Ask Kati Anything23 Sep 2025

Inside the Mind of a Principal Ballerina: Burnout, Therapy & Resilience with Sara Mearns

Ballet, burnout, and the hidden mental health battles of a top performer. In this powerful conversation, Sara Mearns — principal ballerina at New York City Ballet — opens up about her journey through a breakdown, therapy, and rediscovering joy in dance. Hear her unfiltered story about pressure, resilience, and the healing power of vulnerability. Ask Kati Anything ep. 279 | Your mental health podcast, with Kati Morton, LMFT Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction: Meet Sara Mearns 01:05 – Why ballet feels new every day 03:40 – The pressure of never feeling “good enough” 04:42 – Mental Health Coalition & Covid struggles 07:12 – The breaking point: burnout and depression 12:14 – Rediscovering balance through therapy 17:14 – The role of storytelling and books like The Midnight Library https://amzn.to/3HRAhsM 22:12 – The intimacy of dance partnerships 30:47 – When the audience goes silent: the ultimate performance high 35:17 – Deciding to become a professional ballerina at 12 39:01 – Why therapy should be part of training for all athletes 45:20 – The small shifts therapy creates over time 50:07 – How going public with her burnout helped others 53:58 – The future of ballet and mental health advocacy Follow along with Sara https://www.instagram.com/saramearns https://www.nycballet.com/ My new book is available for pre-order! Why Do I Keep Doing This? → https://geni.us/XoyLSQ If you’ve ever felt stuck, this book is for you. I’d be so grateful for your support. SPONSORS: To support this podcast, please check out https://www.oneskin.co - use the code KATI for 15% OFF https://www.betterhelp.com/katipod - (enjoy 10% off your first month) MY BOOKS Traumatized https://geni.us/Bfak0j Are u ok? https://geni.us/sva4iUY PARTNERSHIPS Nick Freeman | nick@biglittlemedia.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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What Does Psychosis Actually Feel Like? (Separating Fact vs. Fiction)

Understanding psychosis can feel overwhelming, but separating myths from facts helps remove the fear. In this episode of Ask Kati Anything, licensed marriage and family therapist Kati Morton breaks do...

8 Okt 1h 14min

What Is Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD)?

What Is Dependent Personality Disorder (DPD)? Do you struggle to make decisions without someone else’s approval? Do you constantly seek reassurance, fear being alone, or stay in unhealthy relationsh...

8 Okt 1h 7min

What Is a Trauma Bond? Signs of an Abusive Relationship

What is a trauma bond, and why is it so hard to leave an unhealthy relationship even when you know you deserve better? In this episode, licensed marriage and family therapist Kati Morton breaks down w...

1 Okt 1h 13min

Avoidant Personality Disorder: Why You Think You’re Better Off Alone

Are you constantly craving connection but terrified of rejection? Avoidant Personality Disorder (AvPD) goes beyond typical shyness or introversion—it can keep you trapped in a cycle of loneliness and ...

17 Sep 1h 4min

What Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Actually Looks Like (OCD)

Are disturbing intrusive thoughts a sign of OCD, or are they just severe anxiety? Licensed therapist Kati Morton explains how Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is clinically diagnosed, why common expressi...

10 Sep 1h 6min

Signs You’re Dealing with the Dark Triad (Psychopath, Narcissist, or Machiavellian?)

What is the Dark Triad, and how can you tell if you’re dealing with a narcissist, a psychopath, or someone high in Machiavellianism? In this episode, licensed therapist Kati Morton breaks down the cor...

3 Sep 1h 3min

Dissociation: From Zoning Out to Depersonalization

Have you ever felt completely disconnected from your body, lost hours of time, or wondered why you feel numb when overwhelmed? In this episode, licensed therapist Kati Morton explores dissociation and...

27 Aug 1h 5min

Do You Have CPTSD? Symptoms, Flashbacks & Treatments

What is Complex PTSD (CPTSD), and how does it differ from traditional PTSD or Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)? In this episode of Ask Kati Anything (Ep. 328), licensed therapist Kati Morton brea...

21 Aug 1h 20min