Burnout

Burnout is a special type of stress – and it doesn’t just come from working long hours (although that can certainly contribute over time). Burnout can be caused by a variety of factors including a lack of work/life balance, unclear job expectations, a dysfunctional workplace, a lack of support or poor job fit. Those who work in a helping professional are especially at risk. Common symptoms of burnout include depression, cynicism and lethargy. If left unaddressed, burnout can affect your physical health contributing to numerous ailments including insomnia, high cholesterol and heart disease. But the good news is that burnout does not have to be a permanent condition. Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s burnout experts to start your journey towards recovery!

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Burnout happens when you've reached a state of complete exhaustion, mentally, emotionally, or physically. It's accompanied by a lack of drive or motivation, and when it's really bad - feelings of depression and hopelessness. Burnout is hard to muscle your way through since the reason it's finally arrived at your doorstep is because you HAVE been muscling your way through. It's just that it isn't working anymore.

— Whitney Russell, LPC, Licensed Professional Counselor in convenient and effective online therapy & career coaching in Austin, Dallas/Ft Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and everywhere across Texas, TX

As we've all been learning the last two years, the world is a wild place. For neurodiverse people living in a capitalist society, burnout is pretty much a guarantee, especially if you haven't been equipped with tools and systems that work for YOU. A big impact of long-term burnout is dissociation from the body. In our work together, we will help you reconnect with your body and restructure your life in such a way that you don't have to betray your limits to feel successful and fulfilled.

— Amelia Hodnett, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in Seattle, WA
 

Burnout is fairly common with driven and highly motivated people. This can be a result of overwork, overwhelming life responsibilities, and lack of adequate care for oneself. When working with burnout, we first seek to identify the thought patterns that got you there. Then through cognitive and action oriented behavioral work, we reframe your patterns to give you more space, more rest, and challenge you in ways that allow you to be more you, and less someone trying to be everything to everyone.

— Alena Gerst, Psychotherapist in New York, NY

Burnout is something that is so difficult to recognize, because it happens so slowly. Sometimes we recognize these stressful things, and we tell ourselves that we can handle it. But then it keeps happening again and again. Eventually we can't handle it anymore, and that's burnout. We can make changes in our lives to deal with burnout though. It may not feel this way right now, but you can make positive changes in your life.

— Danielle Wayne, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Boise, ID
 

You're not feeling as productive at work and struggle to get up in the morning. You're desire in your relationships has waned and you just want to zone out most of the day. Calling out sick is becoming a weekly consideration. Burnout from work and your relationships is common AND treatable. Together we can help you identify the causes of burnout and create a plan to bring more meaning back to your life.

— Kristin Tand, Licensed Professional Counselor in Portland, OR

Is the clock ticking ever more slowly at work? Do you wake up dreading the day, and finding that even days off are a drag? Are you feeling uninspired in the areas that used to inspire you? That could be burnout. High performers, at work and at home, are especially susceptible to "square wheel syndrome" - that feeling that everything requires more effort than it should and the loss of "flow". There are ways to address this, but everyone has a different path. Let me help you find yours.

— Pamela Suraci, Marriage & Family Therapist in CA & UT, CA
 

Vicarious trauma is a real thing. First responders, helping professionals and caregivers are susceptible to trauma and burnout. I have worked with those who have experienced this, as a wellness coordinator for mental health professionals. Using a positive psychology framework, I assist clients in gaining a sense of meaning, establishing healthy boundaries and enhancing positive emotions.

— Christina Scott, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Portsmouth, OH

Is your inner critic your worst boss ever? Are you asking yourself what you need to change about yourself in order to get to the place you want? Don't go down the same road that got you here wondering why you are not enjoying your success. What if the answer is to not change yourself, but to embrace and amplify your natural strengths and wisdom to allow the change that works for you?

— Allison Glorioso, Mental Health Counselor in Fort Myers, FL
 

OMG Burnout! We are hearing so much about it and I am thrilled. Lets talk about it and keep talking about it, how to notice it and recover while maintaining balance to prevent it. I have attended training by Emily Nagoski and adore her books on burnout and sexual health. I assist clients in identifying their unmet needs, use science to "complete the stress cycle," and use tools to stay balanced so we don't repeatedly get burnout.

— Katherine Doyle, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Seattle, WA

Women who are engaged in their careers often find that living up to expectations of their performance leaves them stressed, overwhelmed, and exhausted. They face unrealistic pressures to “do it all” that often lead to feelings of burnout and exhaustion. Engaging in your career doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your own mental health and wellbeing. You deserve to feel comfortable and confident in the life you’ve built for yourself!

— Jessica Byrd, Counselor in Tempe, AZ
 

Burnout is a distinctly work-related phenomenon that can be related to depression, anxiety, and other conditions, but is often overlooked or misunderstood. While working at an organization suffering from a high level of employee burnout, I delved into the research of this topic and created an initiative to identify, measure, prevent, and treat burnout. In our work together, we can consider if this is an issue in your life and I can give you tools to address it.

— Margaret (Maggie) Kirlin, Clinical Psychologist in Livingston, MT

Burnout applies to work AND life. You can be fried about the treadmill that is your job, you can be weary to your core about the slog that is your daily routine, and you can be fed up with the useless dance that you have with people close to you (or fed up with your own isolation). The worn-down malaise that clouds your world is here to deliver an important message: it's time for a change. Let's see where you need to make shifts and how you can approach those changes with energy and ease.

— Margaret Graham, Licensed Professional Counselor
 

You feel depleted. Your personal life and/or your health is suffering because you work all the time. You may be feeling jaded, cynical or hopeless in regards to your job. You are not doing the kind of work that you are capable of and you may feel like you just want to quit.

— Sabrina Basquez, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Greensboro, NC

Sacrificing your own needs for others, for too long, can put you on the road to burnout. This is especially prevalent for visionaries, leaders, big-hearted helpers, and social services workers. These roles require self-care and boundaries that can feel selfish and often get neglected. Learn to put parameters around your help, manage vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue, AND stay in alignment with your values to decrease your risk for burnout. Take care of yourself - so you can help others.

— Katie Vernoy, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Torrance, CA
 

I have worked in large healthcare systems for the majority of my career and have seen the suffering that trickles down when healthcare providers are silenced and unsupported. Ever increasing demands without the resources available to meet those demands are a fast track to burnout. My goal is not to help those in abusive situations tolerate those situations better, but to help those experiencing burnout explore creative options for taking the best care of themselves possible.

— Jennifer Kilkus, Clinical Psychologist

Professional burnout - particularly for those in the helping professions.

— Laura Silverman, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Atlanta, GA
 

I treat a number of fellow clinicians and medical professionals who are experiencing compassion fatigue. I also work with those in creative fields who are experiencing professional burnout and blocks.

— Erika Gray, Clinical Psychologist in ,

Have you worked hard to have a career you're passionate about only to find yourself burned out and resentful? Burnout involves feelings of emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced feelings of accomplishment. While all people are prone to burnout, helping professionals are especially vulnerable. It is vitally important for those in jobs that involve healing to cultivate a discipline of hope and renewable "fuel" for our work.

— Liz Fletcher, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Oklahoma City, OK