Clinical Psychology in Surry Hills, Sydney
Stress & Burnout Therapy in Sydney
Burnout is what happens when you've been running on adrenaline for too long. The work keeps coming, the standards keep climbing, and somewhere along the way the things that used to recharge you stopped working. It's not a personal failing — it's a predictable response to sustained pressure, and it responds well to the right help.
You may recognise some of these
Common ways stress & burnout shows up. You don't need to tick every box for therapy to help.
- Exhaustion that doesn't lift, even after a weekend off
- Cynicism or detachment from work you used to care about
- Brain fog, forgetfulness, or trouble concentrating
- Feeling perpetually behind, despite working harder
- Irritability or short fuse with people you love
- Sleep that doesn't restore you
- Loss of motivation or sense of purpose
- Physical symptoms — tension, headaches, gut issues
Evidence-based approaches we use
Therapy tailored to your situation — drawing on what the research says works, and what fits you.
Evidence-based
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
We map the patterns of overworking, perfectionism, and self-criticism that fuel burnout, then build sustainable alternatives.
Evidence-based
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Helps you clarify what actually matters to you and design a life around values, rather than around fear, expectation, or habit.
Evidence-based
Schema Therapy
For burnout driven by deeper patterns — unrelenting standards, self-sacrifice, fear of being seen as inadequate — that take more than time off to shift.
Evidence-based
Nervous system regulation
Practical skills for recovery — for getting out of fight-or-flight and back into a state where rest, focus, and connection are actually possible.
What working together looks like
A clear, paced approach — no jargon, no rigid template.
- 1
Understanding
We map what's driving the burnout — workload, environment, internal standards, life context — and what recovery would realistically look like for you.
- 2
Strategies
We build practical changes — boundaries, recovery rhythms, response patterns — and work through the guilt and anxiety that often come with trying to slow down.
- 3
Consolidation
We work on the underlying patterns so the change holds. The aim isn't just to recover from this burnout — it's to set up a way of working and living that doesn't produce the next one.
Practical details
Medicare rebates, telehealth, and Surry Hills sessions
With a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, you may be eligible for Medicare rebates on up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year. We offer both in-person sessions at our Surry Hills rooms (Level 1/17 Randle St) and secure telehealth across NSW — many clients move between the two depending on the week.
Stress & Burnout — frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions we hear most often.
Burnout itself isn't a separate diagnosis in Australia, but the symptoms it produces — anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties — often are. A Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP can give you access to Medicare-rebated therapy for these underlying conditions.
Not always. For some people, a real change in workload or role is part of the answer; for others, the work is more about how they're relating to the job — the standards, the boundaries, the patterns of self-criticism. We'll work out what's realistic and right for your situation.
It varies, but most people notice meaningful change in 8–16 sessions. The full recovery curve is often longer than people expect — burnout builds slowly and unwinds slowly. We pace the work realistically.
Stress is the response to demands and usually settles when the demands ease. Burnout is what happens when stress is sustained over time without enough recovery — and it doesn't resolve just by taking a break. Burnout typically involves exhaustion, cynicism, and a sense of reduced effectiveness.
Yes — telehealth works well for stress and burnout, particularly when fitting therapy into an already crowded schedule is part of the challenge.
No. Doing less is sometimes part of it, but the bigger work is usually about understanding why doing less feels impossible — and what to do about that. The aim is sustainable change, not a list of well-meaning advice you can't follow.
Related areas we work with
Many people come to therapy with more than one of these at the same time.
We're here when you take the first step
Reaching out can feel daunting, especially when things have been building for a while. Wherever you are — considering therapy for the first time, or returning after a break — we'll meet you there. Send a message when you feel ready, and we'll find a time to talk.
Prefer to call? 0422 918 631