The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast CNLP 786 | Craig Groeschel and His Therapist Join the Show: What Happens When a Leader Hits a Breaking Point
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Feb 17, 2026 
Craig Groeschel, senior pastor and longtime leader, and Dr. Wayne Chappelle, clinical psychologist and performance coach, discuss a leadership breaking point Craig hit and how he recovered. They talk about hidden burnout, the risks leaders face when depleted, the wingman concept of trusted accountability, and practical refueling practices like intense disconnecting activities.
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When Success Suddenly Became Unsustainable
- Craig Groeschel describes a season where relentless sprints piled up until he felt physically and emotionally unable to continue.
- He admits he thought, "this job will kill me," and lacked language to ask for or receive help.
Depletion Precedes Clinical Breakdown
- Wayne Chappelle framed Craig's condition as emotional burnout or depletion rather than a clinical disorder at first.
- He warned that without intervention burnout can become a clinical diagnosis with cascading consequences.
Teach Your Inner Circle How To Help
- Equip your close circle with explicit language and specific actions to help you when red flags appear.
- Dr. Wayne Chappelle met with Craig's assistant, friends, and spouse to create a team plan and shared signals.
