If you’re a high achieving woman like many of my clients, you’re no stranger to hard work, ambition, and the drive to excel. As someone who fought tooth and nail to achieve valedictorian status in college (I came in number two to my boyfriend, ugh!), I get it. My clients are top executives, busy moms, caretakers, and busy nurses and care takers who have struggled with overloading and overworking themselves to the point of exhaustion.
But what happens when the pressure to succeed leads to exhaustion, emotional overwhelm, and a sense of never feeling “good enough”?
This is high-achiever burnout, and it’s incredibly common in women given the fact that society holds us to impossible standards.
The good news? There’s a way to break free, heal, and reclaim your life: EMDR therapy.
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What Is High-Achiever Burnout?
High-achiever burnout goes beyond ordinary stress. It’s a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that often stems from perfectionism, people-pleasing, and an unrelenting drive to prove yourself. You may feel:
- Constantly tired, even after rest
- Overwhelmed by tasks that used to feel manageable
- Always on edge and like you can never relax
- Disconnected from your passions and purpose
- Trapped in a cycle of self-criticism and overwork
- Guilty when you do try to relax
Sound familiar? These symptoms often point to deeper patterns rooted in your past experiences and beliefs—and this is where EMDR can make a difference.
Begin TherapyHow EMDR Therapy Works
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful, evidence-based therapy that helps you process and heal from unresolved trauma, negative beliefs, and deep rooted emotional pain. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR focuses on how your brain stores and processes memories, allowing you to address the root causes of your burnout more directly.
During an EMDR session, you’ll:
- Identify the memories or beliefs contributing to your burnout (e.g., “I’m only worthy if I’m successful or contributing”).
- Use bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements or tapping, to help your brain reprocess these memories (i.e. actually feel your feelings rather than simply intellectualizing them!)
- Replace negative beliefs with more empowering ones, like “I’m enough, just as I am.”
This process helps reduce the emotional charge around painful experiences, freeing you from the patterns that keep you stuck.
Get In TouchWhy EMDR Therapy Is Perfect for High-Achievers
High-achievers often carry deeply ingrained beliefs about their worth being tied to their performance. These beliefs can stem from:
- Childhood experiences, such as feeling pressure to excel or earn approval.
- Workplace environments that reward overwork and perfectionism.
- Cultural or societal messages about success and self-worth.
EMDR helps uncover and heal these underlying issues, so you can:
- Let go of the guilt and shame that fuel your burnout.
- Reclaim your sense of self-worth, independent of your achievements.
- Develop healthier boundaries and work-life balance.
Many of my high achieving clients were taught to intellectualize their feelings and leave their bodies. EMDR therapy helps my clients feel and process through the feelings in their bodies rather than simply intellectualizing their experiences and staying stuck.
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What to Expect During EMDR for Burnout
In therapy, we’ll work together to:
- Identify the Root Causes: Explore the experiences and beliefs driving your burnout. Are you stuck in the same cycle, for example, because you were expected to earn love as a kid?
- Strengthen Your Coping Skills: Build emotional resilience and grounding techniques to feel more stable. We’ll create a container, a safe place, and allies for you to call upon between our sessions to help you calm your body and mind.
- Process and Heal: Use EMDR to reprocess the memories and beliefs keeping you stuck in burnout. We move the trauma through your system and help you store trauma as a long term memory.
- Create New Patterns: Cultivate a healthier relationship with work, rest, and self-compassion.
You’ll start to notice a shift in how you approach challenges. Instead of feeling driven by fear or self-criticism, you’ll find space for joy, creativity, and balance.
The Benefits of EMDR for Burnout
- Faster Relief: EMDR often helps clients see results more quickly than traditional talk therapy. Seriously, I’ve had clients feel better within 1 session of processing!
- Lasting Change: By addressing the root causes, EMDR promotes deep, lasting healing.
- Improved Self-Compassion: Learn to treat yourself with kindness and understanding, even when things don’t go perfectly.
- More Balance: Create a life that aligns with your values, rather than one driven by external expectations.
Ready to Reclaim Your Life?
If you’re ready to break free from high-achiever burnout and start living with more ease and authenticity, EMDR can help. As an experienced EMDR therapist, I’m here to guide you through this transformative process. Let’s work together to heal the patterns holding you back and help you rediscover the joy and fulfillment you deserve.
Schedule a free 20-minute consultation today to learn more about how EMDR can support your journey to healing and balance.
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Emma Kobil is a licensed professional counselor practicing online in Colorado and Florida. Her philosophically informed therapeutic approach focuses on helping creative and perfectionist women practice self compassion. Learn more about Emma, or schedule an appointment, at mindfulcounselingdenver.com.
