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The crises we are going through have placed mental health, and more specifically burnout, at the heart of the concerns of human resources managers and business leaders. But they are not the only ones interested in it. Therapists claim great expertise in the matter, so much so that they present themselves as “burnout coaches”.
Anxiety, constant fatigue, difficulty concentrating, stomach aches… The list of signs of burnout is long. Because this psychological disorder results in physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. It results from prolonged investment in psychologically demanding professional situations. The strategy consulting firm BCG estimates that, worldwide, most employees will experience one or more symptoms of burnout during their career.
The prevalence of this burnout syndrome in the workplace is such that some counselors specialize in the burnout niche. They are called “burnout coaches” or “burnout recovery specialists.” They are particularly numerous in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Europe. These counselors offer to accompany workers who are experiencing deep discomfort on the path to recovery. Most of them sell telephone coaching, online training, or e-books in which they provide practical advice on rebuilding after burnout.
But despite what their job titles might suggest, burnout coaches are rarely licensed therapists or psychologists. Some have earned certification from the International Coaching Federation, but most have spent a lot of time studying the mechanics of burnout.I’ve probably spent hundreds of hours researching burnout.“, Rhia Batchelder, a burnout coach based in Denver, USA, told New York TimesThe young woman, who was a lawyer before launching her coaching business in 2021, says she began to take an interest in this syndrome to “help herself [elle-même]”.
Too general healing advice
The success of burnout coaches comes from the fact that they have already suffered burnout themselves. An intimate knowledge of the subject that gives their clients confidence.She understood what I was going through“It’s not always easy to talk to a health professional about burnout,” Tara Howell, one of Ms. Batchelder’s clients, told The New York Times. “People who suffer from burnout tend to blame themselves for their discomfort, which can prevent them from moving forward and seeking medical help.
But are burnout coaches better equipped than other healthcare professionals to help workers who are struggling? Not necessarily. In a video posted to TikTok, London-based burnout coach Gabriela Flax advises overworked people to “make their lives boring.” For example, she recommends dressing the same way every day to minimize decision fatigue.When we are burned out, the part of our brain responsible for making decisions is disconnected. Even something as simple as deciding what to wear today. […] is really difficult for our brain to process” she explains in its publication. Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs and Barack Obama adopted this strategy to reduce the number of decisions they had to make per day, and thus mobilize their intellectual faculties for more important issues.
But while routine is good, boredom can be experienced very negatively if it is apathetic. This is why therapists often advise people who are depressed or burnt out to be active (sports, hobbies, etc.) to improve their mood. Sabine Sonnetag, an American psychologist specializing in burnout, maintains that the best way to recharge your batteries is to get out of the house and do stimulating activities, as recalled by Inc magazine.
The advice of burnout coaches like Gabriela Flax is not harmful in itself, but it is often too general. It also tends to focus on the individual, and not on the working conditions – lack of resources, staff, time – that pushed them to overwork. A limited approach that can prove counterproductive in the long term. Hence the importance of turning to approved health professionals in the event of burnout.
Slide: Burn out: risk factors