Decolonizing Mental Health: A Latina Therapist’s Journey Through Burnout, Exploitation, and Liberation — featuring Larissa Trelles, LPCMH, NCC

Burnout and Bullshit: Real Stories from the Mental Health Field

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Trust your gut when something feels off—especially when the field tells you to stay silent.

In this powerful episode, therapist Larissa Trelles (she/they) shares their raw and courageous journey from first-gen therapy client to becoming a therapist navigating racism, safety threats, and exploitation in the mental health system.

From conducting mobile therapy alone in rural areas during COVID as a Latina intern to confronting unethical leadership, racist microaggressions, and predatory contracts, Larissa’s story is both a warning and a reclamation.

This episode isn’t just about burnout. It’s about survival. It’s about choosing your safety over someone else’s comfort. It’s about showing up in the field without erasing who you are.

Whether you're a new therapist, an associate in a toxic job, or someone who feels like you’ve been gaslit by your own profession—this one’s for you.

🔑 3 Key Takeaways:

1. Listen to Your Gut—It’s There to Protect You
If your body feels unsafe, don’t gaslight yourself into staying. Therapists with marginalized identities often face real threats disguised as “training opportunities.” Your intuition isn’t paranoia—it’s wisdom.

2. Authenticity Isn’t Unprofessional—It’s What Clients Crave
Being asked to erase your identity—tattoos, piercings, language, culture—is not a requirement for clinical work. Larissa reminds us that clients thrive when therapists show up fully as themselves.

3. You Don’t Have to Earn Your Worth by Suffering
Being underpaid, overworked, and mistreated isn’t a rite of passage. You are allowed to say no. You are allowed to leave. You are allowed to build something better.

About Larissa Trelles:

IG @mindfulpsychotherapeutics

Larissa Trelles (she/they) is an indigiqueer, neurospicy Latine therapist offering psychotherapy in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. As a first-gen professional committed to anti-oppressive, decolonizing clinical care, Larissa works with LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC communities to reclaim identity, healing, and autonomy. They adapt their work to the lived experience of each client—centering authenticity, ancestral wisdom, and radical safety in all they do.

Larissa has current openings for new clients: https://www.inclusivetherapists.com/delaware/rehoboth-beach/larissa-trelles

Work With Kayla:

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Keywords: therapist burnout, toxic internship, BIPOC therapist experience, Latina therapist, first-gen therapist, associate therapist exploitation, predatory private practice, decolonizing mental health, authentic therapy practice, unethical therapy leadershi

This podcast includes personal opinions and experiences shared by guests and anonymous contributors. All identifying details may be changed to protect confidentiality. These stories are intended for educational and storytelling purposes and are not meant to defame, accuse, or harm any person or organization. Any resemblance to real persons or entities is purely coincidental.

Chapters

1. Finding My Path in Therapy (00:00:00)

2. Swampy Internships: Mobile Outpatient During COVID (00:05:42)

3. Safety Concerns and Marginalization (00:10:32)

4. After Graduation: Exploitation Begins (00:17:28)

5. Standing Up Against Unethical Practices (00:22:31)

6. Building Authentic Practice and Community (00:28:32)