Therapy for Anxiety & Burnout

Anxiety and burnout rarely announce themselves loudly at first—they tend to slip in quietly. Maybe it starts with constant overthinking, trouble relaxing, a racing mind at night, or the sense that you need to be productive every moment of the day. Many high-performing adults brush these signs aside because pushing through is what they’ve always done. They’ve built careers, families, and reputations by showing up, being reliable, and doing more than expected. Feeling overwhelmed starts to feel normal.

But anxiety and burnout are not signs of weakness—they are signs of chronic over-extension and emotional overload. And for high achievers, the shift from “I’ve got this” to “I can’t keep going like this” often happens quietly, then suddenly.

Many of my clients have been running on empty for years while still excelling on the outside. They’ve learned to hold everything together, often at the expense of their own nervous system. They take care of problems, anticipate needs, and rarely give themselves permission to slow down. Over time, this leads to exhaustion that no amount of sleep or vacation can fix. You may notice irritability, difficulty concentrating, emotional numbness, or the feeling that you’re disconnected from the parts of life that used to matter. You might have everything people say you “should” want, yet still feel overwhelmed or unfulfilled.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and there is nothing “wrong” with you. Over-functioners simply develop coping strategies that work brilliantly for reaching goals but poorly for managing stress, emotions, and internal pressure.

In our work together, we take a structured, evidence-based, and deeply compassionate approach to understanding these patterns and creating sustainable change. My therapeutic style combines CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)—three approaches that work exceptionally well for high-performing adults, especially those who over-function, people-please, or struggle with perfectionism.

 

Why this approach works so well: 

High achievers often rely heavily on problem-solving, logic, and discipline—skills that are incredibly valuable but can backfire when dealing with anxiety. Many clients try to “fix” their emotional experience the same way they’d fix a work project: by pushing harder, striving more, or criticizing themselves into change. But emotional healing requires a different set of tools—ones you likely were never taught.

 

That’s where my approach comes in:

• CBT gives you a clear, structured understanding of how your thoughts contribute to anxiety and burnout. High performers often develop perfectionistic thinking, rigid internal rules, and a harsh inner critic. CBT helps you challenge the mental filters, catastrophic predictions, and “must always be productive” beliefs that keep your nervous system in overdrive. This work is especially effective for people who value insight, logic, and concrete strategies.

• ACT shifts your relationship with anxiety so it no longer runs your life. High achievers often believe they must eliminate fear, doubt, or discomfort before taking action. ACT teaches you how to make space for uncomfortable emotions, break free from mental rigidity, and reconnect with your values—so you can live in alignment with what matters, rather than getting tangled in worry, guilt, or perfectionism. This is powerful for clients used to being hard on themselves or constantly chasing the next milestone.

• DBT builds the emotional and interpersonal skills that many high achievers never had the chance to develop. When you’ve spent your life being the responsible one, the calm one, the one who takes care of everything, you may not have learned how to regulate intense emotions, set boundaries, or advocate for your needs without guilt. DBT provides practical tools for managing stress, reducing emotional overload, communicating effectively, and building a more balanced life—all essential for people who chronically overextend themselves.

This combination of approaches works uniquely well for high-functioning individuals because it meets you where you already excel—insight, motivation, and commitment—while helping you build the emotional skills you may have missed along the way.

 

What this looks like in therapy

Together, we explore the core patterns that keep the anxiety and burnout cycle going:

• Over-functioning or doing more than your share in relationships

• Taking responsibility for others’ emotions or outcomes

• Striving for perfection or feeling like “good enough” is never enough

• Difficulty resting, slowing down, or saying no

• Feeling guilty when you’re not productive

• Avoiding your own emotions because you don’t want to feel weak

• Prioritizing work and obligations over joy or self-care

• Continually raising the bar without acknowledging your successes

These patterns usually didn’t emerge out of nowhere—they were learned. Maybe from early family dynamics where you had to be the dependable one. Maybe from a career environment that rewarded overworking. Maybe from cultural expectations about achievement, responsibility, or self-sacrifice.

Understanding these roots isn’t about placing blame; it’s about creating clarity. When you know why your brain and body respond the way they do, healing becomes possible.

 

As we work together, you’ll develop concrete tools for:

• Calming your nervous system

• Reducing rumination and mental overload

• Recognizing and replacing perfectionistic thought patterns

• Setting boundaries that protect your time and emotional energy

• Identifying your values and aligning your choices with them

• Communicating your needs without guilt

• Balancing productivity with rest

• Building habits that sustain well-being instead of draining it

With support and skills, you begin to experience moments of calm where there used to be constant urgency. You can think more clearly, speak more authentically, and make choices from a place of grounded awareness rather than fear or pressure.

 

Ultimately, my goal is to help you build a life that is not only successful on the outside, but also sustainable and meaningful on the inside. A life where you can rest without guilt, say no without anxiety, and show up with presence instead of exhaustion. Through a blend of CBT, ACT, and DBT, you’ll develop the insight, emotional skills, and behavioral tools you need to move through the world with clarity, balance, and genuine well-being.

 

You don’t have to keep pushing through. You can have a life that feels like yours again—and therapy can help you get there.