The support you need to ride the entrepreneurial rollercoaster without burnout

As a long-time therapist and someone who's been an entrepreneur for over 30 years, I want to talk about something we don't discuss enough in business circles: the mental health challenges that come with being a business owner.

Let me be vulnerable for a moment - I've been there. I've experienced both anxiety and depression, including times when it got pretty dark. And you know what? That's actually more common among entrepreneurs than you might think. Research shows that business owners are 30% more likely to experience depression than the general population.

My rollercoaster ride

My group therapy practice looked great on the surface, but behind the scenes, I was in agony. Juggling multiple roles in the business (CEO, chief marketing officer, CFO, etc., etc.) and still providing therapy to clients, I was working myself to the bone.

Chronic headaches, sleepless nights, and constant anxiety plagued me, yet I believed I had to keep going to protect my associates and the business.

Then came the breaking point. I publicly called out a team member and I also shouted at my beloved over a minor issue at home--not my style. I was not myself. My therapist held up a mirror to my stress-induced inner turmoil and said, “You can’t go on like this.” He meant I should take some time off, but upon reflection, I could see that what I needed was to leave the practice.

Exiting the business felt like defeat, but I did it anyway.

Grieving my losses and reflecting on my experiences, I remembered all the business owners who had whispered to me about their own mental health challenges.

I saw that mental health challenges are a given in business. It’s not a question if, but of when and how hard they’ll hit.

I realized we need mental health professionals who understand how running a business affects mental health. And that’s how the Entrepreneurs’ Therapist was born.

The Unacknowledged Side of Entrepreneurship

Think about your typical "successful" week:

? Clients are happy

? Projects are on track

? Revenue is flowing

? You're feeling on top of the world

Then suddenly...

? A major client drops

? A key contractor quits

? That perfect project falls apart

? Your weekend becomes yet another work marathon

Sound familiar? This isn't just "part of the hustle." It's a recipe for burnout that has been normalized for far too long.

Here's what business ownership often really looks like:

? Sleepless nights worrying about cash flow

? Scarfing down meals (if you remember to eat at all)

? Being glued to your computer for hours

? Feeling isolated in your decisions

? Questioning your worth based on business metrics

You're navigating daily:

? The constant threat of failure

? Pressure to stay innovative in a rapidly changing market

? The isolating nature of leadership

? Making difficult decisions that affect people's lives

? Working endless hours while trying to maintain relationships

? Navigating team conflicts and disagreements

What no one tells you

And here's what no one tells you: these aren't just emotional challenges.

They directly impact your business performance because they result in:

? Decreased focus and engagement

? Reduced motivation and productivity

? Increased likelihood of mistakes

? Diminished resilience when facing setbacks

Why Traditional "Push Through It" Advice Fails

When we're struggling, the entrepreneurial world often tells us to:

? Keep a good front

? Never show weakness

? Share with no one

? Grind harder

But here's the truth: isolation and impression management only make things worse. Your mental health challenges don't just affect you. They impact your behaviors, thought processes, and everyone around you.

Your mind is your most valuable business asset. When you're stressed, your "CEO-self" (that brilliant prefrontal cortex that handles decision-making and creative problem-solving, among other things) goes offline. No amount of "pushing through" will bring it back - but proper support can.

How Therapy Actually Helps Entrepreneurs

This isn't about "fixing" what's broken. It's about building the mental fitness you need to thrive. It's also about building mental and emotional resilience.

Through our work together, you'll navigate the pressures better, protect your mental wellbeing and strengthen your leadership.

You will be able to:

• Make clear-headed decisions during chaos
• Identify what affects your mental and emotional wellbeing
• Make a plan for your wellbeing
• Navigate stress and uncertainty without burning out
• Build sustainable success that doesn't cost you your mental and physical health, your relationships and your business

A Safe Space for Real Talk

As someone who's been in your shoes, and who has worked with many business owners 1:1 (and as a former trauma therapist) chances are I've heard a version of whatever you're going through. Together, we can:

? Process your fears and uncertainties without judgment and without affecting public perception of you or your business

? Work through "near death" startup moments

? Process, mourn then mine so-called failures and mistakes for their hidden wisdom

? Develop strategies for sustainable success

? Create real work-life flow (not just "balance")

Ready to Build Mental Fitness?

I have an idea of what you've been through, because I've been there, and I'm qualified to support you.

I help women business owners preserve their peace of mind while riding the emotional rollercoaster of running a business.

I’ve seen incredible transformations. Women who once blamed themselves for their stress and anxiety now flourish, making better decisions, taking calculated risks, and nurturing healthier relationships - with clients, employees, themselves and their families and friends.

I’m working towards a future where founders flourish alongside their businesses. My approach is rooted in somatic parts work, compassion and an awareness of the impact of both business ownership and systems of oppression on mental health.

Your mind is your most valuable business asset. Investing in its wellbeing isn't optional, it's essential for sustainable success.

Let's explore how we can work together to support both you and your business sustainability and success. Book a free call here https://shula.as.me/schedule.php

Remember: Strong leaders are even stronger with support.

ABOUT SHULAMIT BER LEVTOV, MA, RSW, CCTP, CFSW

Shulamit is a culture change catalyst speaking and educating at the intersection of mental health and entrepreneurship. She’s co-founder of the Business Therapy Centre and The Entrepreneurs’ Therapist, working with women business owners to preserve their peace of mind and prevent burnout as they ride the emotional rollercoaster of running a business in this era of relentless stressors that can make you want to lose your crap on the daily.

Shulamit has been an entrepreneur for over 30 years and has more than 24 years of professional experience applying therapeutic, coaching and somatic tools to support women's mental health and personal growth. She speaks, teaches and consults on the intersection of mental health, trauma, financial psychology and entrepreneurship locally, nationally and internationally.

As an award-winning entrepreneur, masters-level, licensed trauma therapist and trauma survivor, with certifications in the Trauma of Money, Financial Social Work, Nonviolent Communication and Yoga, Shula brings a unique perspective and approach to supporting women in business.