Burnout and work-related exhaustion
Burnout rarely sets in overnight. It comes at the end of a period of holding on, often for a long time, by drawing on reserves that were no longer being replenished.
It is neither a personal weakness nor a lack of resilience: it is what happens when the demands placed on you and the means to meet them stop matching for a long time.
What it is
Burnout describes a state of exhaustion linked to prolonged exposure to pressures at work. It is not classified as a mental illness but as an occupational phenomenon, which has an important consequence: the cause is to be looked for at least as much in the work situation as in the person going through it.
It usually combines three dimensions. First, exhaustion, which is not ordinary tiredness: rest no longer repairs it, and a weekend is no longer enough to recharge anything. Second, a sense of distance, sometimes tinged with cynicism, towards work that used to matter — you catch yourself being curt with colleagues or service users you once looked after attentively. Third, a feeling that you can no longer do properly what you used to do well, which feeds a persistent sense of guilt.
It is often the most committed people who end up here. Dedication, a sense of duty, difficulty setting limits and carrying on regardless are strengths — until the moment they become the very mechanism of exhaustion. It is worth saying clearly: getting to this point is not a sign that you did your job badly.
Burnout is sometimes hard to tell apart from depression, and it can come close to it when it lasts. The distinction is not always clear-cut, and it matters less than what it actually means in your life. That is one of the things the first sessions help to untangle.
Signs that lead people to seek help
Burnout sets in gradually, which makes it hard to spot from the inside. These are the signs most often described.
Tiredness that rest, weekends and holidays no longer repair
A sense of dread on Sunday evenings or when the alarm goes off, which settles in over time
Difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, unusual slowness on tasks you know well
New irritability, or a cold distance towards colleagues, patients or clients
Feeling that you no longer do properly a job you used to do well, and being ashamed of it
Persistent physical symptoms: disturbed sleep, aches and pains, digestive problems, repeated infections
A loss of meaning: no longer seeing the point of what you do
Carrying on regardless, telling yourself things will be better after the next deadline
These signs are not enough to make a diagnosis, and some may have a medical cause. It is still worth seeing your GP alongside.
How I work with burnout
The first step is often to piece together what happened. People with burnout frequently arrive with a blurred account in which everything runs together, and with the idea that they should have coped. Rebuilding the timeline — from when, after which changes, with which warning signs ignored — gives shape to what seemed shapeless, and shifts the question from personal fault to the situation itself.
We then look at what, both in the way work was organised and in the way you function, contributed to the situation: actual workload, room for decision-making, recognition, conflicts of values, your relationship with high standards, difficulty stopping or delegating. The aim is not to find someone to blame but to understand the mechanism, because a mechanism that is understood can be changed.
A large part of the work concerns the period you are going through. Time off work, when it happens, is not empty time: it raises difficult questions about identity, guilt towards colleagues, fear of what others think and anxiety about going back. We work on these as they arise, without rushing things.
Finally comes the question of what next. Returning to the same job, negotiating adjustments, changing team, changing career: none of these answers is better in itself, and it is not for me to choose. My role is to help you make that decision with full knowledge of the facts, and from a state in which you are able to decide, rather than in a rush to escape the discomfort.
I do not contact your employer or take part in any procedure. For medical matters, sick leave and fitness for work, the right people to speak to are your GP (médecin traitant) or the occupational health doctor (médecin du travail), and I encourage you to contact them.
How long it takes
Burnout builds up over months, sometimes years: recovery takes time, and that is important to hear from the outset. Setting yourself a tight deadline is usually a sign that the original mechanism is still at work.
Sessions are usually weekly during the hardest phase, then become less frequent as energy returns and the questions shift towards going back to work. No number of sessions can be announced in advance: we review things together, regularly.
Therapy ends when you no longer need it, which we assess together. Some people choose to continue with a few spaced-out sessions after returning to work, to check that what they have understood holds up in everyday life.
Fees and reimbursementFrequently asked questions
Can you sign me off work?
No. A psychologist is not a doctor and cannot prescribe. Sick leave is a matter for your GP, and questions of fitness for work or workplace adjustments are for the occupational health doctor, whom you can contact directly and confidentially. I can, however, help you prepare for these appointments and put into words what you need to say.
Do I have to be off work before seeking help?
No — in fact, the opposite is often preferable. Many people come while they are still holding on, with a sense that things are getting worse. Coming at that point allows broader work, before exhaustion narrows your ability to see your options.
Will I have to leave my job?
Nothing of the kind is decided in my consulting room, and it is neither my role nor my intention to steer you towards one outcome rather than another. Some people return to the same job with adjustments, others change environment, others change career. What matters is that the decision is yours and is made when you are in a position to make it.
Can my employer find out that I am seeing a psychologist?
No. What is said in session is covered by professional confidentiality, and I do not communicate with any third party — employer, human resources, insurer — without your explicit request. Payment is made directly between us and nothing is visible to your employer.
Is burnout recognised as an occupational disease in France?
Burnout is not on the official list of occupational diseases in France, but recognition is still possible on a case-by-case basis through a specific procedure. It is an administrative and medical process to be prepared with your doctor, possibly with support from a legal adviser or an employee representative. It lies outside the scope of my work.
Other areas of support
Book an appointment
An initial fifteen-minute phone call, with no commitment, lets us see whether my approach matches what you are looking for. If it does not, I will refer you to a colleague.