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From a Psychologist who knows the cost of burnout
My Burnout Prevention e-book
As a Clinical Psychologist, clergy wife, author, speaker, business owner and mother – burn out knocks on my door everyday. After broadcasting my authentic struggle with maintaining balance, many in my online community resonated with my thoughts. What resulted was a sharing of 6 steps I take to prevent burn out in my own life. I share my gems with you now!

Burnout Levels
Want to know if you are burning out and what you can do about it.

Stuck At Work?
Need help regaining your energy at work? We can help.
Speaking Reviews
Valerie has a deep compassion and ability to understand the many individual and group experiences. She facilitated teaching and nonteaching staff through her model of self-care at a time when many staff could not conceive the thought of kindness for themselves. She presents self care in parcels that enable a greater inner connection than any other familiar models. The particular areas of focus she introduces allow individuals to connect their own self care plan with organisational wellbeing strategies and in doing so enables empowerment through this telescopic connection of self, community and service to others.
Valerie entered an environment that is experiencing tremendous grief, loss and pain. She brought with her joy, light-heartedness and a reverence of respect for the school community facing many challenges and meeting them with great determination. The work that Valerie has achieved with the Hillcrest Primary School will be the first example of systematically refocusing wellbeing on staff so they in turn are able fulfil their role in developing younger people.
Valerie entered an environment that is experiencing tremendous grief, loss and pain. She brought with her joy, light-heartedness and a reverence of respect for the school community facing many challenges and meeting them with great determination. The work that Valerie has achieved with the Hillcrest Primary School will be the first example of systematically refocusing wellbeing on staff so they in turn are able fulfil their role in developing younger people.
Chris WorthingtonDepartment of Education Tasmania
Thank you again to you and Amy for putting the group together, for the conversations and the resources and for being models of authenticity, courage, self-compassion and professionalism. I truly appreciated the journey over the last few months, and all your extra resources and videos from your website! Thank you!
Lauren HuttonClinical Psychologist
How can those in vocational ministry avoid burnout and develop sustainable habits? This is an urgent question for the body of Christ. Valerie's seminar on Resilience in Ministry is such a helpful introduction to this topic. Valerie brings together the fruit of research and clinical experience, and delivers the content with grace and compassion. I hope we can have her deliver sessions like this at SMBC for many years to come.
Derek BrothersonPrincipal, Sydney Missionary & Bible College
Valerie's Burnout Prevention Program came across my desk and little did I know how much I needed it. The program taught me content I didn't know I needed, but has that of which has made a significant impact in my day to day life. It has supported me to gain an insight into my behaviours and work to develop better processes, thereby not only helping myself, but also my team and my family. Thanks Valerie!
Chelsea KnightPrincipal Psychologist
Valerie's insights into building resilience in ministry are built on deep and varied personal experience, which in tandem with the theory, are very powerful and helpful in growing participant self-care and developing sustained, fruitful, and joyful ministry practice.
Greg SwantonGeneral Manager, C
Valerie's seminar on Resilience in Ministry was grace-filled, well-informed, and practical. I went away more nuanced in my understanding of the mental health challenges we are facing in this generation, feeling less alone in my experiences, and having an actionable plan to promote my own resilience right now. Best of all, Valerie's kindness in the way she spoke was a living example of the love God has for us, even in our weakness.
Anna BrothersonLecturer, Sydney Missionary & Bible College
I heard Valerie speak about Resilience in Ministry at Sydney Missionary Bible College. Having worked in Parish Ministry for five years, Valerie's seminar helped me thoughtfully reflect on my experiences and consider how to practically manage the joys and pressures of ministry. Valerie does a fantastic job of drawing attention to the 'high-risk' nature of ministry and equips people to work towards prevention rather than cure. I highly recommend Valerie's workshops!
Amy TownsendStudent, Sydney Missionary & Bible College
The Bullet Proof course was an incredibly reflective space, where I was able to explore some of my strengths and shortcomings in taking care of myself. It was helpful to understand burnout prevention from different angles and how to highlight the different areas I need to work through to feel sustained as I continue my career in Psychology. Valerie and the group were incredibly receptive and collaborative when exploring different areas I identified as needing particular love in my burnout prevention journey”.
Thank you again for this course. It is so needed in the psych community!
Jackie WilsonClinical Team Lead & Psychologist
Our school engaged Valerie Ling to run some parent and staff workshops. Valerie is a very engaging presenter. The presentations provided the perfect mix of new content, intellectual rigour, humour, real life examples, strategies and affirmations. Valerie spent time beforehand to understand the context of our school community in order, to create bespoke presentations. We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our school community about the presentations. I would highly recommend engaging Dr Valerie Ling and her practice Effective Living.

Valerie's parenting seminar on raising resilient parents was insightful and wonderfully practical. She explained how to use a variety of tools across the age range to better connect with and support kids as they deal with emotions, starting with effectively modelling these strategies to your kids as you deal with your own emotions and responding to your kids/the situation they're in in a helpful way.
Valerie made lots of time for questions throughout the seminar and the parents who came found it very helpful for dealing with the particular concerns they had.

Your content and structure of the group was amazing, it really allowed me to journey into the depths of my own habits and drivers. Pause. And reconsider what it is I am doing in every corner of my life. Like cleaning out the cupboards and keeping the functional with only a few sentimentals. The timing was perfect and has allowed me to significantly change what I do and how to support my team.
Janine LordDirector Shoalhaven Psychology Services
Valerie is a Clinical Psychologist, with a wealth of counselling experience and a passion for training Christians and Ministry workers in building resilience and avoiding burn-out. She gave information on the physiology of Anxiety and Burn-out and gave us tools for dealing with these in more positive ways.
Valerie is an engaging speaker who has the gift of bringing humour and down to earth insight into a difficult and painful subject.

We approached Valerie Ling, having heard her speak at a few different events for Christians on resilience, stress, and depression. Her seminar was full of professional and practical wisdom and the latest research....sharing her personal perspective was an effective way of communicating the message... in a way that made it flow naturally, and was easy to hear. We'd love to have Valerie speak again this year on a different topic, but unfortunately she's all booked up!

It was a real treat to have Valerie assist with the Developing Rectors Program. She is passionate about the issues of burnout and establishing the right foundation for the intense service that can be involved in pastoral ministry. She is so well researched and read, and it is delighted to engage in conversation to challenge our preconceptions - all the while being driven by a wonderful desire to help people start in the right place and run for the remaining decades of their working life. All present were helped to think more about their ministry sustainability, including the other presenters. We look forward to Valerie being a regular part of our self management module.

For the past two years Valerie Ling has presented to our entire College body on mental health and resilience. Mrs Ling ‘s input has been universally well received as she:
i. understands the world of her audience; in this case the theological student and pastor
ii. is a clear and engaging presenter
iii. is on top of her topic, both in breadth and depth of the issues
iv. is sensible in her suggestions of what is required for people in a variety of situations
v. provides helpful and achievable processes for individuals to make progress in these matters
We intend to have Mrs Ling deliver sessions like this every year.
Valerie has also proved an invaluable resource in helping Moore College develop its thinking and support processes in the care of its students during and beyond their College education. Her concern for their wellbeing is matched by her evidence-based clarity and wisdom.

Valerie came and spoke to my clinical team a few months ago and is an excellent presenter and thought leader in the area of burnout prevention. Much deeper, thought provoking questions than the surface level self care discussions facilitated in most professional development seminars and really practical strategies to self-assess and develop helpful habits. If you really want to get a grasp on how to have longevity in a stressful professional role or in the helping professions I strongly recommend speaking with Val about how she can assist you, your team or your organisation.

Valerie was an insightful and realistic presenter who acted like a breath of fresh air after the turbulent term it has been. She made me feel like my thoughts and feelings were valid whilst also allowing me to feel hopeful for what I could achieve and manage if I implemented some simple strategies. Valerie explained the why behind our difficulties and ensured everyone could share and learn not only from her expertise but also the experiences of one another. At a time when we can often feel quite isolated that was highly valuable and appreciated.

We had the pleasure of having Valerie present to our teaching and non-teaching staff a professional learning seminar- Resilience in Ministry. We found that Valerie was a very engaging presenter who was knowledgeable about issues surrounding those in ministry. She discussed the issues and then gave positive strategies that enable ministry workers to develop resilience. If you choose Valerie as a key note speaker, mentor or workshop leaders you will delighted with the impact she makes to your community.

Valerie’s session on parenting was very helpful and I would recommend it to you. Valerie brings a wonderful combination of deep theory and knowledge that is then grounded in everyday ideas for how to raise kids with humble self awareness and resilience. Very engaging and approachable and able to provide realistic, wise advice for parents seeking to raise their kids well.

Valerie's workshop on burnout was thoroughly enjoyed by both our clinical and admin staff. In a profession frequently exposed to high stress situations it is important that we learn to look after ourselves in order to better help others. Valerie's presentation was engaging and refreshing, I would highly recommend this session to others 😊

I've just completed Valerie's 'Rapid Reset' program, and have so appreciated her wisdom and support in managing burnout. I now have some essential tools in my toolkit, for self-care, so I can continue to help others! Thanks Valerie!

Valerie’s burnout prevention program came at just the right time for me. It has given me back my passion, drive and vision. It was thorough, individualised, specific and collaborative. Highly recommend for everyone - don’t wait until you are burnt out to invest in yourself.

Her seminar demonstrated a depth of professional experience and thoughtful preparation. As a speaker, Valerie is warm, passionate, genuine and clear. We highly recommend you experience the encouragement of her talks for yourself.

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