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Rest and recovery are not luxuries, they're necessities
Burnout is a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion resulting from prolonged, excessive stress, typically work-related. It's characterised by cynicism, detachment, and a sense of ineffectiveness. Burnout is not simply being tired; it's a serious condition that can have significant health consequences if not addressed. Therapy helps you recover, understand what drove you here, and build a more sustainable way of living.
General information, not medical advice
This page is for general information and does not diagnose, treat, or replace advice from a GP or other qualified health professional. If symptoms are new, severe, worsening, or you are worried about your safety, seek appropriate medical or urgent support.
Signs and symptoms
You might be experiencing burnout if you recognise any of the following:
- Complete physical and emotional exhaustion, depleted at a deep level
- Cynicism and detachment from work, colleagues, and things you once cared about
- Reduced performance and productivity despite long hours
- Feeling ineffective, pointless, or like nothing you do makes a difference
- Physical symptoms: headaches, stomach problems, frequent illness
- Difficulty disengaging from work and switching off
- Irritability, short temper, or emotional numbness
- Loss of identity outside of work
What causes burnout?
Burnout is rarely caused by a single factor. Common contributing factors include:
- Excessive workload without adequate recovery time
- Lack of control or autonomy over your work
- Insufficient recognition or reward for effort
- Poor workplace relationships or unsupportive management
- Values mismatch between your work and your beliefs
- Caring roles with high emotional demands and little support
- Perfectionism and difficulty saying no
How therapy can help
Talking therapy gives you space, away from work and away from the people affected by your burnout, to be honest about how depleted you actually are, which is often the first step people skip when trying to power through. From there, therapy addresses both recovery (rebuilding your resources and wellbeing) and the deeper patterns that made you vulnerable to burnout in the first place: perfectionism, people-pleasing, boundaries, and identity overinvestment in work. Without this deeper work, burnout tends to recur.
Therapeutic approaches we use
Talking Therapy / Counselling
A space outside work and home relationships to be candid about exhaustion and depletion without managing anyone else's reaction to it.
ACT
Helps you reconnect with your values and build a more balanced, meaningful life rather than one driven purely by obligation and productivity.
CBT
Addresses perfectionist thinking, catastrophising, and the beliefs about work and worth that fuel burnout.
Schema Therapy
Addresses deeper schemas like unrelenting standards or subjugation that drive chronic overwork and self-neglect.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep working while doing therapy for burnout?
That depends on symptoms, health, safety, and your workplace. A GP, occupational-health service, or other qualified professional can help assess whether time away or adjustments are needed.
How long does recovery from burnout take?
There is no standard recovery timetable. Support may involve rest, workplace changes, medical advice, and talking therapy, depending on your symptoms and circumstances.
Is burnout the same as depression?
They share features but are distinct. Burnout is primarily situational (triggered by work/caring demands) while depression is a mood disorder. However, burnout frequently leads to clinical depression if untreated.
Should I get a fit note from my GP?
If health is affecting your ability to work, a GP or other eligible healthcare professional can assess whether a fit note is appropriate. Employment arrangements and pay depend on your circumstances, so check with your employer or an advice service.
Content information and sources
Editorial status: Content checked against UK clinical guidance and NHS information. Reviewed . This is an editorial check; no named clinician is represented as having reviewed this page.
Authoritative UK sources relevant to this topic:
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