Holistic and eclectic, my philosophy on burnout weaves together many different elements including my values, perspective and experiences. It forms a set of guiding principles that shape the way I work with each and every client.
I’ve always done things a little differently, and my approach to the way I coach and support clients struggling with chronic stress and burnout is a little different too. Like a colourful crochet blanket, it weaves together many different elements, including:
The tools that have helped me
Therapeutic techniques from the field of psychology
Yoga and mindfulness
Strategies from my own clinical experience working as a therapist.
When it comes to burnout, here's what I believe...
1. BURNOUT IS NOT ABOUT BEING WEAK, LAZY OR UNMOTIVATED
This is such a common myth, and one I love to expose! Burnout is a psychological and physiological condition. One that affects our body, mind, and all areas of our life. It has nothing to do with willpower or motivation, and recovery requires a compassionate, understanding and patient approach.
2. TALK THERAPY COMES SECOND
When we constantly revisit negative experiences in our mind and out loud in conversation, we keep our sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight response) activated. This is why talk therapy is not effective as a first-line treatment for burnout. We need to make sure the body feels safe and the nervous system is calm before we can process our experience. With my clients, we start with somatic (body-based) practices and shift to talk therapy once we have created safety in the body and calm in the mind.
3. IT TAKES MORE THAN SELF-CARE
Here’s the truth: a warm bath and a weekly massage is not enough to cure burnout. True healing from chronic stress and burnout goes far beyond self-care and requires a deeper exploration of the root causes and contributing factors. To me, stress management is less about ‘managing stress’ and more about changing our relationship with stress, so that we can navigate life with a little more calm and ease.
4. BURNOUT MAY BE EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED
Everything changes when we shift our perspective. Burnout is a wakeup call that something in your life needs adjusting. It’s a chance to pivot, create meaning from your experience and redesign your life. You may just look back on this and view it as the sign you needed to take a whole new direction and live in a more balanced and authentic way. Finally! Permission to live life on your terms.
5. I AM NOT THE EXPERT
My clients have heard me say this many times! Sure, I’ve done the study, got the quals, had the life experience. But *you* are the expert on your life, not me. I’m simply here to guide you back to yourself and connect you with the deep wisdom you already hold. My role is to support you as you navigate the journey to creating a beautifully balanced and rewarding life.
On a personal note…
It’s hard not to get caught up in the noise of the online world and be thrown off track by seeing what everyone else is doing, but knowing the value of your own magic is priceless! This is what keeps me in my own lane. I love having the freedom to create programs that draw from my own wisdom, knowledge and experiences, so that I can support my clients in a way that feels great to both me and them.
My philosophy on burnout is as unique and dynamic as the people I work with. This means I have a flexible approach to how we work together, and am able to support my clients in the way that works best for them. There’s no one-size-fits-all or cookie-cutter approach in my programs, so we will tailor things to match where you’re at and make sure you’re nurtured and supported in the way you want to be.
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