"Just keep going" is not a sustainable way to get ahead in life. Our team of psychodynamic therapists helps professionals learn how to slow down and change their relationship with burnout.
Burnout can feel like waking up already depleted, no matter how much sleep the night before. The work that once brought energy now feels hollow. Mornings on the subway commute feel heavier than they should. Even rest doesn’t restore what’s been drained.
This happens when the nervous system has been running on high alert for too long. The body stops trusting that it’s safe to slow down. These patterns make sense; they’re protective strategies that worked until they stopped being effective.
What many people long for is clarity, steadiness, and the ability to feel present again.
Burnout therapy helps provide a space to understand what led to this point, not just how to push through. Through psychodynamic, somatic, and relational approaches, it becomes possible to identify what’s been draining energy, rebuild boundaries that actually protect, and reconnect with what sustains rather than depletes.
Burnout makes you feel like the life you built no longer feels like yours. Success on the outside doesn’t match what’s happening inside. The strategies that worked before… working harder, staying busy, pushing through… stop working.
What draws people to therapy isn’t just exhaustion. It’s the recognition that something fundamental needs to shift.
Our burnout therapy helps you identify what drained you in the first place. We help you understand the patterns underneath … why you burned out, what you’ve been avoiding, what parts of yourself you’ve been ignoring. And then we help you rebuild boundaries that actually protect your energy.
You’ll learn to:
Stop Chasing What Everyone Says You Should Want and Start Building Toward What You Actually Need
Burnout therapy may resonate for high-functioning New York professionals experiencing any of these patterns:
Burnout doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some people feel completely numb. Others experience irritability and resentment. Some struggle with focus. Others can’t stop working even when away from the office. Understanding which patterns are present helps clarify what kind of support would be most helpful.
Emotional exhaustion can feel like complete depletion, as if there’s nothing left to give. Even small interactions feel overwhelming. The ability to show up for others without feeling drained seems impossible. This type of burnout often develops when giving has become automatic, when boundaries have been eroded. Until it’s hard to remember what protected the energy in the first place.
Cynicism shows up as numbness where care used to be. Work that once mattered now feels meaningless. Going through the motions replaces genuine engagement. This detachment often develops as a protective strategy. When caring too much led to disappointment too many times, the mind learns to stop investing emotional energy altogether.
Identity crisis from burnout emerges when someone realizes they’ve built their entire sense of self around achievement. When work stops providing the same validation or meaning, the question “who am I without this?” becomes unavoidable. This type of burnout often reveals that identity has been outsourced to productivity, leaving little sense of self beneath the performance.
Work-related burnout develops when job demands consistently exceed the capacity to recover or rest. Workplace stress from long hours, unrealistic expectations, or a toxic work culture creates chronic depletion. Unlike temporary stress from a busy season, job stress that leads to burnout doesn’t resolve with a weekend off or vacation.
Burnout symptoms show up differently for everyone, but there are some common patterns that emerge. Physical warning signs include chronic exhaustion, frequent illness, tension headaches, and digestive issues. Emotional symptoms often manifest as numbness, cynicism, irritability, and feeling emotionally drained even after rest. Mental exhaustion makes concentration difficult, and tasks that once felt automatic now require enormous effort. Recognizing these signs of burnout early makes recovery faster and prevents deeper depletion.
Emotional exhaustion feels like a complete depletion of internal resources. There’s nothing left to give, even to people who matter most. Mental exhaustion shows up as brain fog, inability to focus, and decision fatigue. Feeling emotionally drained becomes the baseline rather than the exception. This type of emotional fatigue doesn’t improve with sleep alone because it’s a nervous system issue, not just tiredness.
Stop Burning Out and Start Building a Life That Sustains You
Psychodynamic Therapy for Burnout
Brain Spotting for Burnout
Somatic Therapy for Burnout
Integrative Approaches for Burnout
CBT and Mindfulness-Based Approaches for Burnout
The office is located in the heart of Midtown East, steps from Grand Central Terminal and easily accessible throughout Manhattan.
New York High-Functioning Professionals are served across:
Many people feel nervous about starting therapy, and it makes sense. The first session is designed to make you feel steady and emotions manageable, not overwhelm you. There’s no pressure to share everything at once or to have all the answers.
The initial conversation focuses on:
How do I know if I'm burned out or just stressed?
Stress and burnout feel similar, but they’re fundamentally different. Stress is situational. Burnout is existential.
Stress says, “There’s too much on the plate.” Burnout says, “nothing on the plate matters anymore.”
If depletion has been present for months (not weeks), if rest doesn’t restore energy, or if people close by have mentioned that something has changed, burnout is likely present. Burnout counseling helps identify what’s underneath the exhaustion and supports rebuilding before patterns worsen.
Burnout isn’t permanent. With support, it becomes possible to rebuild energy and create a life that sustains rather than depletes.
What are the signs of burnout in high-functioning professionals?
High-functioning professionals in NewYork often hide burnout well. Showing up continues. Delivering continues. Looking successful on the outside continues. But inside, everything feels hollow.
Identity has been built around achievement, so admitting burnout feels like failure. Pushing through is what has always worked before. But this time, pushing through stops working.
High achievers in New York are used to solving problems by working harder. But burnout isn’t a problem that can be outworked. It’s the body and mind signaling that the way things have been operating isn’t sustainable anymore.
If performance continues but emptiness is present inside, if depletion is being hidden, or if fear of crashing when slowing down is present, these are signs that support would be helpful. Clinicians supporting clients with burnout therapy need help rebuilding before the crash happens.
Early intervention makes recovery faster and prevents long-term damage to career and relationships.
Is burnout the same as depression?
Burnout and depression overlap, but they’re not the same thing. Understanding the difference matters because treatment approaches differ.
Burnout is context-specific. It’s tied to work, caregiving, or specific life demands. Depression is more pervasive and affects all areas of life, even enjoyable activities.
Untreated burnout can develop into clinical depression. When depletion has been present for months without support, brain chemistry changes. What started as circumstantial exhaustion becomes a broader mental health condition.
Burnout therapy addresses both conditions. Through psychodynamic therapy, what’s underneath the exhaustion gets explored. If depression has developed, working with a psychiatrist for medication evaluation may be recommended while continuing therapy. Providing care for burnout therapy means treating the whole person, not just symptoms.
Whether burnout, depression, or both are present, the important thing is getting support before patterns worsen.
How long does burnout recovery take in NYC?
There’s no universal timeline for burnout recovery. It depends on how long burnout has been present, what resources are available, and what needs to change.
The biggest obstacle is trying to recover while maintaining the same pace that caused burnout. Healing burnout while adding therapy to an already unsustainable schedule doesn’t work.
Therapy helps with understanding why burnout developed, so the same pattern doesn’t repeat. This isn’t about managing symptoms. It’s about fundamentally changing the relationship to work, rest, and self-worth.
Most clients see significant improvement within 3-6 months, but deep pattern work takes longer. The goal isn’t just feeling better temporarily. It’s building a life that doesn’t deplete in the first place.
What does burnout therapy actually involve?
Finding the right burnout therapist isn’t just about location. It’s about finding someone who understands the specific pressures of high-functioning professionals in New York City and works from a depth-oriented approach.
The Midtown East office at 240 Madison Avenue is steps from Grand Central Terminal. Many clients stop by before work, during lunch, or after the workday. Being centrally located means therapy doesn’t become another logistical burden when depletion is already present.
A free 15-minute consultation is offered to see if the fit is right. During this call, the specific situation gets discussed, questions about the approach get answered, and a match with the therapist who specializes in what’s being experienced happens.
Most first appointments happen within 1-2 weeks. When burnout is present, waiting months for care isn’t an option.
Does insurance cover burnout therapy?
The practice is out-of-network, which means insurance isn’t accepted directly. However, many clients use out-of-network benefits for reimbursement.
Before starting therapy, calling insurance to ask these questions is recommended:
Superbills get created and submitted on behalf of clients weekly. This helps ensure reimbursement happens steadily rather than waiting months to file claims. The superbill includes all the information insurance needs to process claims.
A limited number of sliding scale openings exist per clinician. During the free consultation, fees are discussed, and an arrangement that makes ongoing therapy possible is found.
Being out-of-network allows provision of the depth of care needed without insurance company restrictions on session length, frequency, or treatment approach. Focus can stay entirely on what’s best for recovery, not what an insurance company approves.
Many clients find that out-of-network therapy is worth the investment because specialized care tailored to their needs is provided rather than brief, protocol-driven sessions.
How do I find a burnout therapist in NYC?
Finding the right burnout therapist isn’t just about location. It’s about finding someone who understands the specific pressures of high-functioning professionals in New York City and works from a depth-oriented approach.
The Midtown East office at 240 Madison Avenue is steps from Grand Central Terminal. Many clients stop by before work, during lunch, or after the workday. Being centrally located means therapy doesn’t become another logistical burden when depletion is already present.
A free 15-minute consultation is offered to see if the fit is right. During this call, the specific situation gets discussed, questions about the approach get answered, and a match with the therapist who specializes in what’s being experienced happens.
Most first appointments happen within 1-2 weeks. When burnout is present, waiting months for care isn’t an option.
Can burnout therapy help if I can't quit my job?
This is one of the most common concerns. The answer is yes. Burnout therapy isn’t about quitting jobs. It’s about changing the relationship to work so it doesn’t deplete.
Manhattan Therapy helps with understanding why work causes burnout. Often, it’s not the job itself, it’s what’s being proven through the job, what’s being avoided by staying busy, or patterns learned long before this career.
Therapy helps implement sustainable boundaries even in demanding roles.
Sometimes, burnout reveals that the job itself is unsustainable. If the workplace is actively toxic, if demands are objectively unreasonable, or if values fundamentally conflict with the work, this becomes clear.
Most clients are professionals who can’t just quit. Lawyers, finance professionals, executives with mortgages, and families. The understanding exists that recovery has to happen while work continues.
The goal isn’t escaping work. It’s building a relationship to work that doesn’t require the sacrifice of health, relationships, or sense of self. Many clients stay in their careers but fundamentally change how they operate within them.
Having all the answers before starting therapy isn’t necessary. Figuring out together what’s possible and what needs to change is part of the process.
Explore what we treat or read success stories from clients who’ve rebuilt their lives.
What are the most common symptoms of burnout?
Burnout symptoms vary, but certain warning signs appear consistently across different people and professions. Recognizing these signs of burnout early helps prevent a deeper crisis.
If these burnout symptoms have been present for months, if performance is declining despite effort, or if relationships are suffering, therapy helps address what’s underneath the exhaustion rather than just managing symptoms.
Burnout therapy in New York City provides space to understand why these symptoms developed and rebuild sustainable patterns before depletion worsens.
Burnout prevention involves more than occasional rest or improved time management. Lasting prevention requires ongoing attention to boundaries, capacity, and the patterns that led to depletion in the first place.
Burnout often develops when limits are crossed repeatedly without recovery. Sustainable boundaries reduce the likelihood of reaching a crisis again.
Burnout rarely appears suddenly. Subtle changes often signal rising strain long before full exhaustion sets in.
Preventing burnout involves regular regulation rather than crisis intervention.
Burnout prevention becomes more sustainable when strategies are tailored rather than generic. Therapy supports the development of a personalized approach that reflects individual stress patterns, limits, and values.
Coping strategies are often developed using therapeutic approaches such as psychodynamic therapy, Jungian therapy, somatic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness-based practices.
Each approach supports burnout prevention differently, depending on whether exhaustion is driven by emotional patterns, nervous system overload, or ongoing cognitive stress. Strategies are adjusted over time as work demands, stress levels, and capacity change.
This process often includes:
Burnout recovery is not a one-time event. Periodic support helps maintain progress and prevents old patterns from resurfacing during high-stress periods.
When burnout remains untreated, it can contribute to both mental and physical health issues, including long-term fatigue, chronic headaches, sleep disruption, and increased vulnerability to anxiety or depression.
How can workplace accommodations support burnout recovery?
Workplace accommodations can play an important role in reducing burnout while allowing employment to continue. Adjustments help align job demands with current capacity rather than requiring continued overextension.
Burnout is especially common among New York professionals working in high-pressure Manhattan environments, where long hours, constant availability, and workplace stress are often treated as normal expectations.
Signs of burnout often appear before full exhaustion sets in. Common burnout warning signs include chronic fatigue, persistent tiredness, physical exhaustion that rest does not relieve, emotional exhaustion, and feeling emotionally drained.
Physical symptoms of burnout may include frequent headaches, muscle tension, digestive issues, and ongoing bodily exhaustion.
Emotional and mental signs often include decreased motivation, emotional fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and a growing sense of detachment from work or daily life.
Mental health accommodations are adjustments that support functioning and recovery.
Examples may include:
Discussing burnout at work can feel difficult, especially in high-pressure environments. Preparation often reduces anxiety around these conversations.
Helpful preparation includes:
In many workplaces, burnout-related conditions may qualify for accommodations under disability or workplace protection laws. Accommodations typically focus on supporting continued employment rather than requiring detailed medical disclosure.
Therapy supports workplace conversations by:
How do I find burnout therapists near me?
Workplace accommodations can play an important role in reducing burnout while allowing Workplace accommodations can play an important role in reducing burnout while allowing employment to continue. Adjustments help align job demands with current capacity rather than requiring continued overextension.
Burnout is especially common among New York professionals working in high-pressure Manhattan environments, where long hours, constant availability, and workplace stress are often treated as normal expectations.
Signs of burnout often appear before full exhaustion sets in. Common burnout warning signs include chronic fatigue, persistent tiredness, physical exhaustion that rest does not relieve, emotional exhaustion, and feeling emotionally drained.
Physical symptoms of burnout may include frequent headaches, muscle tension, digestive issues, and ongoing bodily exhaustion.
Emotional and mental signs often include decreased motivation, emotional fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and a growing sense of detachment from work or daily life.
Mental health accommodations are adjustments that support functioning and recovery.
Examples may include:
Discussing burnout at work can feel difficult, especially in high-pressure environments. Preparation often reduces anxiety around these conversations.
Helpful preparation includes:
In many workplaces, burnout-related conditions may qualify for accommodations under disability or workplace protection laws. Accommodations typically focus on supporting continued employment rather than requiring detailed medical disclosure.
Therapy supports workplace conversations by:
employment to continue. Adjustments help align job demands with current capacity rather than requiring continued overextension.
Burnout is especially common among New York professionals working in high-pressure Manhattan environments, where long hours, constant availability, and workplace stress are often treated as normal expectations.
Signs of burnout often appear before full exhaustion sets in. Common burnout warning signs include chronic fatigue, persistent tiredness, physical exhaustion that rest does not relieve, emotional exhaustion, and feeling emotionally drained.
Physical symptoms of burnout may include frequent headaches, muscle tension, digestive issues, and ongoing bodily exhaustion.
Emotional and mental signs often include decreased motivation, emotional fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and a growing sense of detachment from work or daily life.
Mental health accommodations are adjustments that support functioning and recovery.
Examples may include:
Discussing burnout at work can feel difficult, especially in high-pressure environments. Preparation often reduces anxiety around these conversations.
Helpful preparation includes:
In many workplaces, burnout-related conditions may qualify for accommodations under disability or workplace protection laws. Accommodations typically focus on supporting continued employment rather than requiring detailed medical disclosure.
Therapy supports workplace conversations by:
