From Burnout to Belonging: What Conservation Gets Wrong About Wellbeing

What if the true cause of burnout in conservation isn’t workload, but rather disconnection?

•  Disconnection from our own energy.

• Disconnection from each other.

• And—perhaps most ironically—disconnection from the natural world we strive so hard to protect.

 This question has influenced my recent work, including several exciting developments that I’m honored to share:

Reimagining Wellbeing Through the Outdoor Life Task

At the recent NASAP: North American Society of Adlerian Psychology conference, I proposed a bold idea: that caring for the Earth deserves a place among the core Life Tasks, alongside work, friendship, love, self, and spirit. I called it The Outdoor or Ecological Life Task.

My working definition is: The human need to engage with, care for, and find belonging within the natural world. It acknowledges that well-being is directly tied to our ecological surroundings and fostering a meaningful and reciprocal relationship with nature is essential for personal, social, and planetary thriving.

Alfred Adler emphasized Gemeinschaftsgefühl—a sense of community feeling. In 2025, that sense must broaden to include our relationship with the more-than-human world.

Though I’m not a therapist, I’ve spent the last seven years applying Adlerian principles—encouragement, belonging, contribution—to the field of conservation. The enthusiastic response at NASAP confirmed how eager people are to reconnect personal and planetary aspects.

Please drop me a note if you would like a copy of the gift I gave to the attendees!

Environmental Identity Research—Approved!

I’m also excited to share that my master’s research in Transformational Leadership on Environmental Identity has been approved. This project examines whether storytelling about the evolution of our relationships with nature can help bridge polarized views on environmental issues.

I’ve witnessed the power of these stories firsthand—in the Nature in Counseling class I co-teach and in my Human-Nature Connection workshop series. People light up when they discuss their childhood experiences with nature, their grief over a lost landscape, or the awe that shaped their values.

The project will investigate whether exchanging these types of stories across “opposing pairs” can foster empathy, understanding, and connection—especially in conflict-prone conservation areas.

I'll be sending out a call for participants in the next month or so. Please feel free to contact me with interest.

Thank you Ubiquity University, Stephanie Mines and InnerMBA for the opportunity to bring this project to life.

Beyond Burnout and Bubble Baths

Later this month, I will facilitate a session for a state agency titled "Beyond Burnout and Bubble Baths: Leading for Sustainable Impact in Conservation."

Because here’s the truth: burnout isn’t the whole problem, it’s the warning light. What’s really underneath it? Chronic over-functioning. Disconnection. Lack of emotional safety. The pressure to always appear strong while systems remain broken.

This session examines the full range of what’s affecting the well-being of conservation professionals today. We’ll move past superficial self-care and speak honestly about what people genuinely need to remain engaged, hopeful, and whole in this work.

I utilize the Connect–Encourage–Thrive (CET) model to help leaders identify the next most important needs for themselves and their teams, transitioning from reactive survival to regenerative, values-driven leadership.

This is about creating a culture of conservation where people can thrive, not just survive.

Leadership, One Powerful Conversation at a Time

I’m also collaborating with another state agency to offer a Leadership Micro-Series— a set of 30-minute sessions designed to ignite significant changes in small doses.

Each one focuses on key topics such as emotional inclusion, decision fatigue, or values-based leadership—designed for busy professionals who still want to grow, lead, and adapt.

Sometimes, transformation doesn't require a retreat; it just needs intentional time spent on the right question.

Want to Bring One of These Conversations to Your Team?

Whether you’re navigating burnout, seeking healthier leadership models, or exploring how to engage people across differences, I offer:

• Keynotes & talks

• Two-hour, half-day or full-day workshops

• Short series for leadership teams

If you're ready to explore what’s possible in your team or agency, I’d love to talk. Please feel free to send me a message or visit my website for more information.

Let’s build the culture conservation needs—together.

Michelle Doerr, Founder, Anavah Consulting LLC, Helping Conservation Leaders Connect, Encourage, and Thrive - michelle@anavahconsulting.com