Stress & Burnout

Stress is a normal response to pressure. Burnout tends to develop when that pressure has been high for a long time, without enough opportunity to recover, and it can leave people feeling depleted in a way that a weekend off does not seem to fix.

Start with a conversation

What it can feel like

Burnout can feel like exhaustion that goes deeper than tiredness. Tasks that once felt routine can start to feel like hard work, and some people describe feeling detached, cynical or flat about things they used to care about.

It is often linked to work, but not always. Caring responsibilities, study, high personal standards or a period of sustained life pressure can all contribute. Many people keep going for a long time before they recognise how much it is affecting them.

How therapy may help

Therapy can create space to step back and understand how you got here, including the practical pressures and the internal patterns, such as perfectionism, difficulty saying no or a strong sense of responsibility, that can make it hard to slow down.

From there, the work usually focuses on what would help you recover and what you might want to do differently, in a way that is realistic for your life and commitments.

How we work with this

Our Clinical Psychologists will work with you to make sense of what is driving your stress and what is keeping it going. Together, you will agree what you would like to focus on, whether that is recovery, boundaries, self-criticism or a bigger decision about the future.

Sessions are online, which many people with busy or demanding lives find easier to fit in. You can start with a no-pressure 15-minute call to see whether it feels right.

If you’d like to talk it through

You don’t need to be sure this is the right page for you. The first step is the same whatever brings you here.

  1. Day one

    Get in touch

    A short online form

    Tell us a little about what you are looking for. A sentence or two is plenty; you don’t need to explain everything.

  2. Within two working days

    A 15-minute conversation

    Free, no obligation

    A relaxed call at a time that suits you, to talk through what is going on, ask questions and see whether Elementa feels like the right fit.

  3. When you’re ready

    Initial assessment

    50 minutes · £120

    A longer session with your psychologist to understand what has brought you here and what you would like to change. Afterwards, you receive a short written summary and a proposed plan.

  4. Then

    Ongoing therapy

    50-minute sessions · £120

    Regular online sessions, reviewed together as you go so the work stays focused on what matters to you.

Who you could work with

On the introductory call we’ll help you think about which of our Clinical Psychologists is best placed to support you.

  • Dr Abi Watkinson

    Clinical Psychologist

    I’m interested in how people make sense of what has happened to them. Therapy is often about finding a version of that story you can live with.

    Brings experience from adult, CAMHS and forensic services to thoughtful, collaborative work with adults.

  • Dr Laura Day

    Clinical Psychologist

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  • [Third founding psychologist]

    Clinical Psychologist

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Start with a conversation

Send us a few lines and we’ll arrange a free 15-minute call at a time that suits you. You can ask anything, and there’s no obligation to continue.

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