Parent Burnout and Overwhelm
I have a particular interest in supporting parents of young children and am a certified Parental Burnout Practitioner, through the Training Institute for Psychology and Health. After having my first child, I found that whilst there was a great deal of support available during pregnancy and the first year after birth, this support seemed to fade just as the demands of family life continued to grow. I noticed it wasn't just me who felt this way, and it's something I wanted to change.
For many people, it is the toddler and preschool years that feel most challenging. The constant demands, responsibility and mental load can leave you feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and disconnected from yourself. It might be that perhaps you feel guilty for struggling, or frustrated that you're not coping in the way you expected.
These feelings can be even more intense when you're navigating additional challenges, such as parenting a neurodivergent child, difficult family relationships, limited support networks or the impact of past experiences and trauma.
Counselling with me offers a space that is just for you. Together, we can gently explore the person behind the parent – your needs, values, hopes and struggles. We'll look at how feeling lost or overwhelmed is affecting your day-to-day life and relationships, and work towards helping you feel more connected to yourself again. My aim isn't to help you become a "perfect parent", but to support you in finding a more sustainable, balanced way of being that feels right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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What is the difference between parental burnout and stress?
Parental burnout is a state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by the chronic stress of parenting. It is different from occasional overwhelm. Researchers describe parental burnout as having four features: overwhelming exhaustion, emotional distance from children, feeling that you are no longer the parent you want to be and finally, a loss of enjoyment or fulfilment in parenting. If this is you, I’m here to offer support and a space to work through all of this. Parental burnout does not mean you are a bad parent, in fact it is often experienced by parents who have been trying to meet the needs of others for a long time, whilst neglecting their own. It is different from stress, which is usually more temporary.
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Is parental burnout the same as depression?
No. Although parental burnout and depression can share some similar symptoms, they are not the same thing!
Parents experiencing burnout often feel exhausted, overwhelmed, irritable and emotionally drained by the demands of parenting.
Depression, on the other hand, tends to affect all areas of life, not just parenting. Someone experiencing depression may notice persistent low mood, feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in activities they would usually enjoy, changes in sleep or appetite, and difficulties with concentration.
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Can counselling help with parental burnout?
Absolutely. When you're experiencing parental burnout, it can feel as though you're constantly giving to everyone else while having little left for yourself.
Counselling is a place just for you. Together, we can explore the pressures you're carrying, the impact they are having on your wellbeing, and the feelings that may have been pushed aside in the busyness of family life.
As a person-centred counsellor, I won't tell you how to parent or offer a list of strategies to follow. Instead, I will work alongside you to help you better understand your experiences, reconnect with what matters to you, and find a way forward that feels manageable and authentic.
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Do you work with dads as well as mums?
Yes! Parental burnout can affect anyone in a parenting or caregiving role, regardless of gender, family structure or circumstances. I'm here to support the person behind the parent, whatever your family looks like.
How We'll Work Together
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Exploring your individual identity beyond your roles and responsibilities
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Working on navigating parenting and low mood
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Building resilience and reconnecting you as a person, not just a parent
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Strengthening your relationships through improved self-understanding and reconnecting with joy
