Therapy for Burnout
Therapist for burnout in Pasadena
Burnout isn’t just feeling overworked or tired—it’s a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that no amount of rest seems to fix.
Despite high achievements and outward success, you struggle with feelings of not being good enough. The chronic stress, perfectionism, and people-pleasing tendencies leave you feeling constantly on edge, depleted, and disconnected.
Through therapy, you’ll learn to befriend your perfectionism, regain balance, and manage stress more effectively
Experiencing burnout can feel like being trapped in a fog that never lifts.
The exhaustion is relentless—you wake up as tired as when you went to bed, and even simple tasks feel insurmountable. Your body is also alerting you with headaches, stomach issues, or a constant sense of heaviness. This sense of feeling drained also leaves you disconnected from the people and activities that once brought you joy. Work or daily responsibilities become frustrating. It’s like trying to function with a frayed connection to the world around you.
The Difference Between Burnout and Stress
Burnout and stress are closely related, but they’re not the same. Stress is a natural response to challenges and can even be motivating in short bursts. However, when stress becomes chronic, it can lead to burnout.
Stress
Often involves over-engagement, high energy, and urgency
Burnout
Characterized by disengagement, low energy, and feelings of helplessness.
How can therapy help with stress and burnout
Learning About Your Nervous System
Help you address the root causes of exhaustion, restoring energy and motivation.
Enhancing Self-Awareness:
Learn to recognize your limits, respond to your nervous system, and prioritize caring for yourself.
Boundary Setting
“The distance at which I can love you and me simultaneously” – Prentis Hemphill
Building Resilience:
Develop coping strategies that help you navigate stress more effectively.
Preventing Future Burnout
Foster sustainable habits that protect your mental and physical health over the long term.
Personal Growth & Self-Discovery:
A safe space to explore the parts of you that want to get the most out of life.
Therapy for Burnout Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I’m experiencing burnout or just regular stress?
While stress is a normal response to challenges, burnout occurs when stress becomes chronic and unmanageable. Signs of burnout include: persistent fatigue, emotional depletion, feeling disconnected or cynical, and reduced performance. I can help you differentiate between the two and create a recovery plan tailored to your needs.
What approaches do you use to treat burnout?
I use a blend of evidence-based approaches such as Internal Family Systems Therapy IFS, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP). Additionally, somatic practices and tools informed by Polyvagal Theory can help regulate the nervous system and restore balance.
Is online therapy effective for treating burnout?
Yes, online therapy is a highly effective option for addressing burnout and stress. It offers the same evidence-based methods as in-person sessions, with the added convenience of accessing care from your own space. Many clients find online therapy particularly helpful for managing stress when their schedule is already demanding.
Can therapy help with the physical symptoms of burnout, like fatigue or headaches?
Yes, while therapy doesn’t directly treat physical symptoms, it addresses the stress and emotional factors contributing to them. Techniques for managing stress and promoting relaxation can reduce physical symptoms like tension headaches, digestive issues, and persistent fatigue over time.
Is therapy for burnout and stress only for professionals?
No, burnout can affect anyone, from corporate professionals and caregivers to students and parents. Therapy is designed to help individuals in all roles who feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or disconnected, regardless of their occupation.
Can therapy help prevent burnout in the future?
Absolutely. Therapy equips you with tools to recognize early signs of stress, set boundaries, and practice self-care. By learning to regulate your nervous system and respond to challenges with resilience, you can reduce the likelihood of future burnout episodes.
Burnout from a nervous system perspective
From a nervous system perspective, burnout can be understood as a chronic state of dysregulation, where the body and brain are overwhelmed by prolonged stress without adequate recovery. This prolonged stress keeps the nervous system in a state of activation that depletes energy reserves and disrupts homeostasis, leading to physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms.
- Initially, chronic stress keeps the person stuck in a sympathetic state, with heightened anxiety, overwork, and physical tension.
- Over time, the body may move into a dorsal vagal shutdown, reflecting emotional exhaustion, withdrawal, and reduced performance.
What is Polyvagal Theory?
Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, provides a deeper understanding of how the nervous system responds to stress and burnout. It highlights the role of the vagus nerve in regulating our stress responses and social connection. According to the theory, the autonomic nervous system has three hierarchical states:
Ventral Vagal State (Safe and Social): This is the state of calm, connection, and engagement. When the ventral vagal system is active, we feel safe, creative, and able to engage with others.
Sympathetic State (Fight or Flight): When we perceive a threat, the body shifts into this mobilized state to address danger. Prolonged activation in this state can lead to chronic stress and anxiety.
Dorsal Vagal State (Shutdown): If the threat is perceived as too overwhelming and we lack the resources to fight or flee, the nervous system can shift into this hypoaroused state, characterized by disconnection, fatigue, and emotional numbness.
A nervous system approach to healing burnout
Recovery from burnout involves restoring nervous system regulation and re-establishing a sense of safety in the body. Interventions might include:
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- Co-Regulation: Building safe, supportive relationships that help recalibrate the nervous system through connection.
- Body-Based Practices: Activities like yoga, mindfulness, deep breathing, and somatic experiencing can engage the vagus nerve and shift the system toward the ventral vagal state.
- Gradual Activation: For those stuck in dorsal vagal shutdown, gentle, incremental activities can help rebuild energy and motivation without triggering overwhelm.
- Stress Management Tools: Learning to recognize and respond to stress signals early can prevent prolonged sympathetic activation.
Understanding burnout through the lens of the nervous system and polyvagal theory provides valuable insights into why it happens and how to recover, emphasizing the need for both physical and emotional safety, self-compassion, and regulated connection.
Find out if therapy for burnout is right for you.
You don’t have to go through this alone— lasting change and feeling like yourself again is possible.