In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Louise Hayes, we shift into the clinical and developmental heart of her work. Louise shares what she hopes practitioners pay attention to when learning new therapy models, and how to support young people with presence, curiosity, and compassion.

We also talk openly about burnout, compassion fatigue, and therapist wellbeing—how they show up, how they change us, and what it means to create space to reconnect with meaning, creativity, and care in our work.

This episode is grounding, generous, and nourishing for anyone working with adolescents or navigating the emotional demands of therapeutic practice.

In this episode, we explore:

• how to learn therapy models without overwhelm

• why “function over form” matters in clinical work

• DNAV and a developmental approach to supporting adolescents

• the unique pressures affecting young people today

• presence, attunement, and humility in therapeutic relationships

• burnout, compassion fatigue, and protecting practitioner wellbeing

• letting go of striving and reconnecting with values

Key insights:

• Young people benefit most when practitioners understand their developmental context and the pressures shaping their identity.

• DNAV offers a flexible, practical framework that strengthens psychological flexibility.

• Therapist presence—genuine, regulated, and spacious—is often more healing than any technique.

• Burnout is a sign to pause and reconnect with what matters, not a personal failing.

• Sustaining this work requires compassion for ourselves as much as for our clients.

About Dr. Louise Hayes

Dr. Louise Hayes is a clinical psychologist, international trainer, author, and co‑developer of the DNAV model. She has spent decades supporting young people and advancing process‑based, developmentally grounded psychological approaches.

Connect with me:

Instagram: @the.blossoming.therapists

Email: poh@blossomingtrueself.com.au

I’d love to hear what resonates for you in this episode—feel free to DM or email me anytime.

Let us know what you took away from this conversation!