The Pressure of Work

Work-related Stress

I recently left my job to focus on building my psychodynamic therapy private practice. I’m lucky to have found a new career as a therapist (which I trained intensively over four years to achieve) but the decision to make the leap from the security of 9-5 was not made lightly, in fact it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made in my career. We spend so much of our lives at work it can feel all consuming. Our careers can define our self-worth, our financial security, our identity and our need for external validation. Have you ever been asked ‘what do you do?’ before ‘how are you?’

Low self-esteem can quietly build up in the background creating a brittle identity and you realise you are caught in a cycle of second-guessing every decision, struggling to speak up in meetings, or hesitating to put yourself forward for opportunities. It can feel like you are endlessly measuring your worth and taking every piece of feedback as personal criticism. 

I work closely to support clients who face changes in their careers, often unforeseen, including burnout, workplace stress, damage to relationships, social anxiety, emotional health, returning to work after maternity leave and lack of fulfilment. 

I am a psychodynamic counsellor and a registered member of the BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists. I offer both online and in-person sessions in Tunbridge Wells.

If something in this post resonates with you, counselling could help you explore it further.

You’re welcome to get in touch to arrange a free 15-minute call and see if working together feels right.

Contact me