Stress and burnout therapy in London and online

What stress and burnout can feel like

Some stress is part of life, and short bursts can even help us focus. Problems arise when pressure is relentless and there is no time to recover. Burnout is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion that can build after a long period of stress, often linked to work but also to caring for others, studying or juggling several demands at once.

Burnout can creep up slowly. You may keep going for months on adrenaline and willpower, only to find one day that you cannot face your inbox, you feel nothing about work you once cared about, or you snap at people you love. Many people feel ashamed of this, as though they should be able to cope. In reality, burnout is often a sign that you have been coping for too long without enough support.

Burnout can also affect people who love what they do. Caring roles, creative work, running a business or demanding jobs in the City can all blur the line between work and the rest of life, until there is very little of you left over.

How I work with stress and burnout

I work alongside you rather than telling you what to do. Together we look at both the outside pressures and the inner patterns that make it hard to slow down.

Taking stock

We start by understanding your situation: your workload, responsibilities, support and what has changed. Simply naming everything you are carrying can be a relief. If your body needs help settling, we can practise simple techniques such as the breathing exercise.

Understanding the drivers

Many people who burn out are conscientious, caring and high-achieving. Drawing on psychodynamic and person-centred ideas, we can explore what drives you to keep pushing, such as perfectionism, fear of letting people down or a sense that your worth depends on what you produce. Understanding these patterns can make it easier to change them.

Practical changes

Using CBT-informed ideas, we can look at the thoughts that keep you working when you need rest, like "if I stop, everything will fall apart". We can also think about boundaries, saying no, asking for help, and small changes to your routine that protect your energy. If you are considering a career change or big decision, my page on life transitions may help.

Recovery takes time

Burnout rarely lifts overnight. Rather than adding therapy as another task to complete perfectly, I hope our sessions can be one place in your week where you do not have to perform. We can also notice your early warning signs together, so you have a clearer sense of when to slow down in future.

What to expect

We begin with an initial consultation to talk about what is happening and whether we are a good fit. If we decide to work together, our sessions can fit around your commitments, either online from home or the office, or in person in Farringdon, which is easy to reach from the City, Clerkenwell and King's Cross. You can find details on my fees page.

If you have been feeling persistently low, or burnout has started to affect your health, please also speak to your GP. They can check for physical causes, discuss time off work if needed and talk about other support.