Burnout Counseling
Burnout Counseling: Burnout is NOT Your Fault
While the signs of being burned out may present a bit differently from person to person, the cause of burnout is universal: work. Burnout is a condition caused by chronic workplace stress. If you are seeking burnout treatment or burnout counseling, you are likely in a job that places you at risk for burnout. These are professional roles that often help others and are associated with taking care of others and feeling responsibility for their well-being. Although burnout is increasingly common and is found in all industries, the following professions are significantly impacted by burnout.
Medicine, including physicians, surgeons, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians
Mental health, including social workers, marriage and family therapists, counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists/psychiatric nurse practitioners
Emergency response (aka first responders), including firefighters, law enforcement officers, paramedics, EMS workers
Lawyers
Tech, including programmers, engineers, IT professionals, salespeople, business development
Hospitality, including managers, sommeliers, chefs
Airline industry, including flight attendants, pilots, air traffic controllers
In addition, across industries, some roles require additional responsibilities that can increase stress and place a person at risk for burnout. These roles include managers, executives, supervisors, department heads and chiefs, to name just some examples. For many professionals, what starts as a welcome and well deserved promotion can become a hellish combination of overseeing too many projects and people, not enough support for delegating, and overworking.
Signs That You Need Burnout Counseling
The World Health Organization describes burnout as a syndrome characterized by three factors:
Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
Increased mental distance from one’s job, or negative or cynical feelings related to one's job
Reduced professional efficacy
Some common signs of burnout include:
Irritability or moodiness
Feeling helpless
Frequent anger in the job or at your co-workers
Missing deadlines
Severe procrastination
Not wanting to get out of bed in the mornings
Trouble sleeping
Fatigue
Low energy
Constant feeling of overwhelm
Why It’s Difficult to Admit You’re Burned Out
It’s hard for people to admit they are burned out because it is often accompanied by a sense of failure that they couldn’t overcome the problems or stressors of the job. It’s also normal for people to feel shame or embarrassment about being burned out because again, the erroneous assumption is that the person is to blame, rather than the job or the system in which the job exists. The truth is, burnout is not your fault. There are many factors that lead to burnout and in my experience, the individual experiencing burnout is doing the best they can to cope and survive, often in an organization or system that burdens workers with disproportionate responsibilities.
Risk Factors for Burnout
You feel overworked and undervalued
You have lots of responsibilities outside of work, such as parenting or caregiving
You have a history of anxiety or depression
You are perfectionistic or hard on yourself
You have trouble asking for help
You have a tendency to isolate yourself
You identify as BIPOC or a Person of Color
You have difficulty giving up control of things or your job gives you very little control over things
Healing From Burnout: A Transformative Experience
Healing from burnout is a precious opportunity to take stock and understand oneself. It takes time and awareness but in my experience, the reward for that work is absolutely worthwhile. Burnout counseling is not “one size fits all” because we have to understand the unique challenges and strengths each person is bringing to the table. For some people, leaving a job is the best solution, while for others, finding more effective ways to set boundaries and delegate tasks might be a new way forward. The purpose of burnout counseling is not to return the person to where they were before they burned out. That’s not possible or desired because the work has changed you in some way and your healing has to reflect those experiences. Ultimately, burnout can be an opportunity to start living the life you really want. Burnout can clarify needs, values, and identities. When a job shows you what doesn’t work for you, it can also show you what you need to be content and motivated in work.
Here are some of the things I focus on in burnout counseling.
Understanding how you got here, including internal and external pressures that may increase stress
Actively engaging your support system
Finding ways to relax that fit with your interests and needs
Improving sleep
Creating more opportunities to feel positive emotions
Practicing self-compassion
Improving communication and assertiveness at the job
Implementing firmer and more consistent boundaries with work
Hi, I’m Chu Hui, aka Dr. Cha.
It’s so hard to reach out for help, especially when you already feel maxed out and overwhelmed. I get that and I’m here to make your next steps as easy as possible. I have over 10 years of clinical experience working with teachers, physicians, therapists, first responders, tech workers, attorneys, and civil servants struggling with the same concerns you face today. Your first visit with me is a free consultation.
