Lessons from the Frontlines: 3 Insights from a Therapist Supporting Entrepreneurs
Being an entrepreneur is often idealized, but the truth is a bit more nuanced. I should know—before I became a therapist, I was an entrepreneur. I believed that if I worked harder, longer, and sacrificed more, success would follow. Instead, I felt anxious, restless, and had a growing sense that I was one bad quarter away from a nervous breakdown. Turns out, I wasn’t alone.
72% of entrepreneurs struggle with mental health concerns—compared to just 48% of non-entrepreneurs (UC Berkeley Study). In other words, if you’re an entrepreneur and you haven’t questioned your life choices at 2 a.m. while stress-eating cold pizza, you might actually be a unicorn.
Entrepreneurs are:
twice as likely to suffer from depression
three times more likely to struggle with substance use
10x more likely to experience bipolar disorder (Freeman et al., 2019).
And yet, despite all of this, mental health is still an afterthought in most entrepreneurial circles. You’re supposed to be a fearless risk-taker, a visionary leader, a master of the hustle. Admitting that you’re struggling? That might feel impossible.
This is why Collectively Tangled, the City of Calgary, and the Social Innovation Hub launched the Change Can’t Wait pilot—an initiative designed to bring mental health support directly into entrepreneurial spaces including making individual therapy and co-founder counselling accessible. And the results? Eye-opening.
69% of participants sought support for financial stress—because accepting an investor's money and running out of it is stressful!
81% reported high stress levels (7+ on a 1-10 scale)—with nearly one-third at extreme levels.
41% accessed therapy for the first time—which means a lot of founders were white-knuckling their way through burnout before finally getting help.
Lessons from the Front Lines
When I met with people during the Change Can’t Wait pilot, I noticed many differences—but even more surprising commonalities. At the core, I came away with a few key insights.
1. Privacy Matters—A Lot
Many founders hesitate to ask for help, fearing reputational harm. With friends and family often serving as early investors, the pressure can feel overwhelming. Vulnerability can seem like a personal and professional risk.
But here’s the truth: therapy is confidential. No one is judging. In fact, many successful people go to therapy—they just aren’t talking about it.
2. Therapy Doesn’t Have to Take Years
Entrepreneurs often believed that therapy meant digging into the past, like a Freudian excavation of hidden stories. But for the Change Can’t Wait pilot, Collectively Tangled wisely recommended Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)—a practical, goal-oriented approach that emphasizes solutions over deep analysis.
And here’s the best part: SFBT works fast. Research shows it can lead to meaningful change in just 3-8 sessions (ResearchGate). For busy entrepreneurs, that’s less time than it takes to craft a solid pitch deck.
3. Isolation Is More Dangerous Than Failure
Running a business isn’t just tough—it’s lonely. Nearly 30% of small business owners say isolation is a serious problem (Forbes), and a Harvard Business Review study found that 59% of entrepreneurs report feeling isolated.
And here’s the kicker: isolation makes everything worse. It amplifies stress, fuels self-doubt, and accelerates burnout.
But the moment entrepreneurs start talking—whether in therapy, peer groups, or even a well-timed Twitter rant—something shifts. The pressure becomes more manageable. The weight starts to lift.
So, where do we go from here?
For starters, we need to ditch the outdated notion that stress and suffering are just part of the startup journey. Yes, running a business is hard. But that doesn’t mean entrepreneurs should have to sacrifice their mental health on the altar of hustle culture.
If you’re an entrepreneur:
Get support before you hit rock bottom. You don’t have to wait until burnout sets in to prioritize your mental health.
Find a therapist who gets the founder mindset. Solution-focused therapy is designed for people who don’t have time to waste.
Let’s stop treating grind culture like a badge of honour and start seeing mental health as the competitive advantage it truly is.
Change can’t wait. And neither can entrepreneurs.
Krista Teare
Krista holds a Master’s in Counselling and is a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), registered with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. With over 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship and management consulting, she brings a unique perspective to her work, blending business insight with mental health expertise.
Drawing from her own entrepreneurial journey, Krista is passionate about advocating for mental health in our communities. She empowers clients to recognize and leverage their strengths, talents, and support systems, helping them navigate challenges and achieve their goals with confidence.
Collectively Tangled provides anonymous and confidential help from mental health experts who specialize in supporting entrepreneurs.
