An Asian American Therapist Discusses Recovering from Burnout

In our second year of living in a global pandemic, many of us are finding that we have to adjust to a new normal. For many, it has prompted us to reevaluate priorities and reassess careers. It has also prompted many to feel exhausted and unproductive, no matter what self-care we try to do. Because of this, we want to start shedding light on the concept of burnout.

We have invited our resident expert, Kat Chan, AMFT, to share her experience with burnout. Chan herself left a career in marketing and advertising after experiencing burnout. She found that this was more common of an experience than she originally thought. She found that many people are currently changing workplaces in order to work remotely, if not changing their career fields entirely. As many people along with Chan reassess their careers, the economy is experiencing what is called a “Great Resignation.”

“I noticed I wasn’t resonating with [my] work, and growing really resentful. I started to key in on the fact that something wasn’t working for me.”

– Kat Chan, AMFT

Image of person sitting near the beach. This person could be thinking about how to include work stress management in her life. She could perhaps benefit from burnout treatment with a burnout therapist in Los Angeles, CA. (90404, 90503, 91006).

In addition to our Kat Chan, social psychologist Christina Maslach created a popular definition of burnout. She says that burnout is a specific condition that has three dimensions:

1) Physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion and depletion of internal resources

2) Cynicism and detachment, and feeling negative and pessimistic about work, and

3) Inefficacy in one’s work and a reduced sense of accomplishment. The more someone feels burnt out, the less they feel like they can do anything but shuffle along on autopilot.

Kat’s Advice for Burnout

“When somebody is faced with burnout, the most important thing is to first stop.”

– Kat Chan, AMFT

There are lots of things that can get in the way of stopping your usual routine. These can especially be considered when you need to work to support yourself and your family.

“But it’s a critical step in recovering from burnout. That could look like… taking more breaks throughout the day [or] taking longer times to rest.” Chan explains, “It allows us to regain our mental capacity again… to reflect on what exactly isn’t working.”

In addition, Chan frequently draws on the work of Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith. She says there are seven types of rest: physical, mental, social, sensory, emotional, spiritual, and creative. “Using this framework allows us to reconnect with some of those aspects of ourselves that we easily forget about,” Chan says. By being proactive about your rest, you can give yourself the energy to connect with your true feelings. In doing so, you can begin to restore your capacity and feel more energized and connected to what you are trying to do.

Burnout Recovery Takes Time

Finally, as you check where your passions lie, you may find yourself faced with many decisions concerning your future. It can be terrifying to be in the uncertainty of not knowing what you are going to do. Chan advises that you “focus on figuring out the right next step” for you. You need to remember that “each following step will slowly become easier.”

You may find that this process of building self-care can be overwhelming. Chan herself found that she had to take “a little leap of faith” into her own therapy. She wanted to find a place where she could “get real with herself and own what she was feeling.”

Burnout Treatment at Yellow Chair

Image of person sitting in an office chair with their hands behind their head. This image depicts what someone looks like after burnout treatment in Los Angeles, CA. Working on burnout and work stress management can help you too. (90504, 90505).

If you’re finding yourself in a place of burnout, talking with a burnout therapist like Kat Chan can help. When you work with a therapist for burnout at our therapy practice in Los Angeles, CA and New York City, NY, you can dive deeper into what really lights you up. In burnout treatment, you can rediscover passion and find a path forward that feels true to you.

If you’re interested in listening to the full interview on burnout and burnout treatment with Kat Chan, check it out on Youtube, Spotify, or Instagram!

Consider Talking with a Burnout Therapist in Los Angeles, CA or New York City, NY

Finding the courage to see that something in your life isn’t working is very difficult. But we know that you deserve more to life than being burnt out and stressed about work all the time. Building self-care and recognizing when your resources are depleted is important. This is why our therapists provide burnout treatment & work stress management. To get started with therapy at our Los Angeles and New York City-based therapy practice, follow the steps below:

Request an appointment using the contact form.
Begin meeting with a caring burnout therapist.
Begin your journey to reignite your passion!

Other Services at Yellow Chair Collective

When you’re struggling with burnout, you’re likely experiencing other struggles, too. These could be anxiety, ADHD, or even postpartum concerns. Likewise, many folks experiencing burnout may be suffering from the impacts of trauma or relationship concerns. Fortunately, our therapists have the skills to help with many issues. So, when you see a counselor either via online therapy sessions or in person, you’ll be in good hands.

An Asian American Therapist Discusses Recovering from Burnout