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Burnout Counselling
In the Comox Valley and online throughout British Columbia
Burnout is often a sign that you've been carrying too much for too long.
You used to be able to cope, but now everything feels harder.
You wake up tired and can't seem to shake it off. You try to rest but it doesn't do the trick.
You struggle to be at work, or you may have had to go on stress leave.
Your body might be struggling with headaches, frequent illness, or emotional exhaustion.
You may be wondering what is wrong with you, but you're not broken.
Your nervous system has simply been working too hard for too long.
We don't burn out because we are weak - we burn out because we are overloaded.
Burnout is incredibly common in our demanding modern world.
Burnout counselling creates a space where you can slow down, take a breath, and discover what you need to recover.
What is Burnout?
Burnout happens when the stressors of our lives become too much to carry. We feel overwhelmed and undervalued at work, at home, or in our relationships. We are trying to keep everything afloat, but we reach a point where we just can't cope anymore.
Burnout isn't simply physical exhaustion. It's emotional exhaustion, and it's what happens when our nervous system spends too long in survival mode without enough opportunity to recover.
Burnout can be very scary. We're so used to being capable, to working hard and getting things done, and suddenly we find ourselves in a new reality where our emotions and our body are forcing us to stop.
Burnout and the Nervous System
When we're burnt out, we often tell ourselves we're being lazy and that we need to push through. Pushing harder may work for a while, but eventually we crash again.
We try to rest, but a quiet weekend isn't enough. When chronic stress continues for too long, it takes a toll on your whole system. Your body stays in high alert for too long, producing stress hormones that wear you down.
Over time, that nervous system activation begins to disrupt your sleep, digestion, and immune system. Your thoughts and emotions become dysregulated, and eventually it's too difficult to function.
Burnout Often has Deeper Roots
Burnout isn't always just about working too hard. Many people living with burnout have become experts at ignoring their own needs.
You may struggle with high expectations, people-pleasing, and poor boundaries. You might have learned that you had to be the dependable one. The helper. The person who never says no.
Or maybe you learned that you had to be the achiever, the one who can do it all, the one whose worth depends on productivity.
You may have learned that rest is for lazy people. And even when you try to rest, you feel agitated. You may hold nervous system patterns that keep you stressed and moving when it's time to rest and restore.
The good news is that, with the right support, we can heal our nervous systems and learn new ways of valuing ourselves.
Burnout offers us
an opportunity to grow.
Burnout asks us to take stock
and explore who we truly are.
What needs to change? What needs to heal?What do we want
from our one precious life?
Recovery Is Possible
You don't need to push through alone.
Recovery usually begins with something surprisingly simple: learning how to identify and respond to your needs.
Once we start to truly meet our own needs, we begin to see how much easier life can be. We finally begin to live the life that is right for us.
At first, many of my clients feel like something terrible is happening to them. Over time, they learn that hitting this wall was the gift they needed to approach themselves - and their lives - in new ways.
Learn how to practice self care that actually works
Let go of beliefs that ask too much of you
Ask for more in your relationships
Prevent future burnout
Build a life that works for you
My Approach to Burnout Counselling
As a holistic therapist who works with the mind, heart and body, I approach burnout from all angles. Together, we explore unhelpful beliefs, learn how to manage overwhelming emotions, and support your nervous system in the recovery of chronic stress.
Together We May:
-
understand your stressors and patterns
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identify perfectionism and unrealistic expectations
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quiet the inner critic
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develop healthier boundaries
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reconnect with your needs and values
We May Also:
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strengthen nervous system regulation
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create sustainable routines and habits
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reduce overwhelm and decision fatigue
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restore rest and energy
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rebuild joy and life purpose
Burnout Helps Us to Design
the Second Part of Our Life
Burnout often occurs in midlife, when the coping strategies that protected us in the first half our life stop working as well. Burnout asks us to imagine how we want to live in the second half of our life. What do we want to hold on to? What could we let go of?
What is
Somatic Experiencing?
This healing approach helps your nervous system to release stored stress and trauma. It supports your body's natural ability to restore balance and resilience - without necessarily needing to relive difficult experiences. You learn how to develop a deeper felt sense of safety and support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my therapist judge me?
Not at all. Many people who are burnt out feel ashamed that they have been "too weak" to push through and get it together.
I don't hold that view at all. Therapy is a non-judgemental space where you can begin to honour your true needs and values.
Will I only get better if I quit my job?
No. Most of us don't have the option to quit our jobs. Instead, we focus on new boundaries at work and at home, changing our sense of self-worth, and effective self-care. If clients do decide to make a career change, we can explore practical ways to bring your talents and dreams into new areas.
I'm already maxed out. Will I have to do homework?
No. I don't want to prescribe homework or self-care practices that feel like another task on the to-do list. Change usually comes from within, so we use our sessions to heal your relationship with your own needs. We also work gently with your nervous system to help you let go of accumulated stress.
Can't I just take a vacation?
If you are able to do so, then by all means take a vacation! However, your burnout may be at a stage where rest or time away doesn't solve the problem. Therapy addresses the root issues of burnout, helping you see the patterns and beliefs that keep you working beyond your capacity.
