From Isolated to Inspired: How Connection Transforms the Pediatric Provider Experience

“I Thought I Had to Do It Alone” — A Tale as Old as Time in Pediatric Care

A few months ago, one of my best friends from grad school shared something with me that we’ve all heard or experienced working in pediatrics…but this time it really stuck with me.

“I used to eat lunch in my car,” she said. “Not because I didn’t like my coworkers. I just… didn’t really have any. I was the only therapist at my last job, across 3 buildings. No one to bounce ideas off. No one to help me celebrate a breakthrough. No one to talk to when a session left me in tears. I loved the kids, but I was drowning in the silence.”

Her voice cracked a little, and her words were hard hitting.

The Hidden Cost of Isolation

In pediatric healthcare, we emphasize collaboration—for our patients. We build multidisciplinary teams and wrap services around families because we know it leads to better outcomes.

But we don’t talk enough about what isolation does to us—the clinicians, the therapists, the ones holding space for everyone else.

Whether you’re a BCBA, speech therapist, OT, PT, or pediatric mental health clinician, it’s all too easy to feel like you’re shouldering the weight of care alone. Maybe you're the only provider on-site. Maybe time restrictions get you buried in report writing, leaving you no time to connect with the team. Or, in so many clinical settings, maybe the culture just doesn’t make space for real reflection and support.

Over time, that kind of disconnection wears you down. Burnout doesn’t always begin with exhaustion—it often begins with loneliness. With feeling like your doubts, your questions, and even your victories are yours alone to carry.

From Pressure to Partnership

In isolated environments, something else starts to creep in: the pressure to always “be right.”

When you’re not part of a truly collaborative team, clinical conversations can feel more like courtroom defenses than open dialogue. You second-guess yourself. You stop asking questions. You retreat.

But here’s what we’ve learned: the best care isn’t delivered by people working in silos. It’s created by teams who trust each other enough to say:

“I’m not sure.”
“Can we talk this through?”
“What’s worked for you in this situation?”

Why Culture Matters at ICAN

One of the most powerful clinical tools we have is each other. That’s why we’ve built a team culture centered on connection, humility, and growth. We make space for honest conversations, hard questions, and shared wins—because when our clinicians thrive, so do the families we serve.

You don’t have to figure it all out alone. In fact, you’re not supposed to. It is critical that leaders and teams build a culture where, though difficult, crucial conversations are welcomed and ego does not get in the way.

Thinking About What’s Next?

If you’ve been feeling isolated in your current role—or if you’ve ever found yourself eating lunch in your car just to get through the day—we want you to know: it doesn’t have to be that way.

We’re always looking for compassionate, collaborative professionals who believe pediatric care is a team effort. Who want to be part of something bigger than themselves.

Because when you join a team that truly sees and supports you, everything changes.

📩 Curious about what it’s like to work at ICAN? Click Here