Therapy for burnout, anxiety, people-pleasing and loss of meaning
For those who feel disconnected from themselves and want to live more authentically
Central Manchester & Online

Therapy for when something needs to change

A warm welcome, I’m glad you’re here. Reaching this point often means you’re noticing that something in your life no longer feels quite right, and you’re open to understanding that more deeply. You might be wondering whether therapy is right for you, or why you’re feeling this way when, on the surface, everything looks fine.

Life can feel demanding, fast-paced, and full of expectations. Many people find themselves managing responsibilities, meeting others’ needs, and ticking boxes - at work, in relationships, and in life generally - while quietly feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or out of step with themselves. There may come a point where the old ways of coping no longer feel sustainable, where something feels off, but it’s hard to put into words.

People often come to therapy searching for help with anxiety, low mood, burnout, or stress. Beneath this, there is often a deeper sense of disconnection - from themselves, their needs, or the life they’re living.

You may appear to be coping on the outside, yet internally feel unhappy, burnt out, anxious, self-critical, uncertain, or exhausted by the effort of being who you think you should be. These experiences are not personal failings, but understandable human responses to long-term pressure, relationships, and the demands of modern life.

It’s common to arrive in therapy asking yourself, “Why do I feel like this when everything looks fine?”

Therapy offers a space to slow down and make sense of what’s happening, supporting you to understand your experience, reconnect with who you are, and move forward in a way that feels more aligned, sustainable, and true to yourself.

You might recognise yourself in patterns such as:

• Burnout, exhaustion, or a sense of running on empty - often linked to over-responsibility, high expectations, or long periods of pushing yourself
• People-pleasing or over-responsibility for others’ feelings, often at the expense of your own
• Perfectionism and self-criticism, driven by high or harsh inner standards
• Difficulty setting boundaries, leading to imbalance or resentment in relationships
• Masking or hiding parts of yourself to feel accepted or avoid conflict
• Living according to external expectations, comparison, or a sense of needing to keep up
• Living on autopilot, guided by fear or obligation rather than what you truly value or want

Often, these patterns develop in response to early experiences or unspoken conditions - ways we learned to stay safe, accepted, or valued. It can feel frightening to question them, or to imagine doing things differently, especially when anxiety shows up at the thought of change. Yet living under these conditions for too long can limit authenticity, strain relationships, and contribute to burnout or unhappiness.

Over time, these ways of coping can leave people feeling disconnected from themselves, unsure of their direction, or lacking confidence - even when life appears 'fine' from the outside.

If this feels familiar, you’re welcome to get in touch to explore working together. Karen.

I provide a confidential, compassionate therapeutic space from my private practice in Central Manchester location as well as offering online therapy.

Memberships:

* BACP (Accredited)
* GHR Registered (Accredited)
* Anxiety UK Approved Therapist