Burnout Consulting
For Individuals and Organization
Corporate Consulting
As the only psychologist in the world holding both a Doctor of Psychology and a Master’s degree both specialized in the treatment of Burnout Syndrome, I have created the first known treatment for burnout syndrome for use in clinical practice.
Now, as a Burnout Consultant, I bring my expertise through individual, 1:1 consulting and burnout solutions worldwide.
The History of Burnout
Since the discovery of burnout as an occupational phenomenon in the early 1970s, researchers from a variety of professions and academic backgrounds have published countless articles in developing a comprehensive understanding of the syndrome. American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger first used the term burnout to illustrate the negative mental effects and high demands of healthcare professionals, such as in nursing and medicine.
Freudenberger’s early contributions to the study of burnout were influenced by his experience working in an addiction clinic in New York, as he noticed a decrease in general well-being among clinical staff and volunteers. His early observations included symptoms that manifest in both physical and work domains, bearing similarity to insomnia and depression because of an excess of work demands. However, Freudenberger was not only an observer of these symptoms, as he soon reported experiencing the ill effects of the challenging nature of his occupation. Along with exhaustion symptoms, he noticed a decrease in the efficacy of his work and a decrease in empathy in the volunteers at the clinic. As a result of his personal experience and observations of his fellow staff, Freudenberger published his original article, Staff Burnout, in 1974. This was the first known publication outlining burnout as a problem in the academic literature.
Soon after Freudenberger’s original publication, interest in the phenomenon grew in both the academic and public domains. Over the next few years, private and public discussions grew on an individual and organizational level regarding stress in the workplace. Social psychologist Christina Maslach elaborated upon Freudenberger’s original work in her research on how individuals respond to stressful workplace environments. Her research identified common responses such as social isolation, avoidance, and reduction of innovation and novel solutions to work-related problems. Dr. Christina Maslach has since published dozens of studies on burnout and has contributed to much of the research available today.
Burnout Today
The significance of burnout as a problem has gathered a significant amount of attention from the public, media, and professional awareness since the onset of COVID-19 in 2019. Previous researchers investigating burnout treatment have identified several interventions on both the individual and organizational levels. A variety of potential treatment interventions to reduce burnout syndrome have been proposed, ranging from eastern practices including tai-chi and yoga (Marshall et al., 2018; Nanduri, 2020), psychoeducational groups, and stress management programs.
Burnout may not be just a syndrome of the workplace. It can affect individuals in roles such as caregiving, parenting, or academics. Regardless of the context, the underlying cause is typically chronic, unmanaged stress and the feeling of being overwhelmed by responsibilities.
Three Core Symptoms
According to research by Christina Maslach and Susan Jackson, burnout consists of three primary dimensions:
Emotional Exhaustion: Feelings of being emotionally drained and depleted of emotional resources.
Depersonalization: Developing a negative, callous, or excessively detached response to various aspects of the job.
Reduced Personal Accomplishment: A decline in feelings of competence and successful achievement in one’s work.
Debunking the Myths
Let’s explore some of the biggest lies to have ever existed regarding burnout:
Self-Care Will Fix IT!
Fact: There is NO scientific evidence that says “self-care” prevents or fixes burnout. Effective burnout management requires WAY more than “self-care.”
You Just Need to Take Time Off.
Fact: There is no scientific evidence that going on a vacation or taking time off work will fix burnout. Yes, time off is often required to pause the nonstop flow of stressors that add to your burnout. But taking time off isn’t the answer to burnout and will not fix burnout. Because what happens when you go back to work?Burnout will be there waiting for you.
Burnout is Just Being Overextended.
Fact: Burnout is more than just physical fatigue. It encompasses emotional exhaustion, detachment from work or responsibilities, and a sense of ineffectiveness. It affects your mental health, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Burnout really just impacts nurses and healthcare professionals:
Fact: While high-stress jobs are a common context for burnout, it can affect anyone. This includes caregivers, students, and individuals in any role where stress and demands become overwhelming.
Burnout is because you just can’t handle the job.
Fact: Experiencing burnout is NOT a sign of personal weakness or failure. It is a response to chronic stress and systemic issues in work environments or life circumstances. Addressing burnout requires understanding and systemic changes, not just personal willpower.
Symptoms
Physical Symptoms:
- Chronic fatigue and lack of energy
- Frequent illnesses or lowered immunity
- Headaches or muscle pain
- Changes in sleep patterns or insomnia
Emotional Symptoms:
- Feelings of failure and self-doubt
- Feeling helpless, trapped, and defeated
- Detachment and feeling alone in the world
- Loss of motivation
- Increasingly cynical and negative outlook
Behavioral Symptoms:
- Withdrawing from responsibilities
- Isolating yourself from others
- Procrastinating, taking longer to get things done
- Using food, drugs, or alcohol to cope
- Taking out frustrations on others