Work Stress Therapy
Work Stress Therapy can help you overcome challenges and find success
Many of us spend a significant portion of our lives working, and it's no secret that work can be a major source of our stress and anxiety.
Work stress and anxiety can be caused by many factors such as the demands of our job, interpersonal conflicts with coworkers and supervisors, work-life balance issues, phase of life issues with family and children, past adverse experiences at work settings, self-doubt and insecurity, perfectionism, unresolved conflicts, and a sense of feeling unfulfilled and unsupported. Did you get all of that?!? As you can see there is a lot that can contribute to our negative feelings about work, and ourselves.
While work can be a source of stress, it also is a source of fulfillment, accomplishment, a large part of our identity, and is the way we financially support ourselves and our families. Feeling fulfilled and satisfied with our jobs can be a indication of our overall satisfaction with our lives and well-being.
The problem that arises is many people feel stuck and unfulfilled by work, and will then direct even more attention towards their careers, often neglecting other areas of their life including their own physical and mental health, time spent with family, time devoted to hobbies and interests, and the time needed to cultivate deeper social relationships.
Read more to see how my unique approach to therapy for career burnout and work stress can help you move past these uncomfortable experiences to a future with greater confidence and self-assurance.
Work stress is very common
First, let me paint a picture for you… You might be someone who recently graduated college, have set yourself up in a nice job that pays well, and by all accounts are doing great. Despite this, you find yourself obsessively thinking about the next promotion, wondering if you're “good enough,” and constantly comparing yourself to your coworkers. Alternatively, maybe you have advanced in your career, you have a nice home and a family that you're grateful for, but you find yourself feeling unfulfilled, burnt out, bored, and you doubt yourself in the workplace. Imposter syndrome!
You might find that you overwork yourself, constantly think about work (ruminate!), feel burdened by things at work that aren’t your responsibility, and feel like everyone has it figured out and is doing it better. Sound about right? If so, you’ve come to the right place. I provide online therapy in Massachusetts for work stress to help people develop effective techniques to reduce stress and live a more balanced life. Let’s dive deeper into the “why” behind why you might be obsessed with work, and “what” can be done to change that.
Why am I so stressed by work?
I help my clients understand what may be influencing their relationship with work and work stress. A major factor is one’s work ethic which is influenced by a combination of personal values, beliefs, experiences, and social norms.
Oftentimes, one’s upbringing and family environment is a strong influence. This can include parents' work habits and attitudes toward work, parents expectations about success and achievement that may start with academics, sports, and performances, and messaging to children about working "hard." These are all good things, but can contribute to complicated feelings later in life about work, and what it means to “succeed.”
Conversely, if someone grew up in a household where resources were scarce, they may find great satisfaction and validation from work, which ends up being positively reinforcing. This strong work ethic is a good thing, but may also influence one’s complicated relationship with work, and contribute to career anxiety.
Other influences include, work-life balance stressors, phase of life challenges, relationship conflict with a boss or coworkers, high workload, traumatic experiences at work, and a toxic stressful work environment.
My treatment approach
Based in Massachusetts, I provide online therapy for those who are experiencing work anxiety. My clients tend to come to therapy with anxiety and stress related to work and want to address the following issues:
Generalized anxiety and stress in the workplace
Issues with self-esteem and confidence in the workplace
Difficulties with concentration, motivation and mental blocks that make it difficult to stay engaged with work
Feeling of “stuckness” and dissatisfaction with work and life outside of work
Performance anxiety and fear of public speaking
Work-life balance issues
Obsessive thoughts about work, and performance
Traumatic experiences at work
Some of the benefits of therapy for work stress include:
Developing coping, stress reduction and self-care techniques
Identifying triggers to stress and anxiety from work
Improving communication
Setting boundaries between your work and personal life
Improving your career outlook
I offer several types of therapy for clients who come to therapy to address issues related to work.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
CBT can help individuals identify negative thoughts related to work stress and anxiety, such as "I'm not good enough" or "I can't handle this." I will work with you to challenge these thoughts by looking at the evidence for and against them.
CBT is an evidenced based treatment for anxiety. CBT assists people with bringing awareness to their thoughts, emotions, and how they are responding to situations in their life. A major component of CBT is to work on ways to restructure negative thought patterns, also known as negative self-talk, as these negative thoughts produce unpleasant emotions triggering anxiety. We’ll also work on ways to recondition your automatic responses (behaviors) that might be causing distress or conflict in your life and/or your relationships.
CBT can also involve learning relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or visualization exercises, to help individuals manage stress and anxiety.
Solution-Focused Therapy:
Solution-Focused Therapy is a strengths-based approach that helps you identify your skills and resources, and use them to tackle your work-related challenges. Through solution-focused therapy, I will help you set achievable goals that align with your values, and develop practical strategies to overcome obstacles and allow you to improve work-life balance to reduce job stress.
My approach is positive and collaborative, focusing on your unique strengths and abilities. I believe that you already possess the tools you need to succeed, and help you unlock your full potential.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy:
EMDR can be used to help individuals process and overcome traumatic experiences that may be contributing to their work stress and anxiety, feelings of insecurity and self doubt, and issues with self-esteem and confidence related to work stress. I will work with you to identify a specific experience or negative belief related to your work that is contributing to your feelings of self-doubt and insecurity, such as a critical performance review or a difficult interaction with a coworker. I will guide you through a series of eye movements or other bilateral stimulation techniques while you focus on the negative belief or experience.
During your EMDR session, you will begin to process this negative belief or experience it in a new way, which leads to a reduction in the associated feelings of self-doubt and insecurity. You might begin to see the experience as an opportunity for growth and learning rather than as a reflection of your worth or abilities. Over time, with additional EMDR sessions, you will develop a more positive and balanced self-image related to your work, which can lead to greater confidence and a reduction in self-doubt and insecurity.
Want to learn more? Schedule your free consultation today.
Work stress and anxiety can feel overwhelming and draining, but it doesn't have to be this way. With the right tools and support, you can learn to manage stress and anxiety, achieve your career goals, and live a fulfilling life. I’m here to guide you on this journey toward greater well-being and success. Contact me today to learn more about my services and start your path toward a brighter, more hopeful future.
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