What Keeps Burnout Going?
The “What Keeps It Going?” series is a set of one-page diagrams explaining how common mental health conditions are maintained. Friendly and concise, they provide an easy way for clients to understand at a glance why their disorders persist, and how they might be interrupted. What Keeps Burnout Going? is designed to help clients experiencing burnout understand more about their condition.
Download or send
Choose your language
Professional version
Offers theory, guidance, and prompts for mental health professionals. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
Client version
Includes client-friendly guidance. Downloads are in Fillable PDF format where appropriate.
Editable version (PPT)
An editable Microsoft PowerPoint version of the resource.
Translation Template
Are you a qualified therapist who would like to help with our translation project?
Tags
Languages this resource is available in
Techniques associated with this resource
Introduction & Theoretical Background
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. Key signs of burnout include:
- Feeling exhausted and drained – emotionally, mentally, and physically.
- Becoming more distant, disinterested, or detached from your work.
- Finding it difficult to cope with the demands of your job.
- Losing interest in your colleagues, customers, or activities outside of work.
- Having an increasingly negative, cynical, or pessimistic attitude towards your work.
- Feeling less productive, enthusiastic, or effective in your role.
- Struggling to concentrate, remember things, and pay attention.
- Problems with your mood, sleep, or health (e.g., headaches or stomach pains).
Research studies have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a helpful psychological therapy for burnout. CBT therapists work a bit like firefighters: while the fire
Therapist Guidance
“One interesting way of thinking about burnout is to look at why, for some people, it does not get better by itself. This handout shows some of the most common reasons why some people keep experiencing symptoms of burnout. I wonder if we could look at it together and think about whether it describes some of what is happening for you?”
References And Further Reading
- 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.
- Perski, O., Grossi, G., Perski, A., & Niemi, M. (2017). A systematic review and meta‐analysis of tertiary interventions in clinical burnout. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 58, 551-561.https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.12398.
- Towey-Swift, K. D., Lauvrud, C., & Whittington, R. (2022). Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for professional staff burnout: a systematic review and narrative synthesis of controlled trials. Journal of Mental Health, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2021.2022628