Leading Under Pressure – The Psychology of Primary Care Stress and Burnout

In this episode of Beyond the Balance Sheet, Katie Collin is joined by Dr Matt Slavin, clinical psychologist and performance specialist, to unpack what stress is really doing to primary care leaders and what it takes to stay effective without burning out.

This is a practical conversation for GP partners, PCN leaders and clinicians carrying responsibility across a system in constant change. They explore why burnout is rarely about “needing a break”, and more often about prolonged pressure, weak boundaries, and a system that never properly resets.

Together, they cover:

→ Why chronic stress stops you thinking clearly (and pushes you into reactive mode)

→ What burnout actually looks like in the body and brain, and why rest alone doesn’t fix it

→ Compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, and the emotional load clinicians carry

→ Leadership transitions, partnership change, and the unspoken pressures that follow

→ The habits that protect performance: boundaries, decompression, focus, and reset routines

If you’ve been feeling tired-but-wired, permanently behind, or like you’re carrying more than is sustainable, this episode gives a clear starting point and practical tools you can actually use.

Guest: Dr Matt Slavin, Clinical Psychologist and Performance Specialist.

Resources & Links:

Connect with Katie Collin https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-collin/ and Ramsay Brown https://ramsaybrown.com/

Connect with Dr Matt Slavin https://www.drmattslavin.com/