Stress & Burnout Treatment
Evidence-based therapy for stress, overwhelm and burnout
Stress is a normal part of life, but when pressure becomes constant or overwhelming, it can begin to affect your mood, energy, sleep and overall wellbeing. Many people can manage short periods of stress, but ongoing demands - at work, at home, or across multiple roles - can build up and eventually lead to burnout.
Burnout is more than feeling tired. It’s a state of emotional and physical depletion that makes it hard to function at your usual level. If this sounds familiar, support from a trained clinical psychologist can help you regain clarity, recover your energy, and rebuild a sense of balance.
At Aperture Psychology, our clinical psychologists in Randwick and Marrickville provide structured, evidence-based treatments to help you understand the causes of your stress, develop sustainable coping strategies, and move toward lasting wellbeing.
What is burnout?
Burnout is a recognised psychological condition that arises from prolonged exposure to stress - most often related to work, caregiving or prolonged role pressure.
People experiencing burnout often report three key areas of difficulty:
Emotional exhaustion
Feeling depleted, drained or unable to cope. This may look like:
Waking up tired, even after rest
Feeling overwhelmed by ordinary tasks
Little emotional capacity for work or relationships
Reduced sense of personal effectiveness
A decline in confidence or satisfaction with your ability to perform at your usual standard. You may:
Feel unproductive or constantly behind
Struggle to make decisions
Doubt your skills or value
Detachment or withdrawal
Feeling disconnected from work, people or daily responsibilities. This can appear as:
Loss of enthusiasm or motivation
Avoiding tasks or social interactions
Feeling cynical or “checked out”
Burnout can affect your work, relationships, mental health and physical health. The good news is that with early intervention and structured support, most people recover and return to feeling like themselves.
When to seek help
It may be time to speak with a psychologist if:
You feel constantly overwhelmed or exhausted
Small tasks feel disproportionately difficult
You’re relying on unhealthy coping strategies
You’re struggling to concentrate or make decisions
You’ve lost interest in activities you used to enjoy
Your stress is affecting your work, study or relationships
Rest or time off hasn’t improved your symptoms
You don’t need to wait until burnout becomes severe. Support early on can prevent symptoms from worsening and help you regain control more quickly.
How we help with stress and burnout
Our clinicians use evidence-based psychological treatments that target the underlying drivers of stress and burnout. Treatment is tailored to your personal circumstances, goals and environment.
Therapies may include:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to understand thinking patterns that contribute to stress
Behavioural strategies to reduce overwhelm and support sustainable routines
Mindfulness and grounding techniques to regulate the nervous system
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to clarify values and guide decision-making
Schema therapy approaches when longstanding patterns (e.g., perfectionism, unrelenting standards) are contributing
Skills for assertiveness, boundary-setting and communication
Lifestyle and sleep-focused strategies to improve energy and resilience
Our approach is practical, structured and focused on helping you regain confidence and create meaningful, lasting change.
What treatment looks like at Aperture Psychology
You’ll begin with a comprehensive assessment where your psychologist will take time to understand your symptoms, pressures and personal context. From there, we develop a tailored treatment plan that may include:
Education about stress, burnout and the physiological stress response
Strategies for managing overwhelm and preventing escalation
Skills for balancing competing demands and setting healthy boundaries
Techniques to improve sleep, concentration and energy
Addressing perfectionism, people-pleasing or unhelpful thinking patterns
Developing habits that support long-term wellbeing
Planning for relapse prevention to maintain progress
Our team has extensive experience supporting adults and young adults experiencing stress and burnout, particularly those in high-performing roles or demanding environments.
Ready to take the next step?
Stress and burnout can feel isolating, but you don’t need to manage them alone. With targeted, evidence-based treatment, recovery is not only possible - it’s common.
If you have questions about stress or burnout treatment, or you’re ready to book an appointment, our team in Randwick and Marrickville is here to help.
