We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carlos Del Rio a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Carlos, thanks for joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?
The defining moment in my career came during a particularly overwhelming time when I was working as a clinician with special education children while simultaneously pursuing my master’s degree. The demands of both roles began to take a toll on my mental and physical health. I was passionate about my work and committed to my education, but the constant pressure left me completely burnt out. It wasn’t just the workload; it was the lack of space to breathe, to reflect, or to care for my own well-being.
That period of burnout forced me to confront the reality that “pushing through” wasn’t sustainable. I realized that to be my best self—for the children I worked with, for my education, and for my own life—I had to learn how to balance ambition with self-care. This insight became the foundation of my journey into burnout prevention and mental wellness, not just for myself, but for others working in high-demand fields like ABA therapy.
The lessons I learned from that experience are central to my work today and inspired my book, *Relaxed and Awake: Achieve More & Stress Less in a Digital World*. In the book, I share the strategies and tools I developed to maintain a sense of calm and focus while continuing to perform at a high level. It’s about learning how to be both relaxed and awake, navigating through life’s challenges with energy and clarity instead of burnout and fatigue.
Now, I help other professionals avoid the same struggles I faced, focusing on creating sustainable practices that promote well-being. The key takeaway from my journey is this: **you can’t pour from an empty cup**. Taking care of yourself isn’t just a necessity; it’s the foundation for everything else in life and work. Today, my mission is to share these lessons, helping people thrive without sacrificing their mental health.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Absolutely! I’d love to share my journey and the heart behind what I do. My name is Carlos Del Rio, and my career began in the fields of physical education and applied behavior analysis (ABA). Over the years, I’ve worked closely with neurodivergent children, special education students, and professionals in the ABA space, helping them navigate the challenges of burnout, mental health, and workplace wellness.
The turning point came when I faced severe burnout while working as a clinician and pursuing my master’s degree. That experience sparked my mission to help others in high-stress environments avoid the same struggles. This journey led me to create programs like **ABA Thrive**, which focuses on preventing burnout for ABA professionals by offering mental health support and tools for resilience.
At the core of my work is my book, *Relaxed and Awake: Achieve More & Stress Less in a Digital World*. It reflects everything I’ve learned about managing the fast-paced, demanding nature of life and work without losing balance or clarity. I help people—from individuals to organizations—learn how to be productive while staying grounded, helping them avoid burnout and cultivate better mental health habits.
The **ABA Thrive Annual Program** is one of the key offerings I’m proud of. It includes an initial staff workshop, quarterly follow-up calls, and lifetime access to a burnout prevention course tailored for ABA professionals. My consulting services also extend into broader workplace wellness, particularly for businesses looking to prioritize employee well-being and psychological flexibility.
What sets my work apart is the holistic approach. It’s not just about productivity; it’s about sustainability—how can we achieve at a high level without burning out? My personal experience with burnout gives me the unique perspective of having been in the trenches. I know firsthand the challenges people face, and I’ve developed strategies that actually work.
One of the things I’m most proud of is my work with Purium, which focuses on making real food, financial independence, and sustainability accessible to over a million people. And through initiatives like **Rise for Inclusion**, I’m also working to build special education centers in underdeveloped nations, offering a future for children who have limited access to services.
At the end of the day, what I want people to know is that my work is about empowerment. Whether it’s through my books, wellness programs, or consulting services, I’m committed to helping people create lives that are truly their own—balanced, fulfilled, and thriving.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
What really helped me build my reputation within the market has been a combination of authentic social media presence and the actual work I’ve done in the field of ABA and holistic health. Social media, particularly Instagram, has been a huge driver of my reach. Through my handle **@psycarlosgy**, I’ve been able to share insights, personal growth experiences, and my passion for mental health, wellness, and neurodiversity. I focus on delivering value through raw, real conversations—whether it’s about burnout, mental resilience, or strategies for thriving in life and work.
What sets my social media presence apart is that it’s not just about posting content; it’s about **building a community**. I connect with my audience on a deeper level, sharing my own challenges and successes in a way that resonates with those who follow my journey. This openness, combined with the real value I offer, has helped my message grow organically and gain traction.
Of course, it doesn’t stop at social media. My reputation has also been built on the work I’ve done directly in the ABA field and holistic health. Programs like **ABA Thrive** have been critical in helping professionals navigate burnout and mental health challenges in the workplace. My background working with neurodivergent students and my passion for holistic health have allowed me to create programs that are not only grounded in real-world experience but that also produce real results.
In essence, it’s the combination of visibility—leveraging platforms like Instagram—and substance, through hands-on, meaningful work, that has helped me build my reputation. I’m constantly striving to offer something of value to my community, and that’s what keeps people coming back and referring my work to others.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
One of the most challenging and defining moments of resilience in my life was the time I had to fly from Arizona to New Jersey to take care of my father, who was on the brink of death due to alcohol abuse. This was just a month after I had been diagnosed with depression, and I was already balancing a full-time role as a clinician working with special education children while also pursuing my master’s degree.
When I got the call about my father, I knew I had to be there. I took the next flight out and arrived to find him in a fragile state. It was emotionally overwhelming, but I showed up every day to make sure he was receiving the care he needed. While managing his health crisis, I had to continue to complete my academic work at a high level. There were many sleepless nights where I was torn between the responsibilities of being a son, a student, and a professional.
Looking back, it was one of the hardest periods of my life, but it taught me the power of resilience. I was able to step up in the face of overwhelming circumstances and still hold everything together. The lesson I took from that experience was that no matter how tough life gets, we have the inner strength to push through if we stay grounded and focus on what truly matters.
That period shaped how I now approach my work in mental health, burnout prevention, and leadership—helping others navigate their own challenges without losing themselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beacons.ai/divergentwellness
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psycarlosgy/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/psycarlosgy
Image Credits
Black Men In Behavior Analysis for the conference picture.