Burnout Therapy in New York
Burnout can arrive without an obvious collapse. The work still gets done, but it takes more from you, and the satisfaction that used to make the effort worthwhile has become harder to find. Time off may bring some relief without changing what you're returning to.
That can leave you with an uncomfortable question: do you need a different way of working, or are you beginning to want something different from the life you've built? The answer is rarely simple when your work also carries financial responsibilities, a sense of identity, and years of investment.
I'm Dr. Olivier van Hauwermeiren, a clinical psychologist working virtually with adults across New York, including Long Island. I use ACT and CBT to help you understand what's contributing to the exhaustion and think carefully about what needs to change.
A free 15-minute call, no commitment, booked through Headway. Or email me first if you'd rather start there.
What you might be noticing
- Dreading the workweek before the weekend is over
- Feeling more detached or irritable with colleagues and people you used to enjoy helping
- Finishing something important and having trouble feeling pleased about it
- Taking time off but returning to the same exhaustion
- Having little energy for relationships, hobbies, or taking care of yourself
- Questioning whether you want to keep doing this work, without knowing what the alternatives are
How I work
Understanding what's contributing
Burnout refers specifically to work-related exhaustion, distance or cynicism toward the job, and reduced professional effectiveness. The World Health Organization classifies it as an occupational phenomenon. It isn't a medical diagnosis on its own.
That distinction matters when we talk about treatment. Depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and health issues can also contribute to exhaustion. I'll ask about those rather than assume everything you're feeling is burnout. We'll also look at working conditions, because therapy can't make an unreasonable workload reasonable.
Values and boundaries
Values work asks you to look beyond what you're expected to deliver and consider what you want your time to serve. You might care deeply about doing your job well while also recognizing that the way you're doing it leaves little of you available at home. We make room for that conflict rather than assume there's an easy way to balance everything.
Then we look at what happens when you try to change something. A boundary may be straightforward to state and difficult to keep if it leaves you feeling selfish, unreliable, or afraid of falling behind. Those reactions deserve attention too. Working through them can help you make changes that last beyond the initial decision to do less.
Making decisions about work
Decisions about work involve more than whether a role makes you happy. Income, family responsibilities, professional identity, and the conditions of your workplace all belong in the conversation. Therapy gives us room to examine those pressures without rushing you toward either staying or leaving.
We can start with changes small enough to learn from: a conversation about workload, a different boundary around evenings, or returning to something you've put aside. What happens when you make those changes can tell us more about the next decision than another month of trying to think your way to certainty.
How we begin
I'll start by asking about your workweek and what happens outside it. How long have you felt this way? What's your sleep like? What has helped, even briefly? We'll also talk about mood, health, and other pressures in your life.
We'll use that understanding to choose a starting point. It may involve recovery time or a boundary at work, but we'll also look at what has made those changes difficult to sustain. If anxiety or depression is contributing, that becomes part of the plan. Values work can help us keep the decisions connected to what you want your life to include.
Sessions happen over secure video. We'll review what's changing and what still feels difficult, and adjust the plan as we learn more.
The practical part
- Licensed in New York, and sessions are fully virtual, so anywhere in the state works: Manhattan, Long Island, Westchester, upstate
- In-network with Aetna and Northwell Health, private pay otherwise, with a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement
- Book a free consult directly through Headway, or email me with questions
- Currently accepting new clients
From the blog
Common questions
Is burnout a diagnosis?
The WHO classifies burnout as an occupational phenomenon, not a medical condition. An assessment may identify a condition such as depression or anxiety that also needs treatment. If you're using insurance, we'll discuss the assessment and what can be billed under your plan.
How is this different from depression?
Burnout describes a work-related pattern. Depression can affect your mood, interest, and functioning across your life, including things you usually enjoy. They can overlap, and the distinction isn't something you have to work out on your own before contacting me.
Do I have to quit my job?
No. We'll look at what is happening in the job and what options you have. Sometimes changes within a role help; sometimes people decide to leave. That's your decision, and therapy can give you room to think it through.
What if I don't have time for therapy?
Tell me what your schedule looks like on the consult call. Sessions are usually 50 minutes over video, but finding that time can still be difficult. We can talk about whether my availability fits and what other options might work if it doesn't.
How long does this take?
It depends on what's contributing to the exhaustion and what you're able to change. We'll set goals and review progress together. If the demands at work stay the same, that matters too; I won't treat it as a failure on your part to manage them better.
References
Make room to consider what comes next
You don't have to decide what to do about your work before asking for help. The free consult is a chance to describe where you are and consider whether this is a useful place to begin.
A free 15-minute call, no commitment, booked through Headway. Or email me first if you'd rather start there.
Written by Dr. Olivier van Hauwermeiren, PsyD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist, New York