When work takes more than you have to give
I know from my years in management how pressure at work can follow you home. If work is affecting your sleep, confidence or relationships, we can talk about what is being asked of you and what you need.
What this can feel like
You may recognise some of these experiences. We can begin with what matters most to you.
Always switched on
Checking messages or thinking about work long after the day ends.
Too much to carry
Conflicting demands, unrealistic workloads or little control.
Exhaustion
Finding it difficult to recover even after time away.
Losing confidence
Second-guessing yourself or fearing you are not doing enough.
Difficult relationships
Bullying, conflict, uncertainty or feeling unsupported.
Life becoming smaller
Less energy for sleep, friendships, interests and relationships.
Pressure, coping and the cost of carrying on
You may work harder to regain control, put off rest or keep your worries to yourself. These responses can make sense under pressure, while also leaving you with fewer opportunities to recover.
Workplace demands and conditions matter alongside individual coping. We can explore both: what you need emotionally, what is within your control and where practical support or workplace changes may help.
How therapy can help
My background in leisure and retail management helps me understand high-pressure working environments. We can look at your particular situation and what changes are possible.
Compassion
Recognise the strain you have been under and soften the demand to keep proving yourself, even when you are depleted.
Curiosity
Explore expectations, boundaries, workplace relationships and the meaning work has in your life. Notice what drains and restores you.
Change
Practise clearer limits, prepare difficult conversations and identify achievable changes. Make room for recovery and life beyond work.
A more sustainable working life
Change may begin with taking a break, agreeing priorities, protecting an evening or recognising when a situation needs wider support.
A little more about this work
Is burnout the same as feeling stressed?
They can overlap. Burnout is often described as exhaustion and detachment after prolonged demands. We can explore your experience without requiring you to fit a label.
Will you tell me to leave my job?
We will explore your circumstances, needs and options. Decisions about your working life remain yours.
Can therapy help with workplace problems?
Therapy can support your wellbeing and decision-making. Practical advice about employment rights or adjustments may also be useful; ACAS and Access to Work are starting points below.
Explore at your own pace
The longer article below explains this topic in more detail and includes further resources.
Read more about Work-related Stress →Useful resources
- NHS: work-related stress ↗
Recognising stress and exploring ways to manage it.
- ACAS: managing work-related stress ↗
Guidance on workplace stress for workers and employers.
- Access to Work ↗
Government information about support for a disability or health condition at work.
Explore what else may be involved
Work-related burnout has an occupational definition; autistic burnout can involve sensory overload, masking and demands across daily life as well as work. Explore the dedicated Burnout page for that distinction and ways to consider support.
Would you like to talk about it?
Send me a short message about what is troubling you. We can talk about what you need and whether counselling with me could help.
Get in touch