When Work Takes Over: Healing Burnout Through Online Parent Therapy in California
Supporting Working Parents Across California
In today’s fast-paced world, work doesn’t stay at work. It follows us home—in our exhaustion, our irritability, and the sense that we’re never quite doing enough. For parents, burnout doesn’t just affect your job performance. It affects your ability to stay present with your kids, regulate your nervous system, and hold the emotional space they need.
As a therapist specializing in online parent therapy in California, I work with burned-out professionals—especially parents—who are struggling to manage their responsibilities at work and at home. Whether you’re parenting a neurodivergent child, navigating trauma recovery, or just trying to make it through the week, I want you to know: You are not alone, and burnout is not a failure.
Book a free Discovery Call: here
What Burnout Looks Like for Parents
Burnout isn’t just feeling tired. It’s a nervous system that’s stuck in survival mode. You might be:
Dreading each new day—even on weekends.
Snapping at your child when they need you most.
Struggling to fall asleep or “turn off” your mind.
Fantasizing about running away—or shutting down entirely.
Feeling like you're failing at everything, all the time.
This chronic state of exhaustion, anxiety, and emotional detachment is not sustainable—and it doesn’t just go away with a good night’s sleep or a week off work.
If this sounds familiar, you might also want to explore Parent Coaching Grounded in Brain Science, where we focus on nervous system regulation, stress recovery, and breaking out of reactivity loops that keep you feeling stuck.
Why Working Parents Are Especially Vulnerable to Burnout
Parents today are expected to do it all—meet deadlines, manage Zoom fatigue, prep meals, stay calm during meltdowns, and maybe squeeze in a little self-care. It’s no wonder so many of us are running on empty.
And if you’re raising a neurodivergent or emotionally intense child, the load is even heavier. Visit Family Counseling for Parents of ADHD and Neurodiversity to see how I support parents whose children require more time, patience, and regulation.
Working parents of gifted or twice-exceptional kids also face high expectations and emotional intensity at home. Learn more on the Family Counseling for Gifted/2e page about navigating this pressure with insight and compassion.
If you're co-parenting after separation or divorce, stress around schedules, communication, and consistency can also fuel burnout. Co-parenting Therapy Near Me offers a space to reduce emotional tension and restore harmony for the sake of your children.
When Burnout Feels Like a Shut Down
Burnout can eventually look like Possum Brain—the dissociative collapse many parents experience under long-term stress. You may find yourself zoning out, disconnecting, or feeling emotionally numb. If you’re wondering why you “can’t just push through anymore,” your nervous system may be trying to protect you.
To better understand this pattern, explore my blog post on Possum Brain and parenting shutdowns, or visit my Online Family Therapy in California page to learn how your nervous system affects your entire family system.
What We Work On Together in Therapy
Through online parent therapy, we work together to:
Identify early signs of burnout.
Explore the emotional load of parenting while working.
Learn body-based tools to shift from survival to regulation.
Create boundaries that honor your capacity.
Rebuild trust with yourself and with your child.
If you’re an adoptive parent and burnout is entangled with attachment pressures or unresolved trauma, Post-Adoption Services offers tailored support with compassion and insight.
This work isn’t about getting you “back to normal.” It’s about helping you build a new normal—one rooted in sustainability, connection, and self-compassion.
Book a free Discovery Call: here
FAQs
How do I know if I’m experiencing burnout or just regular stress?
Burnout is persistent and cumulative. If you feel emotionally detached, hopeless, or physically drained despite rest, it may be more than daily stress.
What if I feel like I’m failing at both work and parenting?
That feeling is a red flag for burnout—and a sign that your nervous system is overwhelmed. You are not failing. You need support, not judgment.
Can therapy help if I can’t change my job?
Yes. We explore nervous system regulation, boundary-setting, mindset shifts, and small changes that can have a big impact—even when the job remains the same.
What if I’ve been burned out for years?
It’s never too late to repair your relationship with yourself, your work, or your family. Therapy helps you reconnect with your values and capacity.
Do you only work with mothers?
No. I work with all parents—mothers, fathers, queer and nonbinary parents—who want to show up more fully in their lives and relationships.
You Deserve to Feel Like Yourself Again
Burnout doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means your current life load has exceeded your capacity for too long. And that’s not your fault. With support, you can find your way back to regulation, clarity, and connection.
You deserve support: Contact Abby
Book a free discovery call. We will have a brief screening phone call and if it feels right, we will schedule an hour-long, free phone consultation to see if we are a good match for therapy. This is my offering to you, at a time when you are struggling the most.