Burnout has been pervasive for quite awhile, especially due to the way our society is structured: around work and prioritizing increasing revenue as the reigning economic philosophy is capitalism. COVID-19 largely exacerbated this, though fortunately we are also having more conversations about burnout because of the pandemic.

In my therapy world, I've worked with folx who are often overworking, people pleasing, and used to supporting everyone else around them except for themselves. This could be due to many factors. It's important for us to name the societal messages we have received such as gender roles and cultural values, as well as the individual situations each one of us experienced in our own families and upbringing.

Burnout is not just a feeling. It shows up in tangible ways, according to this study done through Asana:

• Lower morale at work and home

• Engage less often

• Increased mistakes

• Leave their job or "quiet quit"

• Miscommunicate

In my work with helping professionals, burnout also shows up as:

• Irritation or frustration that seems out of place

• Overwhelm and low emotional tolerance

• Apathy, feeling unable to bring yourself to do even ordinary tasks

• Self-doubt that feels paralyzing

• Sleep disruption or feeling tired when you wake up

• Headaches, illnesses, and body aches

In order to really target burnout at its root, it's important we figure out how to meet you where you are. We start with specialized assessments designed by neuroscience researchers at UC Berkeley to accurately address your needs. After this, we create a plan uniquely designed for you and connected to a network of evidence-based professionals (none of us, including me! can do this work alone), and review what your mental health map looks like. From there, we can navigate building your support system and opening the doors for relief, confidence, and freedom.