beyond the white coat.

Through her practice, Annia Raja, PhD Therapy, she and her team offer thoughtful, in-depth therapy tailored to the unique pressures of medical life. For specialized support designed for physicians, visit the Therapy for Physicians page.