Anxiety, Stress & Burnout Counselling
When your mind won't slow down, or you've reached the point where you can't keep going at the pace you have been.
Anxiety doesn't always look like panic attacks or obvious worry. Sometimes it looks like being the person everyone relies on. The one who is organized, dependable, and always thinking three steps ahead. The one who can't quite switch off, even when there's finally time to relax.
Stress can build in much the same way. You keep pushing through because that's what you've always done, until one day the things that used to feel manageable suddenly feel exhausting. Burnout rarely happens overnight. More often, it's the result of carrying too much for too long.
Whatever your experience looks like, you don't have to wait until you're completely overwhelmed before asking for support.
What This Might Look Like
Anxiety, stress, and burnout affect everyone differently, but they often show up in familiar ways.
Feeling like your mind is always "on"
Difficulty relaxing, even when you have the opportunity
Trouble sleeping or feeling physically tense
Overthinking conversations before and after they happen
Feeling responsible for everything
Finding it difficult to switch off from work
Becoming more irritable or emotionally exhausted
Losing motivation for things you used to enjoy
Feeling like you're functioning, but only just
When High Standards Stop Helping
Having high standards isn't a problem. In many ways, they've probably helped you succeed.
The difficulty begins when your sense of self-worth becomes tied to meeting those standards. When making a mistake feels like you've failed as a person, or when slowing down feels irresponsible instead of restorative.
Together, we'll explore where those expectations came from, what they're trying to protect you from, and whether they're still helping you live the life you want. We'll also look at small, practical ways to challenge those patterns without expecting perfection overnight.
Our work together
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Our work together ⁎
Our work will focus on understanding both what's happening now and why your mind and body are responding the way they are.
We'll spend time making sense of the patterns that keep you feeling overwhelmed, while also building practical strategies you can use outside of our sessions. My goal is for you to leave with both a deeper understanding of yourself and something useful you can carry into your week.
I'll also be honest with you if it seems like the problem isn't simply about coping better. Sometimes the issue isn't that you need more resilience. Sometimes you're trying to function within circumstances that simply aren't sustainable. Counselling can help you recognize that difference and decide what comes next.
Booking a Session
Finding the right counsellor is important, and I don't expect you to know whether we're a good fit from a website alone.
That's why I offer a free 20-minute phone or video consultation. It's an opportunity for us to talk about what's bringing you to counselling, answer any questions you might have, and decide together whether working together feels like the right next step, without any pressure or obligation.
I see clients in person in Burnaby at the Burnaby Therapy Collective, in Kitsilano, and online throughout British Columbia.
If you'd like to learn more about session fees, insurance coverage, or billing, you can find those details on my Rates page.
Frequently asked Questions about Anxiety, Stress, & Burnout Counselling
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Stress is often connected to a specific situation and tends to ease when that situation changes. Anxiety can continue even when the original trigger has passed. Sometimes people experience both, and you don't need to figure that out before reaching out.
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Absolutely. Many people I work with are doing everything they're supposed to be doing on the outside while feeling overwhelmed on the inside. You don't have to be falling apart to benefit from counselling.
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Everyone's situation is different. Many people notice some relief as they begin putting practical strategies into practice, while the deeper work of understanding long-standing patterns naturally takes more time.
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Sometimes the problem isn't that you're coping poorly. Sometimes you're trying to cope with something that would be difficult for anyone. Counselling can help you understand what's within your control, what's not, and how you want to respond moving forward.