Burnout isn’t just being tired — it’s feeling worn down deep inside.

You’ve been giving so much of yourself—at work, at home, at school, to your family, friends, or colleagues —but lately, it feels like there’s nothing left for you. Over time, the weight of it all can leave you feeling drained, disconnected, and overwhelmed, feeing negative towards yourself and your life circumstances.

You’re wondering how you’ll keep up…at work, at parenting and at life.

Burnout at work

National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that 57% say their job has left them feeling burned out — 37% so overwhelmed that it affects their ability to do their work well.

You might feel:

• Emotionally exhausted or stuck

• Disconnected or indifferent toward your job or coworkers

• Frustrated, unproductive, procrastinating or decreased satisfaction

• Physically run down, with headaches or trouble sleeping

• More irritable or withdrawn than usual
  

Burnout often grows from:

• Heavy workloads or long hours

• Feeling out of control or unclear about what’s expected

• Difficult workplace relationships or toxic environments

• A work-life balance that feels impossible

• Feeling unrecognized or undervalued

Parental Burnout

While parenting can be wonderful and rewarding, it can also be a source of tension, stress and worry. A national survey reports the majority of parents experience isolation, loneliness and burnout from the demands of parenthood, with many feeling a lack of support in fulfilling that role.

you may experience:

• Overwhelming exhaustion related to parenting and your role as a parent

• Emotional distance from your child or loved ones

• Doubts about your ability to parent well or feeling ineffective
  

Common causes of parental burnout:

• Overload; sheer volume of constant needs, sleepless nights, and endless household and family responsibilities

• The ultimate juggling act; balancing work, finances, and caregiving all at once

• Imbalance of demands, insufficient help from a partner, family or community, feeling like you have to do it all alone

• Holding yourself to impossible “perfect parent” standards

• Managing your own health challenges while caregiving

• Children with additional emotional, academic or medical needs or challenges

• Feeling invisible or unappreciated for the work you do

Academic Burnout

College burnout develops when a student experiences chronic stress over an extended period of time. These students may develop burnout symptoms including fatigue, detachment, and an overall lack of interest in academics. According to the National College Health Assessment, 80% of college students reported feeling overwhelmed, and 40% reported it was difficult to function.

What we work on in Therapy

Burnout can feel heavy, but you don’t have to carry it alone. Therapy creates a space to:

• Notice and soften harsh self-judgments

• Build healthier ways of thinking about success and worth

• Accept difficult feelings without being overwhelmed by them

• Find clarity about what truly matters to you

• Learn practical tools to manage stress and rebuild balance

Therapy talk: evidence-based modalities

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Helps identify and reframe the thought patterns that keep you pushing past your limits — like “If I slow down, everything will fall apart.” CBT supports you in recognizing unhelpful beliefs about productivity and self-worth, developing healthier coping strategies, and learning to rest without guilt.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Invites you to acknowledge exhaustion, frustration, or disconnection without judgment — and to clarify what truly matters to you beyond performance. ACT helps you move from striving to aligning: acting from your values rather than from pressure or perfectionism, and creating balance that honors both purpose and rest.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Addresses deeper emotional layers that may contribute to burnout, such as past experiences of criticism, failure, or over-responsibility. EMDR helps reprocess these memories and the beliefs they created (like “I’m only valuable when I’m productive”), allowing your nervous system to relax and your self-worth to expand beyond doing.

Burnout is a signal, not a failure. It’s your mind and body asking for rest, support, and a chance to reset.

Small steps—setting boundaries, asking for help, or simply pausing—can help you regain energy and perspective.

You don’t have to do it all alone.