Open help menu
In Person

Burnout! Compassion Without Collapse

Heath Bechler, LCAC, MBA
|

Information

Date & Time

Location

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

  • Define burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress as they apply to behavioral health providers.

  • Identify early warning signs of burnout and factors that increase vulnerability in clinical practice.

  • Apply evidence-based strategies to interrupt the stress cycle and promote recovery.

  • Demonstrate techniques for setting and maintaining professional boundaries to reduce burnout risk.

  • Integrate resilience-building practices into daily work to sustain therapeutic presence and improve client outcomes.

Educational Goal

At the end of this workshop, people will be able to recognize the signs and causes of burnout, implement practical strategies for prevention and recovery, and create a personalized plan to maintain balance, purpose, and well-being in their daily lives

Description

Burnout is highly prevalent in behavioral health due to chronic exposure to clients’ trauma, high caseloads, systemic barriers, and the emotional labor inherent in therapeutic relationships. The unique combination of compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and moral injury creates risks for diminished clinical effectiveness, ethical breaches, and personal health deterioration. Understanding the neuroscience, systemic factors, and early warning signs of burnout equips behavioral health providers to protect their own well-being while maintaining high-quality care.


From this presentation, participants will gain:

  • 1. An evidence-based understanding of burnout, including the stress cycle and how it impacts cognition, emotional regulation, and decision-making.
  • 2. Tools to identify early indicators of burnout and compassion fatigue in themselves and colleagues.
  • 3. Practical strategies for stress recovery, boundary-setting, and workload management.
  • 4. Interventions for building resilience, sustaining empathy, and maintaining therapeutic presence over time.
  • 5. Resources and frameworks (including the Nagoskis’ “stress cycle” model and recent data from The Burnout Report 2025) that can be applied immediately in clinical settings.

By applying these skills, behavioral health providers will:

  • 1. Reduce the risk of errors and lapses in clinical judgment.
  • 2. Improve therapeutic alliance through consistent emotional attunement and presence.
  • 3. Increase longevity in the profession and decrease turnover in their organizations.
  • 4. Model healthy coping strategies for clients, enhancing credibility and trust.
  • 5. Create a sustainable practice that fosters better engagement, adherence, and recovery outcomes for clients.

Target Audience

  • Addiction Professional
  • Counselor
  • Marriage & Family Therapist
  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker

Presenters

Heath Bechler, LCAC, MBA
Heath Bechler, LCAC, MBA Chief Executive Officer, Cherry Creek Treatment Center Heath Bechler is the Chief Executive Officer of Cherry Creek Treatment Center, where he leads an innovative program that blends evidence-based substance use treatment with strengths-based approaches, including Gallup’s CliftonStrengths and Positive Psychology. With his undergraduate in Psychology from Kansas State, Masters in Christian Ministry from Friends University and an MBA from Tabor, he has also achieved nearly three decades of experience in behavioral health across many positions. Heath began his career as a third-shift behavioral health technician before serving as a counselor for five years and then administrator across clinical and executive departments. His deep clinical grounding informs his leadership, ensuring that organizational decisions remain rooted in client care. From 2002 to 2012, Heath owned and operated his own company, gaining valuable entrepreneurial expertise. He later spent several years as a consultant, helping treatment centers improve operations, outcomes, and compliance before returning to full-time program leadership to launch Cherry Creek. During his time following the sale of his company, he also was an adjunct educator for Cowley College, instructing AP and college students in Psychology, Sociology, Public Speaking, Leadership, and two of his most recent academic passions, Micro and Macroecononomics. , Heath had the opportunity to speak nationally on numerous topics, including burnout, innovations to cognitive approaches, and alternative sentencing initiatives for drug offenders on Fox News nationally (https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ohio-ballot-measure-seeks-to-reform-drug-laws). He also received commendation for assisting the community of Hesston during a mass shooting event, providing Critical Incident Stress Debriefing services as a part of his role as CEO of EMPAC Employee Assistance. Most recently, Heath was recognized by his high school for his work in the treatment field, establishing a permanent plaque on Hutchinson High School’s Wall of Honor ( https://www.usd308.com/o/hms-7/article/1758770). Heath’s leadership style emphasizes structure, autonomy, and individualized development, empowering clients and staff alike to reach their full potential. Beyond his professional work, Heath enjoys rock hounding, mountain biking, and spending time with his four sons.

Financially Sponsored By

  • Holland Pathways - Your Path To Recovery