Job Therapy by Tessa West Summary

Job Therapy offers a therapeutic approach to career dissatisfaction, helping readers diagnose unmet psychological needs in their current roles. Dr. Tessa West identifies five common career frustration profiles and provides exercises to reframe work relationships, set boundaries, or transition to new roles. The book blends psychology research with actionable strategies for aligning work with personal values.

This book is ideal for professionals feeling stuck, considering career changes, or seeking to improve their current job satisfaction. It’s also valuable for HR leaders aiming to reduce turnover by addressing systemic communication gaps between employees and managers.

West categorizes career dissatisfaction into:

• The Burnout Spiral (chronic overwork)
• The Feedback Void (lack of recognition)
• Identity Mismatch (disconnect from workplace values)
• Boundary Collapse (blurred work-life lines)
• Growth Stagnation (limited advancement).
  Readers often identify with multiple profiles, guiding tailored solutions.

Unlike generic productivity tips, West’s approach focuses on emotional triggers and interpersonal dynamics at work. It emphasizes self-diagnosis through therapeutic exercises, such as reframing negative thought patterns and auditing stress responses, rather than résumé-building tactics.

The book includes:

• Self-assessment quizzes to pinpoint frustration sources
• Scripts for negotiating feedback or promotions
• A “work relationship audit” to evaluate colleagues’ impact
• Incremental goal-setting frameworks for transitions

Yes, West analyzes how hybrid setups exacerbate communication gaps and boundary issues. She offers strategies to assert availability preferences and recreate informal feedback loops lost in virtual environments.

Based on 1,200+ interviews with job-changers, West reveals 93% of employees receive no post-rejection feedback, and 67% misdiagnose their career dissatisfaction. These insights shape the book’s emphasis on systemic fixes over superficial changes.

Absolutely. West provides leaders with frameworks to:

• Identify early signs of employee burnout
• Deliver constructive feedback that reduces defensiveness
• Align role expectations with psychological needs
• Create psychologically safe pathways for upward communication

Some reviewers note the exercises require significant introspection, which may overwhelm readers seeking quick fixes. Others highlight its focus on individual change over organizational reform, though West counters with evidence-based advocacy tactics for systemic shifts.

While Work Rules! focuses on Google’s data-driven HR policies, Job Therapy prioritizes individual emotional needs. West’s approach complements Bock’s by addressing the human psychology behind engagement metrics like those in Bock’s “oxygen project”.

• “Your job isn’t the problem—your relationship with it is.”
• “Feedback avoidance is career quicksand.”
• “Boundaries aren’t selfish; they’re your job description’s fine print.”

With AI disrupting roles and remote work lingering, West’s strategies help workers navigate constant change by building emotional adaptability. The book’s focus on identity alignment addresses rising trends in career pivots post-automation.