The Three-Year Journey: How One Physician's Burnout Led to Helping Others Reconnect Featuring Dr. Shelina Jaffer, EP 231
Dr. Shelina Jaffer's burnout didn't announce itself with fanfare. Like so many physicians managing demanding practices, she normalized the warning signs—gastritis, reflux, exhaustion—until her body forced a reckoning with late-onset asthma and a moment of emotional darkness she couldn't explain away. Her story is textbook physician burnout, yet her response was anything but typical. Instead of simply stepping away from a toxic role, Shelina embarked on a three-year journey of self-discovery that led to the creation of Haven Within, a program helping healthcare professionals reconnect with their inner wisdom before burnout takes hold.
In this episode, Shelina shares how she moved from acute medicine and general practice in the UK through the classic progression of burnout—taking work to weddings in Canada, explaining away physical symptoms, operating on autopilot until her body said enough. But the real story begins with her recovery: how immediately her symptoms improved when she changed roles, and how that shift opened space for deeper questions about identity, purpose, and what it means to thrive rather than simply survive in healthcare.
Today, Shelina works with organizations, universities, and individuals through Haven Within, facilitating experiential sessions focused on four key stages: discovering who you are through others' eyes, exploring your values, identifying limiting beliefs, and connecting with your deeper purpose. Her work addresses something fundamental that traditional wellness programs miss—respect, trust, and the simple act of slowing down to reconnect with yourself.
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Key Takeaways
Classic burnout progression often looks like being a "good, hard worker" until physical symptoms force recognition
Changing work environments can produce immediate physical relief, but full recovery takes time (Shelina's took three years)
Organizational culture built on respect and trust increases innovation, creativity, and productivity—not just employee wellbeing
Experiential learning that challenges participants to examine blind spots and limiting beliefs creates lasting shifts that 90-minute workshops cannot achieve
The shift toward human-centered approaches in healthcare is happening universally, driven by collective recognition that current systems are unsustainable
Q&A Section
What are the early warning signs of physician burnout that get normalized? Taking work home regularly (even to vacations), dismissing new physical symptoms as "just stress" or aging, and experiencing emotional flatness or darkness during patient interactions. These behaviors often look like dedication and professionalism, which is why burnout progression can be so insidious in healthcare.
How long does recovery from advanced burnout actually take? While symptoms may improve immediately upon changing work environments, full recovery takes considerably longer. Dr. Jaffer's experience shows that genuine healing and rebuilding capacity took three years—a timeline that challenges the quick-fix mentality often applied to burnout solutions.
Why do organizations resist investing in team wellbeing programs? Many leaders operate under the false assumption that prioritizing respect, trust, and work-life balance conflicts with financial success. However, when teams feel valued and trusted, they contribute more innovation and creativity, ultimately improving organizational outcomes and profitability.
What makes experiential learning more effective than traditional wellness workshops? Experiential programs challenge participants to actively explore their blind spots, limiting beliefs, and values through interactive exercises with peers. This creates personal accountability and insight that passive learning cannot achieve. The work continues beyond the session as participants integrate new awareness into their lives.
Episode Highlights
The textbook progression of physician burnout: from normalizing stress to physical symptoms (gastritis, reflux, late-onset asthma) to emotional darkness
The immediate physical relief Shelina experienced simply by changing to a role without management pressures—highlighting how occupational factors directly impact health
Haven Within's four-stage experiential process: discovering yourself through others' perspectives, exploring values, confronting limiting beliefs, and connecting with purpose
The university student who became bold after one session—demonstrating how early intervention can change career trajectories
Why organizations that prioritize respect and trust see better outcomes: valued teams contribute 200% and bring more innovation
The fundamental simplicity of what's needed: slowing down, connecting with yourself, and creating space to hear your own wisdom
The broader shift happening in humanity toward reconnection with ourselves and each other, away from the edges of our functional capacity
Memorable Quotes
"Everything that looks like being a good hard worker and a contributor and being a great physician is early stage burnout. It's what contributes to the pretty quick acceleration into advanced stages." - Tracy Cherpeski
"I literally walked in, saw my patients, went home, and I was like, wow, okay, I feel okay. It took a while for me to get back to where I am. It's been three years since that happened, and it's only now that I feel like I'm starting to want to do more." - Dr. Shelina Jaffer
"One of the students who was the quietest in the class, his feedback at the end was, 'You have taught me to be bold.' For me, that one statement was enough." - Dr. Shelina Jaffer
"If you respect your team, you trust your team, and they feel valued, they will give 200%. What's more is that they will be more innovative, more creative, and you'll get more out of your organization." - Dr. Shelina Jaffer
"We spend most of our lives in our workplace. Why do we need to be in a space that is weekend mentality? Monday is another beautiful day. If you love your job, why don't you love your job?" - Dr. Shelina Jaffer
If you've been feeling the early whispers of burnout—or if you're already deep in recovery—Shelina's story offers both validation and a path forward. Haven Within reminds us that reconnection with ourselves isn't a luxury; it's essential to sustainable practice and genuine wellbeing. The shift Shelina describes isn't just personal—it's happening across healthcare as professionals recognize that systems prioritizing respect, trust, and human connection actually produce better outcomes for everyone. Ready to explore what grounding and reconnection could mean for your practice? Connect with Dr. Shelina Jaffer through the links in the show notes.
Guest Bio:
Dr. Shelina Jaffer is a medical doctor with 20+ years in general and acute medicine, and extensive leadership experience driving system change. She is the founder of HavenWithin, a space that helps high-achieving individuals reconnect with what truly matters. Through guided journeys of conscious evolution, HavenWithin empowers leaders and teams to break limiting patterns, unlock potential, and align with their vision.
Find Dr. Jaffer:
Website - https://havenwithin.co.uk
Email: contact@havenwithin.co.uk
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