CBT for occupational burnout
A person who is struggling to manage work-related stress is placing themselves at risk of occupational burnout. As a nation we are all at risk of burnout. Smartphones mean we are constantly connected to work-related emails and calls, making it hard to walk away from work at the end of the day.
Burnout can leave an individual feeling empty, fatigued or feeling as if they cannot continue with the demands of their job. If unaddressed burnout can lead to metal health issues including anxiety and depression and can make it hard for the person to function in everyday life.
Occupational burnout can make a person feel less capable of doing their job, which can lower their confidence and lead to feelings of chronic stress. Burnout can also have physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomach issues.
It is not always a high-pressured working environment that can cause burnout; workload pressures, conflict with managers or colleagues and long-hours can all be contributing factors.
How CBT can reduce the symptoms of occupational burnout
With professional help, occupational burnout is a reversible condition. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based talking therapy that focuses on the thoughts and emotions that contribute towards stress-related burnout and identifies any negative behaviours or thoughts.
By recognising and challenging these self-defeating thoughts, the person will gradually learn to replace them with a more realistic belief or behaviour.
A CBT therapist will teach their client the skills to build greater confidence in their abilities by reconsidering distorted thinking patterns to gradually recover from burnout. Techniques such as prioritising workload and learning to step back from the desk at the end of the day will all help to support the cognitive therapies to minimise the risk of another occupational burnout.
Don’t suffer with occupational burnout we can help
Jamie Dempsey is a qualified and accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist with the British Association for Behavioural Psychotherapies (BABCP: 090911) and has over twenty years clinical practice experience working within primary and secondary mental healthcare settings.
Jamie has proven experience in helping clients recognise and overcome occupational burnout and provides the techniques to show them how to recognise their strong points and rethink their workplace ethics to maintain a more healthy and relaxed work / life balance.
