Why I'm Not In Clinical Practice Right Now — And Why I Still Love Veterinary Medicine

I used to feel like something was missing.

Even early on as a veterinarian when I had everything planned out. I loved my work, I was living my dream, and I had a clear timeline for when I wanted to own a practice.

On paper, it all made sense. And I really was excited about it.

But there was also a quiet feeling in my heart saying, “There’s something missing.”

It didn’t make sense to me at the time, so I ignored it.

I ignored other subtle things, too.

The constant anxiety.
The brain fog I didn’t realize wasn’t normal.
The strange physical symptoms.
The way I felt completely depleted at the end of the day.

I didn’t think anything was “wrong.” Hustle culture had taught me that pushing through was normal — that being tired, wired, and stretched thin was just part of the job. I thought I was doing everything the way I should...the way I had planned.

Years later, I realized I was burned out.

And in hindsight, it was the best thing that could have happened to me.

I could no longer ignore the things that weren’t aligned with the plan I had so carefully built. What I understand now is that my body had been quietly trying to give me an important message for a long time. It just needed to get really loud before I started to listen.

The journey I went on recovering from burnout helped me to fall back in love with veterinary medicine — not the version driven by survival mode or by how things are “supposed” to be, but the version where you put your oxygen mask on first, practice in alignment with your values, and reconnect with the whole point of why you chose this profession in the first place.

A lot of people ask me if I’m still in clinical practice.

Here’s the honest answer:

I love clinical practice. I love working with clients, patients, and teams.
And I’m not currently in practice — not because I fell out of love with veterinary medicine, but because I fell back in love with it… and I know our profession deserves better.

I worked in clinical practice for years after recovering from burnout — eventually transitioning to relief, which allowed me to work in over 30 different practices. What I kept seeing normalized over and over again was chaos, overextension, self-sacrifice, and survival mode — and it really doesn’t have to be that way.

The norm should be:

• Patient care and client experiences that prioritize everyone’s well-being — including the veterinary team
• Workplaces that make it safe to be human and that see boundaries as an asset — not as being “difficult”
• True team work, efficiency, and fully utilizing and empowering each role on the team
• Compassionate, respectful communication where different perspectives are an opportunity to deepen understanding, build trust, and problem-solve with clients and colleagues, not a source of frustration and division
• Prioritized time to sit down, eat, take a breath, and recharge — because our brains need that to do meaningful work
• Professionals feeling seen, supported, and able to practice in ways that align with their strengths and values

Burnout taught me what happens when we do vet med — and life — the way we think it has to be done instead of the way that actually makes sense for the well-being of people, pets, and clients.

As a veterinarian, integrative health and life coach, consultant, and speaker, my focus is One Health — because that was the piece that was missing: solutions that support the well-being of everyone.

I’m not in clinical practice right now because I gave myself permission not to do everything at the same time.

I needed space to build programs, systems, and resources that make it more convenient for veterinary professionals, practices, and pet owners to do vet med — and live life — in ways that are fulfilling and sustainable.

That’s when the feeling of “something missing” finally disappeared.

I know deep in my bones that this is my purpose.

And that’s what I want for you.

I don’t want you to settle for the way you think things have to be.
I want you to honor that part of you that knows there’s a better way — even if it’s not the way you originally pictured.

That might look like:

• Healthy habits that feel like draining obligations or constant “shoulds,” instead of supportive, energizing routines you actually want to do
• A career that leaves you irritable, anxious, or completely depleted at the end of the day, instead of fulfilled, mentally satisfied, and with energy left to enjoy life outside of work
• Relationships where you feel drained, resentful, or unseen, instead of safe, supported, and genuinely connected

Those feelings aren’t something to dismiss. They’re signals.

I’ll be honest — this path hasn’t been easy.

It’s involved unlearning rules I'd been living by, disappointing people, shedding old identities, facing insecurities, and stepping far outside my comfort zone.

And it has also been deeply fulfilling.

I wake up excited to start my day. I go to bed grateful — even on the hardest days.

The most fulfilling paths aren’t easy. They’re aligned. They include boundaries, self-trust, and the capacity to do uncomfortable things without burning yourself out.

And it all starts with shifting out of survival mode.

Because you can’t connect with your purpose, values, or boundaries when you’re just trying to get through the day. Your body is always communicating with you — we’ve just been taught to ignore it and push through.

There is a better way.

And that’s the work I’m devoted to — helping people step out of survival mode and into lives and careers that feel aligned, sustainable, and genuinely fulfilling.

If you’re feeling that same quiet knowing — that something about the way you’re living or working isn’t aligned — the Aligned Success Reboot was created for you.

It’s where I guide people step by step out of survival mode and into a way of living and working that actually supports their energy, well-being, and values.

You can explore Aligned Success Reboot here. 

P.S. I haven’t written off owning a practice. I actually have a lot of ideas about how I’d do things differently — and I’m still open to that path in the future. Right now, my focus is creating paths that make it easier for other people and practices to thrive.

Learning to let my body and values guide me has helped me release the pressure to have everything figured out, and instead trust that the right opportunities show up when you’re aligned — not when you’re forcing “shoulds.”