Understanding Burnout

Most people go through periods where they feel tired or unhappy at work. However, if your job leaves you feeling emotionally exhausted, beyond the point of caring, or unable to function normally, you might be experiencing burnout.

Burnout is a common issue that can affect almost anyone in any job. Research suggests that around 18% of people struggle with high levels of burnout in some countries, and many more are at risk. While burnout is usually a work-related problem, it can arise in other settings, such as sport and education.

If it isn’t addressed, burnout can lead to serious difficulties, including problems with your mental and physical health, work, or functioning in daily life. If you’ve been burned out in the past, you might be worried about it coming back. The good news is that burnout can be addressed in lots of different ways, whether working at the level of

Our ‘Understanding…’ series is designed to support your clients:

• Scaffold knowledge. The guides are perfect during early stages of therapy to help your clients understand how their symptoms fit together and make sense.
• Reassure and encourage optimism. Many clients find it hugely reassuring to know there is a name for what they are experiencing, and that there are evidence-based psychological models and treatments specifically designed to help.
• De-mystify the therapy process. To increase your client’s knowledge of the therapy process and the ingredients that it is likely to involve. If you can help your clients to understand why an intervention is important (think exposure!) it can help encourage them to engage.
• Signposting. If you’re just seeing a client briefly for assessment, or you have a curious client who wants to know more, these resources can be a helpful part of guiding them to the right service.
• Waiting time not

• Ahola, K., Toppinen-Tanner, S., & Seppänen, J. (2017). Interventions to alleviate burnout symptoms and to support return to work among employees with burnout: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Burnout Research, 4, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burn.2017.02.001.
• Alarcon, G., Eschleman, K. J., & Bowling, N. A. (2009). Relationships between personality variables and burnout: A meta-analysis. Work and Stress, 23, 244-263. https://doi.org/10.1080/02678370903282600.
• Aronsson, G., Theorell, T., Grape, T., Hammarström, A., Hogstedt, C., Marteinsdottir, I., Skoog, I., Traskman-Bendz, L., & Hall, C. (2017). A systematic review including meta-analysis of work environment and burnout symptoms. BMC Public Health, 17, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4153-7.
• De Simone, S., Vargas, M., & Servillo, G. (2021). Organizational strategies to reduce physician burnout: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 33, 883-894. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01368-3
• Goodger, K., Gorely, T., Lavallee, D., & Harwood, C. (2007). Burnout in sport: A systematic review. Sport Psychologist, 21, 127-151.
• Hasselberg, K., Jonsdottir, I. H., Ellbin, S., &