Tired of Feeling Burnt Out? Here’s How Therapy Can Help You Recover

Burnout isn’t just stress. It’s a slow, quiet drain on your energy, motivation, and sense of self-worth.

You might look like you’re “functioning” on the outside. Maybe you’re getting everything done, showing up for work, hitting deadlines, and staying responsive. But inside? You’re running on empty.  Exhausted. Irritable. Unmotivated. No matter how much you do, it never feels like it’s enough.

If you’ve been powering through your days saying “I’m fine,” while secretly counting down the minutes until you can collapse into bed (and even then not sleeping well), you might be experiencing burnout.

If you’re here because you have been searching for a therapist for burnout, that’s not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign that you’re ready for something to change.

What Is Burnout, Really?

Burnout is more than just being tired. It’s not just needing a nap or a weekend off. It’s a chronic state of emotional, physical, and mental depletion, often caused by long-term stress without proper rest, boundaries, or support.

It’s especially common in high-achieving professionals, typically people who are driven, self-motivated, and used to pushing through.

Clients often throw around phrases like, “I’m just so burnt out at work,” without realizing how deeply burnout can affect their mental health, relationships, and even identity. While burnout has become more widely recognized, it shouldn’t be normalized. You don’t have to live this way and being exhausted and overwhelmed doesn’t have to be your standard.

Signs You Might Be Burnt Out

Burnout can manifest in subtle ways. You might notice that you:

  • Feel emotionally numb, short-tempered, or disconnected from your work

  • Constantly question whether you're good enough—even when you’re performing well

  • Can’t seem to “turn off” your mind, even after hours

  • Say yes to everything, even when your plate is overflowing

  • Feel like you're always behind or failing at being “productive enough”

  • Have trouble resting without guilt

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone and there’s nothing wrong with you. You’re likely doing everything you can to show up, be dependable, prove your worth, and succeed. Burnout isn’t a failure on your part. It’s your body and brain’s way of asking for support.

Why Work With a Therapist for Burnout?

Burnout thrives in silence. Many of my clients are used to over-functioning. They’re the go-to person, the fixer, the perfectionist. Beneath all that competence and effort is often a deep fear of letting others down, or feeling like they themselves aren’t enough.

Therapy offers a different way.

As a therapist for burnout, I create a safe, compassionate space where you can explore what’s actually happening beneath the surface. You don’t have to hold it all together here. You can be honest, messy, tired, and still completely worthy of care.

In our work together, we focus on:

  • Understanding what’s fueling your burnout (spoiler: it’s usually more than your job)

  • Reconnecting with your needs, values, and emotions

  • Challenging perfectionism and over-functioning patterns

  • Learning how to set boundaries—and tolerate the discomfort that comes with them

  • Practicing nervous system regulation so your body can finally feel safe to slow down

One of the biggest myths I hear is, “If I slow down, I’ll fall behind.”. However, when you’re burnt out, you’re already operating at a deficit. Rest isn’t a luxury, it’s a strategy for sustainability.

You can still be high-achieving and set healthy boundaries. You can care deeply and take breaks. You can be ambitious and rested. It doesn’t have to be either/or.

What Therapy for Burnout Looks Like

In burnout therapy, we go beyond surface-level “stress management.” Instead of slapping a Band-Aid on your symptoms, we explore what’s driving them at the root.

Maybe it’s:

  • People-pleasing and difficulty saying no

  • Childhood patterns that taught you your worth is tied to performance

  • Fear of disappointing others or being seen as “lazy”

  • Anxiety and perfectionism fueling an endless cycle of overdoing

Once we understand the deeper layers, we’ll build a personalized toolkit to support your healing. I integrate emotion-focused therapy, mindfulness practices, and concrete skills to help you shift from survival mode into a more balanced, grounded way of living.

Therapy might include:

  • Processing emotions you’ve been holding in for years

  • Learning how to listen to your body’s cues for rest and recovery

  • Reframing internalized messages around worth, success, and productivity

  • Creating realistic expectations of yourself (yes, even at work)

You Don’t Have to Burn Out to Be Good at What You Do

You can still do meaningful, successful work without burning yourself out. Your value isn’t measured by how much you hustle, how late you stay at work, or how few boundaries you have.

Healing from burnout doesn’t mean giving up your drive, it means learning how to work and live in a way that supports your mental health, honors your limits, and leaves space for joy again.

Starting Therapy Doesn’t Have to Feel Scary

I know beginning therapy can feel intimidating. You might wonder:
“Is it really that bad?”
“Will I just feel worse if I talk about it?”
“What if I can’t fix it?”

Therapy isn’t about fixing you, you’re not broken. It’s about giving yourself space to breathe, reflect, and rebuild. The skills you learn in therapy (emotional regulation, assertive communication, self-compassion) can change how you relate to yourself and the world around you.

Whether we meet in person, virtually, or through walk-and-talk sessions, I tailor therapy to your lifestyle and comfort. My goal is always to meet you where you are, because you deserve support that fits you.

If You’re Looking for a Therapist for Burnout, I’m Here to Help

I specialize in working with high-performing professionals in San Diego and throughout California who are done with burnout and ready to live differently. If you're struggling with chronic stress, perfectionism, or feeling like you're never enough, let’s get in touch

Ready to feel like yourself again?

Schedule a free consultation here
Follow me on Instagram for daily support and tools @therapybykimberlin

 

 

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